Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has been elected President of the Forum of African Regions (FORAF), the continental body for subnational governments.
AbdulRazaq was elected this week in Tangier, Morocco, during FORAF’s meeting where regional leaders from across Africa converged to chart a path for decentralization and continental integration.
Announcing his election, the Kwara governor said FORAF’s mandate is to “accelerate socioeconomic development, deepen decentralisation and devolution, and position subnational governments as key drivers of continental integration and sustainable development.”
He expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him by colleagues across the continent, describing the new role as “a big responsibility.”
He will be supported by four newly elected regional vice-presidents:
Central Africa: Mr. Ousmanou Oumarou, Association of Regions of Cameroon
North Africa: Ms. Mbarka Bouaida, Association of Regions of Morocco
East Africa: Mr. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, Kisumu County, Kenya
Southern Africa: Mr. Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng Province, South Africa
In his remarks, AbdulRazaq called for stronger synergies among African nations and subnational governments to deepen development and sustainable growth.
He noted that visionary leadership, strategic investment, and regional cooperation have historically overcome geographical barriers worldwide.
“Around the world, nations have reduced the limitations imposed by geography through infrastructure, transport corridors, canals, and other forms of connectivity that link people, markets, and opportunities,” he said.
“I believe strongly that Africa has the capacity to do the same. By working together, investing in connectivity, and strengthening partnerships among our cities and regions, we can create sustainable linkages that support trade, innovation, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth.”
He urged African leaders to see cities like Tangier and Cape Town not as distant points on a map, but as “anchors of a connected African future,” adding that the vision is achievable through collective action and the spirit of cooperation that FORAF represents.
The election positions AbdulRazaq at the forefront of advocacy for stronger subnational government roles in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other AU development agendas.