Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education as the cornerstone of sustainable development, declaring it the most valuable investment for the state’s future.
The Governor made the statement at the 2nd Combined Convocation Ceremony of Sule Lamido University, where graduates from six academic sessions 2018/2019 to 2024/2025 were celebrated.
Describing education as the backbone of long-term stability and growth, Governor Namadi emphasised that human capital remains the most critical asset for any society.
Historic Milestone
He noted that the convocation marked a historic milestone in the university’s evolution, just over a decade after its establishment.
The ceremony featured the award of 4,109 bachelor’s degrees and the conferment of honorary doctorates on distinguished personalities, including Umar Faruk II, alongside other notable figures in the humanitarian and development sectors.
Highlighting policy direction, the governor revealed that “education has consistently received between 26 and 30 percent of the state’s annual budget.”
According to him, the sustained investment has led to improved infrastructure, enhanced teaching standards, increased student enrolment, and a reduction in out-of-school children across Jigawa.
Governor Namadi also outlined efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education, noting that eight senior secondary schools have been upgraded into centres of excellence equipped with modern teaching tools.
He added that the state was upgrading its College of Remedial and Advanced Studies in Babura to support higher-level technical training in line with national standards.
In a major expansion of higher education, the governor disclosed that the state government has taken over a private university in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, with plans to convert it into a specialised institution for medical and allied health sciences under a public-private partnership framework.
At Sule Lamido University, several ongoing and completed projects were highlighted, including the establishment of a Faculty of Medicine, new student hostels, staff housing, a sabbatical lodge, a wetland research centre, and a new convocation arena.
Namadi reiterated his vision to elevate the institution to world-class status both nationally and internationally.
The governor also underscored the importance of the newly established Wetland Research Centre, describing it as a strategic response to environmental challenges, particularly climate change and ecosystem degradation.
Addressing the graduating students, he urged them to uphold integrity and contribute meaningfully to society, assuring continued government support for research, innovation, and institutional development.
The event also witnessed the installation of the new Chancellor of the university, further cementing the institution’s growing stature in Nigeria’s academic landscape.
Details of the engagement was contained in a press statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary Hamisu Gumel.