Important area around northern country (5)
I believe the answer is:
kenya
'country' is the definition.
(Kenya is an example)
'important area around northern' is the wordplay.
'important' becomes 'key' ('key' can be similar in meaning to 'important').
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'northern' becomes 'n' (abbreviation e.g. N. Ireland).
'key'+'a'='keya'
'keya' going around 'n' is 'KENYA'.
(Other definitions for kenya that I've seen before include "Its capital is Nairobi" , "East African country" , "Republic in East Africa" , "Land" , "Kikuyus' country" .)