Governor Dauda Lawal’s Strides in Zamfara State :
For the first time in a long time, Zamfara State is in the news for the right reasons. In the process, it has debunked the unfortunate stereotypes that had attached themselves to its name since its creation in 1996. For far too long, the state, located in the northwestern geopolitical region of Nigeria, had been associated with the most negative manifestations of state failure and corporate dysfunction – terrorism, banditry and cattle rustling, a reputation which proved inimical to its development on both the economic and social fronts. Good news about Zamfara State was hard to come by – and the general attitude of Nigerians and foreigners alike was that that there was nothing to like about Zamfara as a destination for business and investment – let alone for pleasure.
Since May 29, 2023, however, there’s been a palpable resurgence of hope in the air, a feeling among the generality of the people of that state that the narrative is about to change for the better. And the world is beginning to see that, contrary to the stereotypes, there is indeed a lot to like about Zamfara State.
What a difference a purposeful and proactive leader makes!
Since his assumption of office as the 5th Executive Governor of Zamfara State last year, Dr. Dauda Lawal has left no room for doubt as to his determination to carry out his 6-Point Agenda for the sustained development of his state, as well as the welfare and security of its people. The agenda – which spans the areas of SECURITY, AGRICULTURE & FOOD SECURITY, EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, THE ECONOMY and EMPOWERMENT, is the blueprint by which Governor Lawal has been able to engage with stakeholders across the state and beyond, in a bid to actualize the social contract that underpins all democratic governance.
The economy of Zamfara State is built on two critical mainstays – agriculture and gold mining, with agriculture (including livestock breeding and fishery) being the chief occupation and source of income for the overwhelming majority of the people. It is an occupation the people perform with great relish and diligence, as reflected in the slogan of the state, ‘Farming is our Pride.’ The vast landmass of the state – the 7th largest in Nigeria – boasts of arable land conducive for the cultivation of produce such as millet, guinea corn, maize, rice, potatoes, groundnuts, cotton, tobacco and beans. Also, apart from gold, which in recent years has boosted the profile of the state as an investment destination, Zamfara has other mineral resources such as iron ore, chromate, granite, clay, limestone, chamovita, quartz, kaolin, tantalite and manganese, fairly distributed across the 14 local government areas of the state.
In spite of the abundance of nature’s bounty, however, truth remains that Zamfara State is one of the poorest states in the country, and – according to recent data from the World Bank – has one of the highest incidences of extreme poverty (affecting more than 60% of its population).Thanks to its low GDP per capita, the state’s Human Development Index (HDI) places it at 32 out of 36 states and the Abuja FCT. These are the grim statistics the Dauda Lawal-led administration set out to change by leveraging on the twin pillars of the economy to ensure the adequate provision of foodstuffs for domestic consumption, raw materials for export and local industry, as well as the provision of employment for young people. To this end, the administration has embarked on (and in some cases, completed) a number of key infrastructure projects such as roads (many of them aimed at ensuring more effective and timely access of farm produce to markets and end-users). Irrigation, as an enabler of crop performance, especially in semi-arid topographies like Zamfara – is also a key component of Gov. Lawal’s agricultural agenda. Though the Governor has temporarily suspended mining activities in the state (due to the inadequate level of transparency, as well as the widely-perceived connection between banditry and artisanal mining), he has made clear his intention towards the sector: a more robust synergy between Zamfara State and both the federal government and foreign development partners that benefits the people of the state and meets the government’s developmental aspirations.
Massive infrastructural projects on critical government structures have been, or are being, carried out – with the Governor personally visiting several LGAs across the state to commission numerous grassroots projects initiated and executed by his administration. Under his Urban Renewal Programme, the Governor commissioned (or awarded contracts for) a number of township roads in the 14 LGAs of the state – notably in Gusau, the capital. Of note, also, is the recent flagging off of the construction of the proposed Gusau Airport, which promises to serve as a major incentive for local and foreign investors, and to restore Zamfara to its historical role as a commercial hub in the North.
The nexus between education and skill acquisition on the one hand, and economic development on the other, is no longer debatable in our 21st century world. Zamfara State has long been listed in most official data as one of Nigeria’s educationally-disadvantaged states, with a high incidence of out-of-school children. This reality is set to change in no distant time, given the priority Gov. Lawal has given to it; to the point of declaring a state of emergency in the sectior a few months back. The Governor’s passion for the advancement of the state’s human capacity profile can be said to be borne out of his own personal experience with education and his professional trajectory. A banker by profession, he embodies the most tangible benefits that education can bestow upon an individual, and is keen to spread its benefits to as many of his fellow citizens as possible. As far as the quality of education is concerned, the Zamfara State government, under the leadership of Gov. Lawal, understands that this goes beyond physical infrastructure; the human element is all-important. For this reason, it has commenced the recruitment of 2,000 teachers for English Language and Science subjects. It is also in partnership with organizations both local and international on innovative educational programmes such as the ‘Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), a World Bank-assisted project to facilitate educational opportunities for adolescent boys and girls – at which the aforementioned teacher recruitment is also targeted.
The notion of healthcare as a component of human capacity is too often overlooked in our clime – but not in Zamfara under the leadership of Gov. Lawal, whose administration has, in the past one and a half year upgraded, remodeled and equipped a number of healthcare centres and hospitals – including the only state-owned tertiary healthcare facility, Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, which will now serve as the teaching hospital of the Zamfara State University. The transformation of this facility is an example of the Governor’s determination to improve the referral system for specialized care, increase the healthcare workforce, and enhance service quality, resulting in better health outcomes.
No doubt, the challenge of insecurity threatens to cast a shadow on the hopeful developmental trajectory that the 59-year old Governor has set in motion, as criminals of different stripes continue to operate in some volatile pockets of the state. But as recent events have shown, the problem is not insurmountable – thanks to the collaboration between the state government and the Joint Task Force (JTF), whom the Governor warmly commended recently for their renewed large-scale onslaught against bandits – which is yielding fruit.
Among the characteristics people from the dawn of time have looked for in their leaders, or in those who aspire to lead, are clear-eyed vision, a passion for people, and the competence and vigour to actualize that vision. Those who know the current Governor of Zamfara State say he has exemplified these qualities all his life. Born in Gusau on September 2, 1965, Dauda was the 3rd child of the well-known textile businessman Lawal Muhammad Dare. After his early education in what is now Katsina State, he proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University, from where he graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Political Science. He went on to receive an M.Sc. in Political Science and International Relations (also from ABU) in 1992. The future Governor also bagged a PhD in Business Administration from the Usman Dan Fodio University in Sokoto, as well as certifications from a number of prestigious institutions abroad. Lawal was a recipient of the prestigious African Achievers Award in 2021. Lawal is a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administrators of Nigeria, among other prestigious associations.
His professional career began in 1989 with the Agency for Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reliance Nigeria. Shortly after, he joined Westex Nigeria Limited as an assistant general manager. In 1994, he was appointed as an assistant consular officer (immigration), and later chief protocol officer at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C., USA. Rather than embark on what looked like a promising diplomatic career, Lawal instead pivoted into banking when he joined First Bank of Nigeria Plc in May 2003; as its Relationship Manager in charge of Commercial Banking. He went on to hold other senior management posts, especially in the Bank’s Abuja offices, and in 2012 became the Executive Director (Public Sector) for the North. Upon his resignation from First Bank, he started Credent Capital and Advisory Limited with an old friend.
Upon entering the political fray in the run up to the 2019 general elections, Lawal ran unsuccessfully for Governor in the APC primary election held in 2018. Defecting to the opposition PDP thereafter, he was nominated the party’s flag bearer, and in March 2023 was elected Governor – unseating the incumbent, Governor Bello Matawalle in the process, in one of the biggest upsets of the last election cycle.
But perhaps beyond his titles and awards, etc, the role the Governor relishes the most is that of a philanthropist whose footprints are widespread and far-reaching – especially to the benefit of educational and other institutions not just in Zamfara State but across Nigeria. Indeed, it is this philanthropic spirit that has exemplified Governor Dauda Lawal’s stewardship since his assumption of office, as he sees his role as that of the people’s servant who serves at the pleasure of his master, namely, the people – all five million or so of them, without exception on the basis of ethnic, religious, gender or partisan affiliation. “As we work to build a stronger, more innovative Zamfara where our businesses can grow and create good jobs,” he has said, “… Our greatest strength is our inclusion of all people who are willing to contribute their talent and energy to address our challenges. I look forward to bringing people together and working with all to keep Zamfara State moving forward.”