Kogi Finance Commissioner, Asiru Idris, Leads States’ Delegation as FG Intensifies Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme for Grassroots Economic Growth
Federal and state governments have intensified collaboration on the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP), a flagship initiative aimed at unlocking economic opportunities, reducing poverty, creating jobs, and driving development across Nigeria’s 8,809 political wards.
The drive to accelerate grassroots economic transformation and advance Nigeria’s journey toward a $1 trillion economy received renewed momentum as the Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris, led a delegation of state economic planners in a high-level engagement with the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite.
The strategic meeting, which brought together commissioners responsible for budget and economic planning from Kogi, Kebbi, Imo and Zamfara States, focused on strengthening collaboration between the Federal Government and sub-national governments in the implementation of key economic and development programmes.
At the centre of the discussions was the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP), one of the flagship initiatives of the Federal Government designed to stimulate economic growth, expand opportunities and reduce poverty across Nigeria’s 8,809 political wards.
The programme is expected to deepen economic activities at the grassroots by identifying and harnessing the unique economic strengths of communities through ward-level economic mapping and targeted investments in critical sectors including agriculture, mining, fishing, entrepreneurship, small-scale businesses and other productive ventures.
Officials at the meeting noted that the initiative represents a major component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is strategically positioned to create jobs, improve livelihoods and stimulate inclusive growth across urban and rural communities nationwide.
The RHWDP is projected to directly engage more than 10 million economically active Nigerians, making it one of the most ambitious grassroots economic empowerment programmes in recent years.
Participants also examined practical strategies for accelerating national development through coordinated planning, strategic investments and stronger synergy between federal and state institutions responsible for economic management and development planning.
Discussions further extended to the implementation of other priority programmes under the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with emphasis on ensuring that development initiatives deliver measurable outcomes for citizens.
In a move aimed at promoting inclusiveness and strengthening sub-national participation in national planning, the Minister directed the Director of Planning to make the draft National Development Plan (2026–2030) available to state governments for review and input.
The decision is expected to provide states with an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the country’s long-term development framework while ensuring that local priorities and realities are adequately reflected in national policy direction.
The engagement underscored a shared commitment by both the Federal Government and state governments to prudent resource management, coordinated development planning and the pursuit of sustainable economic growth capable of improving living standards across the country.
Political and economic observers view the meeting as a significant step toward aligning federal and state development priorities, particularly as government intensifies efforts to drive economic expansion from the grassroots through the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme.
With the programme set to reach every political ward in the federation, stakeholders believe its successful implementation could become a major catalyst for job creation, enterprise development, poverty reduction and broader economic inclusion across Nigeria.