Gov. Namadi after receiving the NIPR’s Diamond Award for Excellence in Food Security.
Having bagged two prestigious awards in Agriculture and Food Security by recognised bodies in Nigeria in just 18 months of becoming a Governor, is enough a testimony of Governor Umar Namadi’s commitment to making Jigawa state the hub for Food security and agricultural advancement in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the apex body for public relations practitioners in Nigeria, has just conferred the Diamond Prize Award of Excellence in Food Security on Gov. Namadi on 14th January 2025.
With the award, being the first of its kind in the country, was presented at an investiture by the Council of the NIPR and was held at the Ahmadu Bello Hall, State Secretariat, Dutse.
Besides the historic award, Gov. Namadi was also officially decorated as a Patron of the Institute, which also ca,e along a Prize of N200,000 for his exceptional contributions to the nation.
Dr Ike Neliaku, the President and th Council Chairman of NIPR in his speech before the investiture, said Namadi’s transformative strides in the agricultural sector were visible and attractive.
He explained that the transformation is positioning Jigawa State to be a hub of food production and a key contributor to Nigeria’s food security and economic diversification, which may feed Africa as a nation and the world at large, in the near future.
Neliaku, described Namadi, as an honest, upright, incorruptible, and hardworking leader, whose passion to serve his people knows no bounds since assumption of office.
“We are here to give honor to whom honor is due, as Gov. Namadi has demonstrated exceptional commitment to food security, governance and nation-building. He is a beacon of hope and a model of effective leadership,” the NIPR Boss said.
Meanwhile, on behalf of the Institute, Neliaku announced a plan to establish an award, “NIPR Umar Namadi prize for the best graduating student in Mass Communications,” at Khadija University Majia.
He also announced the establishment of Umar Namadi Centre of Excellence in Development and Agricultural Communication, at another tertiary institutions in the state in Namadi’s honor.
Mr Sagir Musa (ANIPR), Jigawa State Commissioner for Information
Earlier in Novermber 2024, Nigeria NewsDirect Media, also recognised Namadi’s achievements in agroAgro-Investments and security, thus decorated him with a pretigious award for the Governor of the Year 2024, for Agro-Investment and Security.
The award ceremony which held in Lagos, recognized Namadi’s exceptional leadership and transformative initiatives in Jigawa State’s agricultural sector and beyond.
The efforts of his administration in these sectors and more, resulted in significant advancements in food security, economic growth and rural development, especially with the adoption of mechanised farming.
In the past year, His Excellency Umar Namadi, revitalized agriculture in Jigawa State and Nigeria at large, which resulted in increased access to inputs and provided farmers with agricultural inputs, tractors and farm implements.
The administration procured 10, 500 metric tonnes of NPK, 420 metric tonnes of eurea, 15, 400 ltrs of agrochemicals harvest, 5,910ltrs of insecticides and 2,220kg of fungicide.
The administration however, procured certified seeds of 64.1 metric tonnes of millet, 673.75 metric tones of rice, 6.3 metric tones of sesame and 3.7 metric tones of maize.
Under the established Jigawa State Agricultural Mechanization Service Company, about 30 Master Technicians were inaugurated and sent for specialised training in China, to stir the affairs of the company.
The Namadi administration in 2024, had established the Jigawa state Agricultural Transformation Agency and introduced the Jigawa Farmer Registration, to reduce challenges associated with inputs distribution and it has become a model in the country.
To improve on modern farming, Namadi introduced 360 tractors, 70 combined harvesters, 150 planters, and assorted implements to promote large-scale mechanized agriculture.
Muntaqa Namadi is the Jigawa state Commissioner for Agriculture!
In wheat production, the Federal government selected Jigawa, due to its commitment, to cultivate 80,000 hectares of wheat out of the 100,000 hecters targeted by the FG, under the National Growth Scheme and Agro-pocket program (NAGCS-AP).
In this regard, about 85,444 farners benefitted and 133,652 hectares was cultivated, with support provided to the farmers by the project.
In the area of livestock Disease control and prevention, the agric ministry vaccinated over 565,000 animals as part of its routine vaccine exercises with about 280,616 livestock vaccinated to control animal diseases outbreak(anthrax).
Furthermore, the Namadi administration in 2024, improved fishing and aquaculture, by restocking the three water bodies with 90,000 fongerlings across the three Senetorial Zones in the state and as an outcome, fishing festival was conducted in Kalgwai Babrage Ayama District in Auyo local government area.
To further strengthen Extension Services in Jigawa, 1,435 Extension Agents were recruited and another 300 Community Animal Health Extension workers, to provide farmers with vital knowledge and support in 2024.
However, in an aim to promote economic growth, the administration empowered 2,200 youths under the Rice Millionaire Project, which showcased the potential of agriculture for income generation and poverty reduction amongst teeming uneunemployed youths in the state.
The micro credit scheme of the administration, also empowered about 12,042 widows, with three goats each at Maigatari, Kafin Hausa, Buji, Kazaure, Kiyawa, Gagarawa, Guri and Yankwashi local councils all in 2024.
Having a strong passion for Peace and Security, the Governor stood tall to a visible achievement in the farmers herders conflict resolution and established the Jigawa State Farmers and Herdsmen Board In 2024.
To this date, the board has successfully demarcated over 10,000 hectares of land to prevent encroachment and reduce conflicts, while it mapped communal grazing reserves and irrigation sites for equitable resource management.
It installed three solar-powered boreholes across senatorial districts and converted six wind-powered facilities to solar, in collaboration with FAO and constructed water schemes in Zinder to reduce cross-border migration conflicts, conducted border monitoring with Miyetti Allah to minimize migrant-related disputes.
The board however, successfully conducted sensitization visits to local government chairmen and emirate councils, in order to achieve strong grassroot awareness.
To promote irrigation, the administration in 2024, contracted a consultant to assess, design and provide a bill of quantities for 10 potential dams to develop more irrigation scheme in the state.
In a nutshell, the key milestones which paved the way for the conferment of the award on the governor, includes Irrigation Expansion, Mechanization of Farming, Support for Farmers and Agro-Processing Development.
Others include, Livestock Development and Future Plans for the establishment of an Agricultural Transformation Agency in 2025, to accelerate Jigawa’s agricultural development strategy.
