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… Transforms Agriculture, Health, Education, Security, Other Sectors With 12-Point Agenda

… Celebrated For His Humility And Unwavering Support For Islamic Values And Development

The Executive Governor of Jigawa State, HE Mallam Umar Namadi, FCE, has emerged the winner of the 2024/2025 Nigerian Muslim Personality of the Year Award, organised by Muslim News, Nigeria’s most authoritative Islamic newspaper

Muslim Personality of the Year was formally announced via a press statement on Friday, November 14, by the newspaper’s publisher, who is also the organiser of the #MNAwards, Alhaji Rasheed Abubakar.

Now in its fifth edition, #MNAwards spotlights Muslim achievers across various strata of the society, including politics and good governance, health, education, law, advocacy, among others.

Past recipients of the category include His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto; Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Executive Governor of Borno State; Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy; and the Vanguards of Hijab – a group of 12 distinguished Muslim personalities who played key roles in securing the landmark Hijab victory at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Alhaji Abubakar congratulated Governor Namadi on his emergence as the 2024/2025 Nigerian Muslim Personality of the Year, while also urging him to see the recognition as a charge to do more for his people, state, and Islam.

The Publisher noted that the decision to honour Governor Namadi, who has been steering the affairs of Jigawa State since 2023 followed a thorough selection process that reviewed several top Muslim personalities across Nigeria.

“Over the past few months, our team worked diligently on various categories of the #MNAwards2024. For the Nigerian Muslim Personality of the Year, many notable individuals were considered and made it to the shortlist.

“However, only one winner could emerge. In the end, the judges unanimously settled on His Excellency, Umar Namadi, the Governor of Jigawa State, based on his unassuming personality and remarkable contributions to governance and the Islamic faith,” he stated. The first-time Governor has led Jigawa State with commendable wisdom, tact, and strategic direction over the past two years. His administration is guided by a comprehensive 12-point development agenda known as the Greater Jigawa Initiative, which outlines his vision for transforming the state across key sectors.

His priority areas include: His priority areas include: Agriculture, education, healthcare, technology and ICT, youth empowerment, infrastructure, security, governance reforms, institutional autonomy, environment, investment and revenue and social protection.

Known for his pro-masses policies and interventions, Governor Namadi has significantly invested in human capital with developmental projects, as well as upgrading schools and health facilities across the state, widening citizens’ access to quality education and healthcare.

Despite the raging insecurity in Northwest Nigeria, Jigawa State remains peaceful and has recorded low security breaches. This is due to the active support Governor Namadi extends to the security agencies.

In an attempt to make life easier for his people, Gov Namadi initiated a massive housing project, with units spread across various local government areas of the state.

“The 1,500 units of housing project is valued at 6 billion naira. About 600 units were earmarked for Dutse, the state capital. Other LGAs got between 200, 150, and 100 units. This addresses a critical aspect of human dignity: accommodation.”

The Governor is also credited for establishing the Jigawa State Youth Employment and Empowerment Agency which has provided jobs for hundreds of thousands of youths, especially women, supported them with funds that make them productive members of the society.

The brilliant initiative has expanded existing businesses and led to the establishment of new ones by young people, thereby boosting the economy and facilitating job opportunities in the state.

In agriculture, the Governor has procured tractors and other farm implements to bolster agribusiness in the state, making farming easier for nearly 90 percent of the population who depend on it. Little wonder he was recently adjudged winner of the Governor of the Year Award on Agriculture by the State’s chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

The Publisher of Muslim News Nigeria also noted that Gov. Namadi has demonstrated unwavering support for Islam in Jigawa State through numerous impactful initiatives. These include the construction and renovation of mosques, promotion of Islamic education, sponsorship of Muslim pilgrims to Hajj, and active support for scholars and religious organisations.

He also highlighted the Governor’s recent policy allowing willing female Muslim security officers to wear the hijab in line with their constitutional rights. Although initially misrepresented by some media outlets as an imposition, the policy was later clarified and widely commended.

Governor Namadi’s administration, Abubakar added, is committed to promoting moral values and peaceful coexistence among all religious communities, in line with his broader goal of social development and community empowerment across the state. “Gov Namadi also maintains a balanced and inclusive approach to governance. He does not discriminate against the Christian community in the State. On the contrary, he has hosted Christian leaders and stakeholders at interfaith meetings aimed at fostering peace, mutual respect, and religious harmony. His administration continues to promote unity and peaceful coexistence among all religious groups in the state,” he noted.

Jigawa State is intensifying its fight against drug abuse and substance misuse through government initiatives supported by the First Lady, Hajiya Hadiza Umar Namadi, a Guest of King Salman for Hajj 2024. She has organized a series of workshops aimed at sensitizing youths on the dangers of hard drugs, promoting awareness and prevention across the state.

Gov Namadi has been widely recognised for his transformative leadership and commitment to good governance, earning him multiple prestigious awards in recent years.

 These include the Award of Excellence for Outstanding and Transformative Leadership from the Abdullahi Mahmood Foundation (March 2025); a Merit Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for promoting financial discipline and accountability (May 2024); and the Diamond Prize for Excellence in Food Security, presented by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in January 2025, in recognition of his strides in agricultural development.

He was also named Governor of the Year 2024 by the Leadership Newspaper Group for his impactful governance, and honoured as the Northwest Digital Governor of the Year by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) under the Presidency, due to his outstanding investment in digitising public service and driving technological innovation across Jigawa State.

Abubakar stated that the latest award from Muslim News Nigeria will add to the growing list of recognitions Gov. Namadi has received for his quiet but impactful leadership.

 He noted that, like some other northern states, Jigawa often maintains a quiet media presence, which has contributed to the underreporting of the Governor’s achievements.

“That’s why we believe it’s necessary to celebrate this Muslim achiever and blow his trumpet to the world,” Abubakar said, adding, “It aligns with our mission as a faith-based media organisation committed to honouring Muslim excellence and promoting positive contributions to society.”

With these silent but impactful strides and more, Muslim News Nigeria finds Gov. Namadi worthy of recognition, in order to encourage him to do a lot more, and to inspire other Muslim public office holders to represent Islam well and protect its image appropriately.

The easy going and amiable Governor Namadi is indeed a good ambassador of Islam in Nigeria.

Other Categories

Other categories of the Nigerian Muslim Personalities of the Year 2024/25 Award also parade an array of distinguished Muslim professionals across various sectors.

The newspaper nominated Hajiya Halima Musa, the Director of News at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), as the Nigerian Muslim Media Person of the Year. Renowned Islamic finance scholar, Prof. Abdurrazaq Alaro, was named Nigerian Islamic Finance Person of the Year, while Dr. Maryam Jamila Ali from College of Health Sciences, University of Jos earned the nomination for Nigerian Muslim Medical/Health Person of the Year.

Also on the list is Professor of Law and First Kuliya Ngeri of Ilorin Emirate, Prof. Yusuf Ali, SAN, who emerged Nigerian Muslim Legal Person of the Year. Mr. Kassim Yusuf Adegboyega, popularly known as Leecrown, was recognised as Nigerian Muslim Teacher of the Year, while award-winning Nollywood actor, Lateef Adedimeji, bagged the Nigerian Muslim Celebrity of the Year.

In the business category, Lotus Bank, founded by Hajia Hajara Adeola, was honoured as the Nigerian Muslim-Owned Brand of the Year. Similarly, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, owned by Africa’s richest man, was named Nigerian Muslim Humanitarian of the Year.

The Lifetime Service to Islam Award went to Alhaji Kunle Sanni, Chairman of the Oyo Muslim Community. Special Adviser to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy & Coordination, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman (HBU) was nominated for the Female Public Service Excellence Award in recognition of her leadership in public sector reform, advocacy for women, and unwavering commitment to service.

The Publisher of the faith-based newspaper congratulated all the honourees and noted that the formal award presentation will take place at the newspaper’s 7th anniversary lecture, with the date to be announced soon.