Dutse, Jan, 20, 2026
Gvernor Umar Namadi of Jigawa state, has advocated for renewed collective action, stronger regional cooperation, and a recommitment to good governance, to secure a prosperous and stable future for Northern Nigeria.
The governor made the call on Tuesday while delivering a keynote address as chief host, at the 14th Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance, held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Dutse.
The lecture was hosted by the Jigawa State Government in collaboration with the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation. In his speech, Namadi described the memorial lecture as a platform for reflection on leadership and governance.
He explained that the life and legacy of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, will continue to offer enduring lessons on unity and inclusive development.
“For the government and people of Jigawa State, it is both an honour and a privilege to host this distinguished gathering, a platform dedicated to commemorating the remarkable life, times, exemplary leadership, and enduring legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello,” the governor said.
He observed that while Northern Nigeria is endowed with human and natural resources, the region continues to face serious challenges, including insecurity, youth unemployment, low human development indicators, and social dislocation.
Namadi further stressed that these challenges demand coordinated and sustained response.
The Governor revealed that meaningful progress can only be achieved when governments, institutions, and communities work together with a collective purpose.
“It is either we effectively continue to organise or we continue to painfully agonise. As we sustain the current momentum of progress in getting organized, we are safeguarding the prosperity of the current and future generations,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the governor commended the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, for its consistent efforts in preserving the ideals of the Sardauna, through leadership engagements, education-focused programmes, and annual lectures, that stimulate policy dialogue across the region.
He however, acknowledged the ongoing reforms within the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) under the leadership of the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
He thus highlighted that the initiatives such as the establishment of a regional Security Trust Fund and the strengthening of the Forum’s institutional framework, reflect a collective resolve to confront insecurity and drive socio-economic development.
Furthermore, Namadi congratulated the recipients of the 2026 Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Awards, describing them as worthy exemplars of leadership, integrity, and service, while expressing appreciation to all dignitaries for honouring the occasion.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state, highlighted the urgency of translating discussions on education and governance into concrete action.
He stressed the importance of particularly addressing the crisis of out-of-school children and improving access to quality basic education in Northern Nigeria.
The event featured a memorial lecture delivered by Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, former Minister of Education, who spoke on the theme of equitable access to quality basic education, as a foundation for human capital development and regional progress.
Aisha Ahmed ✍ from Dutse
