Leadership Award: : Celebrating Namadi”s purposeful Leadership
By Muhd Zangina Kura, Dutse
The prestigious Leadership Governor of the Year 2024* award was conferred on His Excellency, Governor Malam Umar Namadi, FCA a recognition that came as no surprise to those who have closely followed the transformative strides in Jigawa State since he assumed office nearly two years ago.
The Leadership award is bestowed upon deserving individuals after a rigorous and transparent vetting process by the newspaper’s management and editorial team. Governor Namadi emerged as the standout candidate for this year’s honor, a testament to his visionary leadership, which continues to inspire hope and drive prosperity in Jigawa State.
The accolade underscores his exceptional performance across all sectors, rekindling the aspirations of Jigawa’s people and elevating their expectations for continued progress.
Upon receiving the award at a colourful events held at Banquet Hall State House Abuja, Governor Namadi expressed deep gratitude for the recognition stating that it would further motivate him and his administration to redouble their efforts in making Jigawa prosperous and Great.
When I saw the news of my nomination in the papers and on social media, I was genuinely delighted. I never anticipated it, nor did I lobby for it. This award is a call to greater dedication and accountability in serving the good people of Jigawa State, he said.
The governor also commended Leadership* Newspapers for upholding the legacy of its late founder, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, by maintaining high journalistic standards, ethics, and professionalism.
Governor Namadi’s recognition and achievements did not come by chance but are the product of dedication and strategic effort..
His administration’s 12-point agenda has redefined governance in Jigawa, yielding tangible results across all critical sectors.
Recognizing education as the bedrock of sustainable development, Governor Namadi prioritized revitalizing the sector. In 2024, he allocated 30% of the state’s budget to education, recruited over 8,000 teachers for basic and secondary schools, and renovated classrooms while providing essential learning materials.
Additionally, student scholarships were increased by 150% and 130 student including girls were sponsored to study medicine in Cyprus*. The state also acquired a private university to expand access to tertiary education.
To improve healthcare delivery, the governor recruited over 1,000 medical workers also give another approal foe recruiting additional 1000 in this year 2025, , upgraded health facilities statewide, and enrolled more than 145,000 underprivileged citizens into social health insurance schemes.
Furthermore, five dialysis centers were established across the state to provide free services to kidney patients—fulfilling Governor Namadi’s pledge that no one in Jigawa should die due to an inability to pay medical bills.”
These efforts have led to over 25% reduction in maternal and child mortality rates in the state.
In pursuit of food security, Governor Namadi’s administration introduced an agricultural mechanization policy procuring 300 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, and other farm implements
The establishment of 30 agricultural workshops and the clearing of new farmlands boosted productivity, resulting in a record 1.6 million metric tons of rice in 2024 , alongside significant yields in other crops.
Additionally, 60,000 youths and women received empowerment training, while N3 billion was allocated for civil servant agricultural loans—strengthening livelihoods alongside the state’s broader transformation.
The administration completed over 450 kilometers of inherited road projects and awarded contracts for 45 new roads spanning 835.36 kilometers aimed at enhance connectivity to facilitate movement of good and services for egalitarian development.
To deepen democracy, Governor Namadi launched the “Government and People” an initiative to provide platform for direct engagement with citizens, under which government presented the project and program it is carrying out to improve the soci-economic life of the people while the citizens allowed to ask questions and demands for specific project/government intervention.
Governor Namadi’s commitment to transparency and accountability has enabled the execution of numerous people-centric projects despite limited resources in the state government coffers..
His administration’s strides in information technology (IT) Transformation, further underscore his forward-thinking approach.
The state has already achieved over 90 percent provision of drinking water to the people of the state as efforts continue to enhance water supply facilities including Greater Dutse water project.
Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, who chaired the 17th edition of the Leadership awards, aptly described Governor Namadi and fellow awardees as”embodiments of hope, integrity, and innovation” qualities essential for Nigeria’s growth.
This award is not just an honor but a reaffirmation of Governor Namadi’s unwavering dedication to the welfare of Jigawa’s people and humanity, laying Fundation for the sustainable growth and development of the state.
At’tajdid News
