In a significant move to strengthen the administrative framework of Jigawa State, Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi has approved the appointment of two pioneer executive secretaries for the newly established Tsangaya Board and Residents Identification Management Agency.
According to separate statements issued by the Secretary to the Government of Jigawa State, Malam Bala Ibrahim, the appointments were made based on merit, competence, and personal integrity.
Dr. Abubakar Maje Hamisu has been appointed the first Executive Secretary of the newly created Jigawa State Tsangaya Board, an initiative aimed at overseeing Islamic education and Tsangaya (Almajiri) system in the state.
Dr. Maje, an accomplished academic, currently serves as a Lecturer in the Islamic Studies Department at Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa. With a solid background in Islamic Studies and Shari’ah, Dr. Maje has had a reputable career, starting from his undergraduate degree in Islamic Studies/History from Bayero University, Kano, in 2010, followed by a Master’s degree in 2017, and a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies and Shari’ah in 2021, also from Bayero University.
His experience includes working at the Jigawa State College of Education and Legal Studies, Ringim, from 2012 before moving to Sule Lamido University in 2019. His appointment is expected to bring expertise in education, supervision, and interdisciplinary collaboration to the Tsangaya Board, which aims to reform and modernize the Almajiri system in Jigawa.
The Secretary to the State Government expressed confidence in Dr. Maje’s ability to drive significant educational reforms, emphasizing that his experience and qualifications would be instrumental in advancing the state’s educational goals. The appointment takes immediate effect.
In a parallel development, Governor Namadi has appointed Dr. Bilkisu Dalhatu Isma as the pioneer Executive Secretary of the newly created Jigawa State Residents Identification Management Agency. This agency will play a crucial role in managing residents’ identity and records in the state, aligning with national data management systems.
Dr. Isma, who was previously the Head of Research and Development at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), brings extensive experience in identity management to her new role. She served as the Jigawa State Coordinator for NIMC between 2013 and 2014 and has held various positions, including Business Development Manager at Freedom Radio Kano.
Dr. Isma holds a Bachelor’s degree in Adult Education from the University of Lagos (1992), a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Abuja (1997), and a Ph.D. in Policy Analysis from the same university (2019). She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Industrialists and Corporate Administrators and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Nigeria Academy of Education.
Her appointment is part of the government’s efforts to ensure efficient management of residents’ data, which is critical for security, planning, and service delivery. The government expressed optimism that Dr. Isma’s expertise will help the new agency effectively handle residents’ identification and data management.
Both appointments underscore the Namadi administration’s commitment to selecting qualified professionals to lead critical sectors in the state, aiming for enhanced governance and public service delivery.
These appointments take immediate effect as the appointees are expected to hit the ground running in their respective roles.
