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Jigawa at 34: The Poetry of Progress, the Philosophy of Responsibility-Lamara Garba

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11 months ago

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Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state with his predecessors in office during the celebration of the creation of Jigawa State

 

By Lamara Garba Azare

Thirty-four years in the life of a state is like a river carving its way through rocks; steady, patient, sometimes turbulent, yet always forward. Jigawa, born on that fateful Tuesday, 27th August 1991, out of Kano’s map and skepticism, was once dismissed as barren land with little hope of survival. Some mocked it as a mere “civil service state,” others doubted whether it could pay salaries, let alone build an economy. Yet, as the calendar marks 34 years, the story has changed. Jigawa has risen with quiet resilience to become one of the most peaceful and administratively stable states in Nigeria.

The early years were defined by scarcity. The first military administrator, Colonel Olayinka Sule, is remembered for lamenting that he inherited “only one brick house.” That statement captured the reality of Jigawa’s beginning: a state without structures, institutions, or resources. Roads were scarce, schools too few, and hospitals barely functional. Yet the people endured, and leaders improvised. Colonel Ibrahim Aliyu, who followed, set in motion the first structures of governance, laying the foundation of ministries and local councils. To many, those years felt like planting seeds in dry ground, but they were necessary steps in the long journey of becoming.

With the return of civilian rule in 1999, Ibrahim Saminu Turaki stepped in as the first elected governor. His administration invested in fiscal reforms, introducing measures to expand internally generated revenue and experiment with new public-private partnerships. Though his tenure was not without controversies, he carved out a fiscal pathway that reduced the dependency on federal allocation. After him came Sule Lamido, whose eight years brought a new sense of pride to Jigawa. Lamido, influenced by his socialist leaning, embarked on massive infrastructural transformation—roads, schools, hospitals, and housing projects. He established the Jigawa State University at Kafin Hausa, expanded Dutse Airport, and made the capital a hub of activity. He also became known for his reforms in public service, branding Jigawa as one of the few states with relative transparency in public finance.

After Lamido came Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, fondly called “Baba Mai Calculator.” His tenure emphasized prudence, continuity, and rural development. He is remembered for expanding road projects, completing water schemes, and paying attention to agricultural reforms. Under him, Jigawa consolidated its reputation as a state that avoided reckless borrowing and maintained financial discipline. His eight years were defined by calm governance, with Jigawa standing out in a country often shaken by political turbulence.

Today, Governor Umar A. Namadi continues from where his predecessors stopped. At the 34th anniversary celebration, he spoke with both gratitude and resolve. He reminded his audience that Jigawa’s story is not about individuals but about a people who endured hardship, believed in progress, and built a state from near-nothing. “With profound gratitude to Allah SWT,” he said, “I am delighted to stand among our past leaders and our people on this historic day. From the bereft position of 1991, Jigawa has come of age. It has not been a smooth journey, but an arduous one marked by sacrifice, resilience, and disciplined leadership.” His words carried the weight of history as he acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors—military and civilian alike—and framed his administration as another link in the chain of continuity.

On Wednesday, 27th August 2025, the State capital, Dutse, became a theatre of gratitude and reflection. Past governors, elder statesmen, traditional rulers, academicians, and citizens converged not merely to celebrate a date, but to affirm the philosophy of unity—that leadership, in its truest form, is a relay where each handoff builds a greater tomorrow. The Shekoni, in words that carried both humility and grandeur, captured the essence of the day when he declared:
“With profound gratitude to Allah SWT, I am highly delighted for having the privilege of being in the midst of all the highly notable individuals here present, who have greatly contributed to the making of our dear State of Jigawa. In particular, I am truly highly honoured and humbled by the presence of all the past leaders that have found time to be with us here today to grace this auspicious and memorable occasion of the 34th Anniversary of the Creation of Jigawa State. We most profoundly thank Allah SWT, by Whose grace, mercy and benevolence, you are all opportune to be with us here today to mark the occasion.”

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His words reminded the gathering that Jigawa is not the achievement of one man or one government but a collective labour of leaders, elites, and citizens alike. In a moment that stilled the hall, the Emir of Dutse rose to speak. His voice, calm and regal, carried the authority of history and the warmth of a father blessing his children. He said, “My dear people of Jigawa, today is not just about celebrating years; it is about celebrating patience, vision, and unity. When this State was created, many doubted its survival. But see where we stand today thriving, dignified, respected. This is the fruit of discipline, of faith in Allah, and of leaders who placed service above self. As we mark 34 years, let us remember that development is not only about roads, hospitals, and schools. It is also about the moral fibre of our people, the dignity of our youth, the empowerment of our women, and the protection of our traditions. Let us continue to live as one family, bound by faith, guided by wisdom, and inspired by hope. For the future of Jigawa is not in the hands of a few—it is in the hands of all.”

His message resonated deeply: that progress is incomplete without unity and moral strength, and that Jigawa’s greatness lies in its people as much as in its infrastructure. To balance tradition with intellect, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, former Minister of Education and one of Jigawa’s most distinguished daughters, offered her reflection. With the elegance of scholarship and the passion of a patriot, she declared, “As we celebrate Jigawa at 34, let us not only recount the legacies of our leaders but also measure how far we have come in nurturing the minds of our children. Education has always been the ladder out of poverty, the torch that lights the path of progress. I am proud that Jigawa has invested in this sacred sector, but I must urge that we do more. Our girls must be given the wings to fly, our boys the skills to create, and our teachers the honour they deserve. For it is only through knowledge, discipline, and values that the dream of Greater Jigawa will find permanence. Let us ensure that no child in this land is left behind in the march towards development. That, for me, will be the greatest legacy of our 34 years.”

Her words cast a prophetic challenge to the State: that physical structures will one day fade, but education remains an immortal gift that shapes destinies across generations. Together, the speeches of the Shekoni, the Emir of Dutse, and Professor Rufai wove a tapestry of perspectives: governance, tradition, and scholarship. It was a reminder that true progress requires the harmony of all pillars of society.

Namadi then turned to the present, outlining his efforts under the 12-Point Agenda for Greater Jigawa. Barely two years in office, he has overseen the completion of over 300 km of inherited roads with another 800 km under construction, embarked on a 600-unit housing scheme with hundreds already completed, and pushed forward the long-awaited Dutse Water Project. His government has launched erosion and flood mitigation projects to reclaim degraded lands, empowered over 300,000 youths and women through job creation programmes, and established new agencies to modernize agriculture and livestock production. “These are not just projects,” he declared, “they are building blocks for a greater Jigawa.”

But even in celebration, the challenges were not ignored. Jigawa still struggles with out-of-school children, with youth in search of jobs, and with the slow pace of industrialization. Poverty, though reduced, still casts a shadow across many families. At 34, the state stands at a crossroad. Its achievements prove that steady governance can make a difference, but the next chapter will depend on how leaders confront the deeper questions of education, employment, and industrial growth.

The story of Jigawa is the story of unity across political divides, across time, and across visions. It is the story of resilience, of leaders who built not for themselves but for a people, and of citizens who have borne sacrifices with patience. The anniversary, however, was not just a look backwards; it was a gaze forward.

As the Emir reminded, unity and morality must remain the compass. As Professor Rufai urged, education must remain the ladder. And as the Shekoni prayed, faith must remain the anchor. Jigawa at 34 is not just a celebration of years; it is a philosophy of progress. It is the poetry of resilience. It is the reminder that from barren soil can grow a garden if nurtured with patience, vision, and faith. Undeniably, thirty-four years on, Jigawa teaches Nigeria a lesson: that from barren soil, a garden can bloom if watered by discipline, faith, and unity of purpose.

Lamara Garba Azare, writes from Kano

 

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Opinion

Kano Governor Yusuf Shortlisted for Africa’s SANKOFA Award of Excellence in Infrastructural Development

Published

4 days ago

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July 25, 2026

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By Abba Anwar

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf makes a list of potential Awardees across West African sub-region, observed and screened by an African association named Réseau des Jeunes du Sahel pour le Progrès, le Développement et la Démocratie (Network of Sahel Youth for Progress, Development and Democracy), on infrastructural development in their respective states.

The top most Award from the association, called Sankofa Award of Excellence across various sectors, is given to people or leaders who excel in their respective areas of work or responsibilities.

With the recent disclosure made by the Commissioner of Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation, Nura Ma’aji Sumaila, on the state of infrastructural development and payments of contracts in the state, the association included Kano to be part of the states across Nigeria and West African countries, screened for an Award of Excellence.

Source close to the association reveals that, Governor Yusuf’s achievements in the area of infrastructural development, could not be neglected and the Governor stands a better position to be seen and amplified across the globe. As a result of his commitment and service to humanity.

Parts of the major reasons that informed the association’s decision to include Governor Yusuf for Sankofa Award of Excellence for Infrastructural Development in West Africa is his genuine inclusion of infrastructures that are human centred, modern, location specified and standardization process and procedures.

According to the source, the Screening Committee saddled with the responsibility of selecting qualified personalities across West Africa are in their final stage of releasing the result. Assuring that, under infrastructural development, Kano excels. Though not officially announced.

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When Governor Yusuf gets this Award, he will be the second person from Nigeria who bags the Award. Last year the Deputy Senate President Barau I Jibrin, PhD, CFR, got the SANKOFA Award for Legislative Excellence in Africa. Coincidentally, Governor Yusuf who is also from Kano state, would be the second Nigerian in this category.

The President of the association Mr Fassoko Doumbia, from Mali, confirmed to my source that, from all indication, “Kano State Governor, from Nigeria, Mr Abba Kabir Yusuf is in the forefront of those screened for the Award.”

With this recognition of excellence, the Award places Governor Yusuf to be one of the best Nigerian governors. And the best across West Africa on infrastructural development. One good thing about the Award is, it will as well serve as an engine oil for state commitment and unwavering service delivery.

Mr Doumbia reveals further that “… it is amazing looking at the unmatched number of completed and ongoing projects as Kano has 799 completed projects and 709 projects at various stages of completion. It is encouraging to see that Governor Yusuf is executing over 1,508 developmental projects across all 44 LGAs.”

What keeps hope and commitment alive are the transparent monitoring, evaluation and effective payment to contractors. Of which out of N928 Billion of the total contract sum, the state has already paid over N600 Billion, that’s 64.7% payment rate.
Unlike in many states in Nigeria and West Africa. The association believes that Kano institutionalized transparency through the Ministry of Public Procurement, Projects Monitoring and Evaluation.

The screening committee appreciated Kano’s strategic and balanced infrastructure spread, between urban and rural areas plus improved security. For urban renewal it has the sum of N169 Billion. While there are 5km roads in 38 LGAs with the sum of N118 Billion. They appreciated the rural infrastructure across 44 LGAs with the sum of N397 Billion for roads, education, healthcare, and social services.

While under security infrastructure the total sum of N6.863 Billion for Neighborhood Security Watch offices in 36 LGAs. This assured deliberate, balanced development with value for money, quality delivery, and measurable impact on the lives of the people. All courtesy Governor Yusuf.

It serves also as indices of how Governor Yusuf makes the list for such Award, that his infrastructures are signals for the delivery of landmark, human-centered projects as Kano completed tangible projects that directly improve lives of the citizenry, with 40 metropolitan roads, 44 PHCs, 120 schools, 5 water plants, with the ongoing Dan Agundi and Tal’udu flyovers at over 80% completion.

It has also been discovered that, Kano enjoys proven technical leadership and political will. Which glaringly displays the political will and technical competence required to drive massive infrastructure without corruption or delays. This is part of the major engagements being identified, which eventually resulted into the popular Sankofa Award of Excellence.

Anwar writes from Kano
Saturday, 25th July, 2026

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Opinion

Beyond the Numbers: What the Ekiti 2026 Governorship Results Reveal About Coalition Politics and Path to 2027

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1 week ago

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July 20, 2026

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By Abass Sherifat Taiwo

Returning Officer Adenike Oladiji, a professor and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday, at roughly 3:13 a.m. Incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC won comfortably, polling 319,224 votes across the state’s 16 local government areas. His closest challenger, the PDP’s Oluwole Oluyede, trailed far behind with 40,543 votes, while the ADC’s Dare Bejide came in third with 12,872 votes.

Of the 384,940 voters accredited for the election, 375,777 cast valid votes, a validity rate of about 97.6%, suggesting relatively few spoiled or rejected ballots.

Oyebanji’s win carries added weight as the first consecutive re-election in Ekiti’s history, a state known for unseating incumbents since 1999. His dominance was also total: he won all sixteen LGAs, and even his closest contest, in Ikere, was still a comfortable margin. His five strongest councils alone delivered nearly half his statewide votes, showing concentrated rather than thin support.

Elite alignment mattered too. For the first time, every living former Ekiti governor backed his re-election, leaving the opposition without any prominent defectors to rally behind. This unified backing functioned as a coordinated endorsement strategy, a visible signal of consensus that opposition parties had no comparable message to counter.

Between the opposition parties, PDP’s showing is more telling than ADC’s. ADC placing third as a newer platform isn’t surprising, but PDP, a long-established national party, barely crossed 3,000 votes in most councils, pointing to weak grassroots structure rather than just a bad cycle. The deeper question is whether this reflects a structural failure or a failure to sustain visibility and message presence at the ward level between election cycles.

Party | Votes | % of Valid Votes
APC | 319,224 | 84.95%
PDP | 40,543 | 10.79%
ADC | 12,872 | 3.43%
ADP | ~1,289 | 0.34%
Accord | 564 | 0.15%
LP | ~263 | 0.07%
AAC | ~188 | 0.05%

When the vote totals of every opposition party are combined, they amount to roughly 55,719 votes, or about 14.83% of all valid votes cast, a stark contrast to the APC’s dominant 84.95% share on its own. Even in a hypothetical scenario where every opposition party ran on a single, fully united ticket, their combined total would still fall short of the APC’s by approximately 263,505 votes. This gap illustrates just how commanding Oyebanji’s victory was: it was not simply a matter of a divided opposition splitting votes among several parties, but a result that would have withstood even total opposition unity.

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Following the Ekiti result, APC framed it as proof of growing national support ahead of 2027, pointing to the rise in its vote totals in the state from about 187,000 in 2022 to roughly 318,000 in 2026, and projecting even higher numbers for Tinubu in 2027. Opposition parties, including the ADC and SDP, pushed back, arguing that Ekiti’s off-cycle, low-turnout nature makes it a poor predictor of a national contest.

Both claims need scrutiny. APC’s growth trend is real, but it happened in a state the party already governs, where incumbency and federal attention worked in its favour, so it says more about consolidating an existing stronghold than expanding into contested territory. The opposition’s caution is fair, but understates that APC’s structural advantages, incumbency and federal resources, aren’t unique to Ekiti and could repeat elsewhere. The more accurate takeaway is that Ekiti confirms APC’s strength where it already holds power, without proving it can replicate that in genuinely competitive states by 2027.

ADC’s third-place finish in Ekiti, just 3.43% of the vote, looks unremarkable on its own, but it only makes sense next to the party’s national story. A year earlier, ADC had positioned itself as the face of a new opposition coalition, pulling in heavyweight names like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi with the promise of a unified front against the APC. That promise hasn’t held: Obi and Kwankwaso have since defected to a rival platform, the NDC, while ADC battles leadership disputes and court cases that put its own 2027 participation in doubt.

That is the real lesson here for coalition politics as a communication problem, not just a structural one. ADC did not fail for lack of big names, it had plenty. What it could not do was hold one coherent message together once multiple egos and regional bases began pulling in different directions. Whether it can still become the platform it promised by 2027 is uncertain, but Ekiti is an early sign of a bigger unraveling.

Beyond Ekiti, the result speaks to a deeper pattern in Nigerian opposition politics: alliances are far easier to announce than to sustain. This suggests APC’s greatest advantage going into the next general election may not be its own performance, but the opposition’s continued inability to stay united. The near-total validity rate and one-sided outcome in Ekiti also raise questions about how genuinely competitive Nigeria’s state elections currently are, and whether low-turnout, off-cycle polls like this one can reliably signal national voter sentiment.

The Ekiti result is less a story about Oyebanji’s popularity alone than about the opposition’s structural fragility. Even a fully united opposition ticket would not have closed the gap, which means the problem isn’t vote-splitting, it’s organisational weakness, unstable coalitions, and the absence of a party capable of matching APC’s machinery and incumbency advantages. What Nigeria’s opposition needs before 2027 isn’t just structural unity, but a coherent, disciplined communication strategy capable of sustaining one message across factions, something no coalition has yet demonstrated. Until Nigeria’s opposition can build a coalition that survives contact with real electoral pressure, results like Ekiti’s are likely to repeat themselves in APC strongholds heading into 2027.

By Abass Sherifat Taiwo
Department of Development and Strategic communication University of Abuja
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Opinion

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Has Earned a Vote of Confidence on Education

Published

2 weeks ago

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July 19, 2026

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By Hon. Muhammad Sanusi S. Kiru, FCIA
(Former Commissioner of Education, Kano State)

There comes a time in public discourse when fairness must prevail over partisanship and facts must take precedence over preconceived opinions. That moment has come in my assessment of the educational reforms being implemented by the administration of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

As a former Commissioner of Education and someone who has consistently evaluated government performance with candour, I owe the people of Kano State an honest appraisal of the Governor’s performance in the education sector. After objectively reviewing the administration’s interventions from 2024 to 2026, particularly its determined efforts to address the acute shortage of teachers, I have reached an inescapable conclusion: Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf deserves a vote of confidence for his outstanding commitment to the development of education in Kano State.

One of the greatest challenges confronting our educational system has been the persistent shortage of teachers, resulting in unfavourable teacher-pupil and teacher-student ratios across many public schools. This problem has adversely affected the quality of teaching and learning for many years.

The present administration has confronted this challenge with courage and determination. Between 2024 and 2026, the government recruited or absorbed 8,715 permanent teachers and engaged 3,688 temporary BESDA Cohort V teachers, bringing the documented total to 12,403 education personnel. With recruitments by other education agencies, the overall figure is widely estimated at approximately 13,000 teachers.

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This represents one of the largest teacher recruitment exercises in the history of Kano State. More importantly, it is a strategic investment in the future of our children and in the long-term development of the state. By substantially reducing the teacher deficit, the administration has strengthened both the basic and post-basic education subsectors and created a stronger foundation for improved educational outcomes. The new recruitment not only means making our classrooms more vibrant and ensuring that teaching is consistently taking place, but it also signifies a positive shift in the narrative reflected in monitoring reports, the annual school census, and national personnel data.

Looking at the tangible achievements now before us, particularly in education, it is clear that the administration has made significant and commendable progress. Leadership should always be judged by measurable accomplishments, and in this regard, the Governor has acquitted himself admirably.

One area where the administration must, however, improve is public communication. Many of its remarkable achievements have not received the publicity they deserve. A well-coordinated and effective publicity strategy would ensure that citizens fully appreciate the scope and impact of these landmark interventions.

As His Excellency prepares to personally attend the special ceremony for the presentation of appointment letters to the newly employed teachers on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, I consider it appropriate to congratulate him on this historic milestone. The ceremony is more than a presentation of appointment letters; it is a celebration of renewed hope for thousands of families, a reaffirmation of government’s commitment to quality education, and a significant step towards building a stronger educational system for future generations.

I wish His Excellency a successful and hitch-free ceremony and pray that Almighty Allah grants him wisdom, good health, and continued strength to sustain the ongoing transformation of the education sector. May this programme mark the beginning of even greater achievements in the quest to provide every child in Kano State with access to quality education delivered by competent and dedicated teachers.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf deserves sincere commendation for these giant strides. If this policy of continuous recruitment and investment in teachers is sustained, it will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the defining legacies of his administration. Future generations will look back on this period as a turning point in the educational history of Kano State.

I therefore extend my heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency and offer him a well-deserved vote of confidence. I also wish him every success as he formally presents appointment letters to these newly recruited teachers on Tuesday. May the occasion be memorable, successful, and another milestone in the march towards educational excellence in Kano State.

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