NGO Felicitates Gov Yahaya at 64

The Chief Executive Officer of the Jewel Environmental Initiative (JEI), Isma’il Umar Bima (Maigombawa), has congratulated the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on his 64th birthday, describing him as a visionary leader whose policies have transformed the state’s development landscape. In a statement on Wednesday, Maigombawa commended the Governor’s commitment to sustainable development, […]

The Chief Executive Officer of the Jewel Environmental Initiative (JEI), Isma’il Umar Bima (Maigombawa), has congratulated the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on his 64th birthday, describing him as a visionary leader whose policies have transformed the state’s development landscape.

In a statement on Wednesday, Maigombawa commended the Governor’s commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection, and inclusive governance, noting that his administration has positioned Gombe as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing states.

He highlighted the Governor’s achievements in agriculture, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and environmental management, citing key initiatives that have improved livelihoods and enhanced public welfare.

According to him, partnerships with the World Bank and African Development Bank have facilitated a ₦50 billion canalization project from River Gongola to the Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve, benefiting over one million pastoralists. Subsidized fertilizer schemes and agro-livestock zones have also strengthened food security across rural communities.

Maigombawa noted that over 228 Primary Healthcare Centres have been upgraded with solar power and boreholes, while the GoHealth insurance scheme now covers more than 380,000 residents. He also mentioned the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre, Kumo, and the GoPharma initiative aimed at local pharmaceutical production.

In education, he said the Yahaya administration has constructed or renovated hundreds of schools, recruited over 1,000 teachers, and enrolled more than 130,000 out-of-school children, resulting in a marked improvement in WAEC and NECO performance.

On infrastructure, Maigombawa pointed to the construction of over 900 kilometres of roads under the Network Eleven Hundred project and the establishment of the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, expected to generate thousands of jobs. He also commended the creation of the Gombe Information Technology Development Agency (GITDEC), which promotes digital literacy and innovation among youth.

The JEI chief lauded the Governor’s collaborative approach to governance, which, he said, has enabled civil society organizations and development partners to contribute meaningfully to state development.

He reaffirmed JEI’s commitment to partnering with the state government to promote environmental conservation, climate action, and community development.

Jewel Environmental Initiative, founded in 2013 and registered in 2017, works across northern Nigeria on environmental protection, WASH, livelihoods, and climate resilience, with partnerships involving the World Bank, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, and several state governments.

Maigombawa prayed for continued wisdom and strength for Governor Yahaya, expressing optimism that his leadership would further strengthen Gombe’s path toward sustainability and prosperity.