By Ahmed Ilallah
The present administration of Malam Umar Namadi, popularly known as Danmodi entered office with youth development firmly at the center of its agenda. This is not a political slogan; the administration’s early actions gave weight to this commitment. Within weeks of assuming office, the government established the Jigawa State Agency for Youth Employment and Empowerment, appointing as Director General a young and relatable figure from the youth constituency.
Through this agency, thousands of young people have received seed capital, while many others have secured employment opportunities across agriculture, agribusiness, ICT, and energy. For the first time in Jigawa’s history, a comprehensive database of unemployed and underemployed youth has been created and domiciled at the agency an essential tool for planning, monitoring, and targeted intervention.
One of the administration’s most notable innovations is the “first line of millionaires” initiative. Youth selected from all 27 local government areas were trained in hand-pump mechanization and empowered with ₦10 million each, alongside vehicles, to establish service enterprises. This is a step toward creating a technically skilled entrepreneurial class within the state.
The drive for innovation has also extended to agriculture. The government created two new institutions the Agricultural Mechanisation Agency and the Jigawa State Agricultural Transformation Agency engaging thousands of youth in mechanization services and modernized agricultural systems.
Appointments made by Governor Namadi further demonstrate this youth-centered approach. A significant percentage of special assistants, particularly in health and education monitoring, are young people. Many technical and special advisers also come from the youth corridor. Within the State Executive Council, the presence of young professionals reflects a deliberate blend of experience and youthful energy. By some estimates, youth involvement in this administration exceeds 60 percent.
However, these achievements also raise an important question: Are the youth making the most of this opportunity?
It is one thing for a government to open doors; it is another for beneficiaries to step through with purpose, discipline, and long-term vision.
Youth who receive seed capital and empowerment packages must commit themselves to building sustainable businesses. Those entrusted with public office carry an even heavier responsibility they are ambassadors of their generation. In many states across the country, young people rarely gain access to such high levels of government engagement. Jigawa’s youth must therefore match the administration’s trust with competence, integrity, and a determination to grow into the leaders and entrepreneurs the state will rely on tomorrow.
Governor Namadi has shown a clear willingness to listen to the youth and invest in their future. The challenge now lies with the beneficiaries: to justify their inclusion, to prove their readiness, and to contribute meaningfully to the broader development of Jigawa State.
alhajilallah@gmail.com
