Usman Suleiman Sarki, Ph.D.
His Excellency, Governor Umar Namadi, stands out as a state leader whose bold and transformative policies are deeply aligned with the aspirations of his people.
Since assuming office two years ago, Governor Namadi has run an open, inclusive, and people-centered government that provides opportunities for all to contribute meaningfully to the social and economic development of Jigawa State.
His unwavering commitment to the advancement of agriculture, education, health, and socio-economic development has already started yielding fruitful results in all aspects of human life.
The Governor’s transformative agenda is anchored in his 12-point roadmap for transforming Jigawa into a state of prosperity and greatness. This plan emphasizes infrastructure, human capital development, transparency, and public accountability to enhance public service delivery.
Governor Namadi understands the importance of youth and women empowerment, viewing it as critical to building the capacity of the people of Jigawa. Through targeted programs, over 600,000 youth and women have received various skills training and empowerment packages for job creation, self-reliance, and poverty alleviation.
Furthermore, N4 billion was set aside for an agricultural loan for civil servants, with over 1,500 already benefiting in the last two years. An additional N12 billion was deposited in the Bank of Industries to facilitate soft loans for small and medium-scale businesses.
An agricultural mechanization policy was introduced, along with many other reforms that now position Jigawa as a critical stakeholder in achieving national food security, as acknowledged by the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Abubakar Kyari.
Governor Namadi is committed to repositioning the state’s education sector and ensuring every child has access to quality education from primary to tertiary levels.
Interventions made to the sector include increasing annual student scholarships by over 150%, sponsoring over 140 students to study medicine in Cyprus, recruiting over 7,000 teachers for basic and senior secondary education, and renovating over 1,000 classrooms while constructing more than 300 new ones.
The administration has also purchased and distributed over 50,000 student seats , 10,000 free uniforms, and acquired a private university to enhance access to tertiary education. These interventions are already reflecting positively in the state’s learning outcomes.
In infrastructure, Governor Namadi has completed 25 out of 26 inherited road projects, covering a total distance of over 400km, and has awarded 46 new projects covering over 900km.
Under his leadership, Jigawa has achieved over 85% access to clean water and been declared an open-defecation-free state, with significant improvements in public hygiene.
In the health sector, the administration has renovated and upgraded 181 primary healthcare facilities across the state. It provides N500 million annually as a matching grant to UNICEF for the procurement of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to treat child malnutrition.
The state’s immunization coverage has improved to over 70%, while the child stunting rate dropped from 64% in 2018 to 55% in 2024, according to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
The government has also established five free dialysis centers for kidney patients and approved free treatment for all patients with hypertension, diabetes, and sickle cell disease.
Additionally, 143,000 less-privileged citizens have been enrolled into the Healthcare Social Insurance scheme, and 1,200 health workers, including doctors, have been employed, with approval for an additional 1,000 to strengthen service delivery. A
ll general hospitals including Gwiwa, Garki, Gantsa, Guri, and Gwaram General Hospitals, have been upgraded with water supplies and modern medical facilities.
The administration is also training 187 medical students in Cyprus and has introduced the “Girl for Health” program, which enrolls qualified girls from rural areas into colleges of health science and posts them back to their communities upon graduation.
In the political sphere, Governor Namadi is a game-changer who actively promotes youth participation in governance. This is evident in the introduction of Government Public Engagement (Gwamnati Da Jam”a) and the strategic inclusion of young people in his administration and his prioritization of youth development through education, skills acquisition, and empowerment.
Notably, youths from the state have been trained both locally and internationally, including a recent group sent to China for training in tractor assembly and maintenance, a forward-thinking step to boost mechanized farming and address food security.
Governor Namadi has also demonstrated a strong commitment to revitalizing the civil service. Jigawa State now ranks among those offering better remuneration and welfare for civil servants.
Upon assuming office, he immediately lifted the embargo on employment and directed the recruitment of staff into various educational institutions to ensure improved public service delivery.
Further commendation is due for his promotion of meritocracy and fairness in political appointments. His administration has consistently appointed competent individuals into key positions without regard for political affiliations, building a strong and focused team that shares his vision for progress.
One of the most commendable aspects of his governance is his respect for the independence of the State House of Assembly. In contrast to the common trend of executive interference in legislative affairs, Governor Namadi has maintained a clear boundary, allowing the Assembly to function independently. This is a testament to his commitment to democratic principles and good governance.
Governor Namadi’s visionary leadership has brought about real, measurable progress. His administration has laid a solid foundation for a more prosperous, inclusive, and self-reliant future. Through his commitment to good governance, he has inspired hope, empowered communities, and placed Jigawa State firmly on the path of sustainable growth and development.
In light of the above, we wholeheartedly commend and congratulate His Excellency, Governor Umar Namadi, for his remarkable achievements. We urge him to sustain the momentum and continue to raise the standard of governance in Jigawa State
Sarki, Ph.D., writes from Dutse Capital, Jigawa State.
