By: Ali Rabiu Ali, Dutse
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, has called on governors across the country to emulate Jigawa State’s investment in agriculture and other productive sectors as part of efforts to address food insecurity and create employment opportunities.
The NUJ President made the call on Tuesday 11th August, 2026 during a visit to Jigawa State, where he led members of the Union on an inspection tour of some major projects and initiatives of the state government.
The delegation inspected agricultural mechanisation facilities, including tractors, harvesters and other farm implements, visited the Emir of Dutse’s Palace and toured the Jigawa State Renewed Hope Technical Services Limited, among other projects.
Speaking after the inspection, the NUJ President said the experience in Jigawa had demonstrated that massive investment in agriculture could significantly contribute to Nigeria’s food security.
He urged journalists and other stakeholders from the various states to take the message back home and encourage their respective governors to invest more in agriculture.
“As leaders from our various states, let us take this to our states and convince our governors to also invest in agriculture,” he said
According to him, information presented during the inspection showed that Jigawa State has the capacity to produce more than 50 per cent of Nigeria’s rice requirement if its agricultural potential is fully harnessed.
He therefore called on stakeholders to set an agricultural agenda for state governors and the nation at large.
The NUJ President also commended the Federal Government for supporting Jigawa State’s agricultural mechanisation programme, particularly through the provision of combine harvesters and other agricultural implements.
He said it was important to acknowledge the contributions of both the state and federal governments towards the development of the sector.
“I appreciate the Federal Government for supporting Jigawa. From what the Director-General told us, the combine harvesters came from the Federal Government, while other equipment were acquired with the state’s resources. We need to appreciate all of them,” he said.
The NUJ President further described the partnership between the government and the private sector in Jigawa’s agricultural development as a model that could promote sustainability and expand food production.
He also commended the state government’s investment in youth technical education and skills acquisition, saying the initiative could provide opportunities for young people who either did not attend school or graduated without employment.
He said such programmes could turn beneficiaries into entrepreneurs and employers of labour.
On human capital development, the NUJ President called on northern governors to intensify investment in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and vocational education.
He urged successful entrepreneurs, particularly those from northern Nigeria, to support government efforts by investing in youth empowerment and job creation.
The NUJ delegation also visited Jigawa State’s pharmaceutical and related investment facilities, where the NUJ President commended the growth of the investment from a modest beginning to an enterprise worth more than N1 billion.
He encouraged the government to sustain such initiatives and called on vulnerable women to take advantage of available healthcare facilities and medicines.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Agency (JATA), Dr Saifullahi Umar, explained that the state had established 60 Farm Service Centres to support farmers across the state.
He said more than 95 per cent of the centres had been completed and were ready for deployment, with the government targeting deployment before the commencement of the next dry season in November.
On maintenance and sustainability of the agricultural equipment, the DG said the state had invested in human capacity development to ensure proper operation and maintenance of the machines.
According to him, 30 engineers were trained in China for three months, where they participated in the production and initial assembly processes of the equipment.
He added that another 60 personnel had been recruited and trained on the operation and maintenance of the tractors.
He disclosed that the state had also received spare parts sufficient for about two years, as well as warranties from suppliers to ensure replacement of defective components where necessary.
Dr Saifullahi said the tractors were fitted with tracking devices connected to a digital management system designed to monitor their movements and ensure proper utilisation.
He explained that the system could detect when a tractor moved outside an assigned operational boundary, trigger an alert and, where necessary, automatically stop the machine.
At the Emir of Dutse’s Palace, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammad Hameem Nuhu Sunusi, commended journalists for their courage and sacrifices in the course of carrying out their professional duties.
The Emir noted that journalists often work under difficult and risky circumstances to provide information to the public, stressing the importance of professionalism and responsibility in the discharge of their duties.
He urged journalists to remain mindful of the consequences of the information they publish, particularly because inaccurate or sensitive information could create fear and tension within society.
The monarch called for strict adherence to professional ethics and responsible journalism, saying the media had an important role to play in promoting peace, development and understanding.
The NUJ President described the visit to Jigawa as fruitful, commending the state government for its agricultural, technical and human capital development initiatives.
He expressed optimism that continued collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments, private sector and other stakeholders would help transform Nigeria’s economy and improve the living conditions of citizens.
He also commended the Emir of Dutse for his hospitality and leadership, describing the peaceful atmosphere in the emirate as a reflection of the importance of cooperation and unity.
The NUJ President said the Union would continue to use its platform to promote development-oriented policies and encourage governments to invest in sectors capable of creating jobs, improving food security and strengthening the national economy.(Skyline multimedia)
