How Gov Namadi’s Purposeful Leadership, Reforms Are Transforming Jigawa

The sterling and transformative leadership of His Excellency Governor Malam Umar Namadi began attracting worldwide attention in less than one year of his stewardship. Dozens of accolades have been conferred on him day by day.

Upon taking the oath of office in 2023 Governor Namadi unveiled his 12 point agenda formulated as a guiding framework or blueprint for transforming Jigawa State to greater heights.

Shortly after unveiling the 12 point agenda during his inaugural speech the statement generated mixed reactions as to whether the agenda was realistic or not.

Questions were raised. Did the governor have the audacity and political commitment to surmount the challenges that are inevitable in the course of implementing the agenda and where would the needed resources come from.

Those who know Governor Namadi’s track record and especially his steadfastness in promoting public accountability transparency professionalism and effective service delivery maintained confidence in actualising the dream.

Many of those who hold the opinion that Governor Namadi is always very serious about any job entrusted to him and that he has full knowledge of the burden of leadership such as that of a state governor were optimistic that he has the potential to set new records in the history of Jigawa State.

Other people who always view politicians as a group of self centred individuals with more passion and commitment to paperwork and promoting their political interests than to the collective public interest remained very suspicious and skeptical about the 12 point agenda.

Those groups who always look at politicians as people who are more committed to the next election rather than the future of society described the agenda as the usual political story and mere paperwork.

From the selection of his cabinet and core team of aides Governor Namadi started to prove his zeal and commitment to actualising his dream of making Jigawa prosperous and great.

After swearing in his cabinet and political aides Governor Namadi mandated them to sign performance bonds in which every appointee agreed to be assessed periodically to determine their capacity to remain in office.

The performance bonds introduced by Governor Namadi created a new culture in the state political history as political appointments have become result oriented rather than mere political gestures.

In less than two years Governor Namadi completed all the inherited 25 road projects covering over 350 km and awarded 43 new road projects covering over 980 km across the state.

In his first budget the governor allocated over 35 percent of the state budget to education to ensure speedy transformation of the sector.

This made it possible for the state to recruit over 7000 teachers both permanent and temporary sign different memoranda of understanding with partners on education enhance mothers and community participation increase students annual scholarships review school feeding and approve a minimum wage.

Looking at Governor Namadi’s commitment the Nigerian Union of Teachers conferred on him an honorary award as the Best Education Performing and Teachers Friendly Governor for the year 2025.

In the area of health Governor Namadi renovated and upgraded over 250 hospitals including primary secondary and tertiary health facilities recruited over 1200 health workers and also gave approval for the recruitment of another 1000 which is currently ongoing.

In the area of youth and women empowerment over 600000 people directly benefited from various skills training empowerment programmes and economic interventions for job creation and poverty eradication.

Under Governor Namadi Jigawa became a key player in national food security and a major producer of rice wheat hibiscus sesame and other crops.

Empowering people through their own businesses has made agriculture both crops and livestock production enjoy multidimensional and unlimited intervention in accordance with the 12 point agenda.

Jigawa under Governor Namadi achieved over 90 percent access to drinking water and also became the first state to achieve free open defecation according to a UNICEF report on water and sanitation status in Nigeria.

Such tangible realistic and evidence based transformation brought about by the Jigawa State government has attracted media houses of international reputation to present awards of excellence to the governor.

Governor Namadi has already silenced opposition members and his critics as many now agree that the 12 point agenda is making a difference in Jigawa.

The transformative agenda and its impact on the social and economic life of Jigawa State attracted some of the leading media houses including Leadership Newspapers which conferred the award of Leadership Governor of the Year 2024 on him. A similar award was also presented to him by Vanguard Newspaper.

Governor Malam Umar Namadi was bestowed with the prestigious Merit Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in recognition of his outstanding leadership and commitment to promoting financial discipline transparency and accountability in public service not only within Jigawa State but across the nation.

Looking at the transformation taking place in Jigawa State agricultural sector the Vice President of Nigeria His Excellency Kashim Shettima described Jigawa as a role model in agricultural transformation and national food security.

The Civil Society Coalition on Peace Security and Conflict Resolution also joined hundreds of others in recognising Governor Namadi visionary leadership with an award of honour as Best Governor in Reforming Basic Education.

Jigawa State Governor Malam Umar Namadi was awarded the 2024 2025 Nigerian Muslim Personality of the Year Award.

The accolade was conferred on Governor Namadi by Muslim News Nigeria most authoritative Islamic newspaper in recognition of his humanitarian services including the Ramadan Feeding programme under which over one million less privileged people are fed annually during the Ramadan period.

Governor Malam Umar Namadi has received the Digital Governor of the Year 2025 Northwest Region award presented to him by the Nigeria GovTech Public Service Awards organised by the Bureau for Public Service Reforms under the Presidency.

The governor received the award for his remarkable efforts in digitising governance and modernising service delivery in his state.

A community foundation the Abdullahi Mahmood Foundation awarded the governor with an Award of Excellence for his outstanding leadership and commitment to human capital development.

The Correspondence Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists Jigawa State chapter joined dozens of others in celebrating and associating with the exemplary leadership and positive transformation taking place in the state under Governor Malam Umar Namadi.

The journalists association designed an accolade presentation to the governor a Good Governance and Accountability award recognising the commitment that has made Jigawa stand as a reference point in present day Nigeria in terms of delivering the dividend of democracy to the doorstep of every citizen.

The most recent award of recognition presented to the governor came from an academic institution. The Federal University Otuoke in Bayelsa State conferred an honorary Doctorate Degree on Governor Umar Namadi in recognition of his contributions to education governance accountability and sustainable development.

Political groups trade unions students unions community organisations civil society international donor partners political leaders and youth groups now hail Governor Namadi 12 point agenda and purposeful leadership.

Congratulations to His Excellency on such a success story of stewardship as the Executive Governor of Jigawa State. This is indeed a cherished moment that must be applauded and we wish him continued success in his humanitarian gestures which are impacting the lives of the people.

Perhaps good governance remains the pillar through which there will be new development growth progress and prosperity for both the state and its people.