Governors, UNDP Move To Bridge States’ Infrastructure, Funding Gaps

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have agreed to deepen collaboration on innovative financing and investment reforms to address infrastructure and funding gaps in Nigeria’s 36 states.

This followed a high-level meeting held at the NGF Secretariat in Abuja between the forum’s leadership and a UNDP delegation led by Ms Elsie G. Attafuah, the UNDP resident representative in Nigeria and Dr. Raymond Gilpin, the chief economist for Africa and head of the UNDP Economists’ Network.

The discussions focused on developing new models to strengthen fiscal capacity at the state level, attract private capital and unlock sustainable investments in critical sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, energy transition, education and healthcare.

At the meeting, NGF director-general Dr. Abdulateef Shittu described the engagement as “a timely step toward deepening Nigeria’s subnational development agenda,” adding that the collaboration aligns with the forum’s goal of empowering states to attract and sustain investments independently.

“We value UNDP’s partnership in helping states become more competitive and investment-ready,” Shittu said.

“Our goal is to create a pathway where subnational governments can attract, manage and sustain investments that directly impact lives and livelihoods.”

In a statement, the NGF spokesman, Yunusa Abdullahi, cited the forum’s recent launch of Investopedia—a digital investment intelligence platform aggregating over 269 investment-ready projects across the 36 states—as evidence of states’ growing readiness to lead the country’s development transformation when given the right tools and partnerships.

Shittu noted that the next phase of collaboration with the UNDP would focus on three key priorities: strengthening fiscal and institutional capacity at the state level; developing frameworks for blended and innovative financing, and building a pipeline of bankable projects aligned with national and global sustainability goals.

“We see this partnership as catalytic,” he said. “With UNDP’s technical support and the Forum’s coordination structure, subnational governments can become key drivers of Nigeria’s development narrative.”

In his remarks, Dr. Raymond Gilpin commended the NGF’s leadership for creating platforms that connect states with global investors, describing the Forum’s efforts as “a practical step toward transforming local economies.”

“Nigeria’s states are essential building blocks of national development,” Dr. Gilpin said. “Our role at UNDP is to support the Forum in strengthening the systems that make investments viable—from fiscal governance and data analytics to human capital and institutional efficiency.”

He explained that the partnership would focus on creating sustainable financing mechanisms that blend public and private capital, ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and long-term growth.

Also, Ms. Elsie G. Attafuah described the engagement as a continuation of UNDP’s long-standing partnership with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum aimed at accelerating inclusive and equitable growth.

“Our collaboration with the NGF represents a strategic partnership to ensure that no state is left behind in Nigeria’s development story,” she said.