By Tunde Omolehin
Leadership and members of the Sokoto Advancement Forum (SAF) converged inside the multiple-purpose hall of Ali Umaru Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto, the state capital to chart a collective pathway toward advancing the state’s socioeconomic development, social reorientation and public welfare.
For hours, the SAF members brainstormed national and development issues as it affected Sokoto State and the northern region at large in a well-attended General Assembly meeting of the Forum.
According to the Chairman of the Forum, Professor Muhammad Ahmad Wali, marked a critical milestone in the Forum’s formative journey.
Professor Wali while addressing the assembly further described the meeting as a defining take-off stage for SAF, stressing that the Forum was conceived as a non-partisan, intellectual and advocacy-driven platform to complement the efforts of the Sokoto State Government.
According to him, SAF was established to harness the collective expertise, experience and goodwill of its members in support of policies and initiatives that promote good governance, community development and sustainable growth.
“The Forum is conceived as a vehicle for constructive engagement, research-driven advocacy and strategic support to government programmes that directly impact the well-being of the people,” Wali said.
He reiterated that the Forum’s core mandate revolves around advancing public welfare, social development and societal reorientation, without partisan considerations.
A major focus of the gathering was the persistent challenge of street begging and the Almajiri phenomenon in Sokoto State, where Professor Wali called for strong collaboration with traditional institutions and Islamic clerics to address the problem and reposition the state for social and moral renewal.
He however urged traditional rulers to leverage their influence and authority in mobilising communities for grassroots development and self-help initiatives.
“To our elders and traditional leaders, continue to provide us with wisdom and guidance, and use your traditional authority to mobilise your communities for self-help projects,” he said.
“You should help champion Almajiri transformation programmes within your domains and open doors for us to engage grassroots populations.”
He also appealed to Islamic scholars and clerics to take the lead in addressing street begging through ethical, value-based teachings rooted in Islamic principles.
“Teach Islamic values that encourage dignity of labour, community responsibility and collective action, so we can restore moral values that are fast eroding in our society,” Wali added.
The SAF Chairman further underscored the importance of civil society organisations and the media in ensuring transparency and accountability within the Forum’s operations.
He called on the media to not only play a watchdog role by evaluating and reporting SAF’s activities, but also to help reshape public perceptions about Sokoto State.
According to him, positive reporting on development initiatives and reform efforts would help shift the state’s narrative from stigmatisation to renewed optimism.
Other speakers also harped on At the heart of the deliberations was a shared resolution by members to work collectively in positioning Sokoto State for sustainable advancement by speakers who spoke during the meeting.
They deliberated on governance structures, strategic direction and practical solutions to long-standing social challenges confronting the state
Beyond policy advocacy, the General Assembly also served as a platform for strengthening the Forum’s institutional framework where the Interim Executive Committee formally presented key foundational documents, including the SAF constitution and bylaws, alongside a draft strategic blueprint outlining the Forum’s vision, mission and priority areas of intervention.
SAF members thereafter engaged in robust discussions on the documents, offering inputs aimed at ensuring inclusiveness, transparency and operational effectiveness.
At the end of the deliberations, the Assembly mandated the Interim Caretaker Executive Committee to harmonise members’ contributions, refine the documents and continue piloting the affairs of the Forum until conditions are deemed appropriate for the election of substantive officers.
Members also agreed that continuity of leadership at this stage would best serve the Forum’s immediate objectives, consolidate its structures and guarantee institutional stability.
Public analysts have continued to express their optimism that the Forum would evolve into a credible platform for ideas, advocacy and collective action in support of Sokoto State’s socio-economic transformation and sustainable development agenda.
