Abuja — The Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (ABMF) yesterday said the many problems facing the country can only be solved using the examples set by the late Premier of Northern Nigeria Sir Ahmadu Bello.

The foundation's Board of Trustees chairman Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu said this while inaugurating the technical committee of the foundation in Abuja yesterday.

Those at the inauguration include the governors of Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Kano state and the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.

Aliyu said that the crises and challenges facing Nigeria today require the country to look back in history to see how it can rediscover the excellent leadership traits which Sardauna and his peers used in recording the monumental achievements and developmental milestones despite the limitation of western education and financial resources in their time.

He said "the challenges of today, no doubt demand a great deal of courage, vision, sincerity of purpose and commitment to the vital national interests to tackle" which he stated the Sardauna had in abundance.

According to him, the challenges require a leadership "that is not only visionary but also capable of taking difficult decisions in the interest of the generality of the people, not for advancing selfish interest but for promoting the greater good for the greater number."

He explained that the foundation will draw on the legacies of the late icon to lay a solid foundation for the socio-economic development of northern Nigeria and the nation in general.

Members of the technical committee include Dr. Kole Shettima who will serve as chairman while former Inspector General of Police Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, Professor Attahiru Jega, Professor Mike Kwanashie and Malam Suleiman Ndanusa are members.

Others include Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda, Alhaji Idris Koko, Alhaji Ishaq Modibbo Kawu and the secretaries to the governments of Kano, Kogi, Niger and Adamawa states.

Speaking on the technical committee, he said it is the backbone of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation as it is expected to produce the operational blueprint for the foundation in line with international best practices" he said.

According to its terms of reference, the technical committee, which is expected to submit its report within five weeks, include recommending operational modalities and guidelines as well as recommending frameworks for the realisation of the vision, mission and objectives of the foundation.

It will also recommend ways and means of ensuring that the activities and programmes of the foundation are carried out in line with international best practices and standards as well as design an organisational structure including organogram, operational processes and qualifications and other considerations for membership of board of trustees, advisory council, management team and staff of the foundation

The technical committee will among other requirements, also identify areas of "quick wins as well as main areas of priorities and emphasis for the next five years bearing in mind that it appears there is a general misunderstanding of the role of the foundation."

Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu maintained that the foundation would be guided by virtues and qualities of the Sardauna which include "selflessness, honesty, transparency, sincerity of purpose and respect for human values and dignity.

Others, according to him include "love and kindness to all manners of people irrespective of their ethnic or religious backgrounds, hard work and punctuality, patriotism, tolerance, bold and exemplary leadership as well as concern and fear of Allah in decision making and implementation and so on and so forth"