Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to transform agriculture into a powerful driver of industrial growth and economic empowerment.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday after Governor Namadi received the Governor of the Year Award on Agriculture and was also invested as Grand Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Jigawa State Council at the Government House, Dutse.
Governor Namadi described the award as an honour for the people and government of Jigawa State, recognizing the collective efforts of all stakeholders. He emphasized that agriculture remains the backbone of the state’s economy, contributing about 46 percent to its GDP, and pledged continued investment to empower smallholder farmers and modernize the sector.
“Our mission is to turn farming into business. We want every smallholder farmer to grow beyond subsistence, accessing inputs, credit, and mechanization support to increase yield and income,” the governor said.
He noted that the state has taken bold steps in mechanization by acquiring over 300 tractors, 60 combine harvesters, 150 threshers, 150 boom sprayers, and 150 ploughs, while establishing 60 agricultural service centres across the state.
These, he said, are being managed under the newly created Jigawa State Mechanization Company Limited to ensure transparency and digital monitoring of farm operations.
Namadi further revealed that Jigawa now leads the country in wheat, sesame, and hibiscus production, and ranks second in rice production, with cultivation expanding from 87,000 to 350,000 hectares and yields doubling in recent years.
The governor expressed gratitude to the NUJ for the recognition, saying it would inspire his team to achieve more. He also commended journalists for their crucial role in promoting accountability and strengthening democracy.
Earlier, NUJ National President Comrade Alhassan Yahya applauded Governor Namadi’s developmental strides, especially in agriculture, education, and infrastructure, describing his leadership as focused and result-oriented.
Yahya hinted that the NUJ may hold its next national meeting in Jigawa to enable journalists nationwide to witness the state’s remarkable progress.
The ceremony was attended by members of the NUJ National Executive Council, state council chairmen from the Northwest, commissioners, advisers, media executives, and other top government officials.
