Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has approved the appointment of seven persons into key positions in the state government, with a charge to bring their experience, competence and sense of responsibility to bear in advancing the administration’s Building Your Future agenda.
A statement signed by Ibrahim kaula Mohammed Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said the Governor appointed renowned Islamic scholar and prominent JIBWIS leader, Sheikh Dr. Nasiru Abdulrahman Funtua, as Chairman of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board, while Dr. Sirajo Yakubu Batagarawa and Mallam Abubakar Kabir Kusada were appointed Special Advisers to the Governor.
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Sheikh Funtua’s appointment symbolises the administration’s emphasis on credible leadership, religious knowledge and responsible stewardship in the management of pilgrims’ affairs. The Governor expects the new Chairman to strengthen the Board’s operations and ensure that the welfare and interests of pilgrims remain central to its activities.
Dr. Batagarawa brings to the administration extensive experience cutting across law, academia, public administration and security. A lawyer and quantity surveyor, he holds a PhD in Law from the University of London and has served as a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Public and International Law at Nile University of Nigeria. He also had a long career in the Federal Civil Service, including service with the Department of State Services and senior administrative responsibilities in the offices of the President and Vice-President.
Kusada, on his part, has built his career around education, administration and human resource management. He holds a B.A. (Ed) in English from the University of Jos and is pursuing a master’s degree in English Language at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma. He previously served in various administrative capacities at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma before joining the Transmission Company of Nigeria, where he rose to the position of Assistant Manager.
Governor Radda also appointed Alhaji Shamsuddeen Surajo Wowo Dutsin-Ma as Director-General of the Katsina State Erosion and Watershed Management Agency, KEWMA, and Alhaji Muhammad Saifuddeen Yakubu Musa from Katsina Local Government Area as Commander-General of the Katsina State Hisbah Board.
Wowo brings more than two decades of private-sector experience spanning executive leadership, strategic management, energy and logistics, agribusiness, procurement, investment and supply-chain management. He has served as Managing Director of Darassalam Energy and Logistics and Tuge Farms Limited, with responsibilities covering operational planning, resource management and stakeholder engagement. The Governor expects him to deploy this experience towards strengthening KEWMA’s capacity to address erosion, watershed management and related environmental challenges across the state.
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Also appointed are Alhaji Ma’aruf Shehu Sanin Kawo Dandume as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and Alhaji Lawal Ibrahim Musa from Dandume Local Government Area as a member of the Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Musa brings a strong background in public administration and local government to the Pilgrims Welfare Board. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s degree in Local Government and Development Studies, a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management and a Higher National Diploma in Local Government, among other qualifications. His experience is expected to complement the Board’s drive for efficient administration and improved welfare services for pilgrims.
Ahmed Abduljalal from Dandume Local Government also appointed as Special Adviser to the governor. He brings over two decades of public service experience and grassroots political engagement to the administration. A graduate of Animal Health and Husbandry from Maryam Abacha American University of Niger and a long-serving staff of the Local Government Service Commission since 2001.
Congratulating the appointees, Governor Radda described their appointments as a call to service and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them by putting the interests of Katsina State and its people first.
He charged them to key fully into the Building Your Future agenda of his administration and ensure that their respective offices contribute directly to better governance, stronger institutions and improved service delivery
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Governor Radda stressed that his administration places a premium on accountability, diligence and measurable results, adding that every appointee must remain accessible to the people and responsive to the responsibilities entrusted to them.
The Governor wished the appointees success in their new assignments and called on them to work with relevant stakeholders in translating the administration’s programmes and policies into tangible benefits for the people of Katsina State.