Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has been honoured with a Special Award by Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in recognition of the state’s sustained partnership with the organization and its strategic commitment to agricultural transformation, food security and rural prosperity.
A statement signed by the DG Press Affairs Gombe State government house Ismaila Uba Misilli said the award was presented to the Governor at the 2026 SAA Nigeria Annual Stakeholders’ Workshop, held on Thursday, in Abuja.
The event was attended by senior federal officials, development partners, diplomats and representatives of state governments who convened to chart pathways for strengthening Nigeria’s food systems and expanding agricultural resilience.
Held under the theme, “SAA @ 40: Deepening Impact and Expanding Reach at Scale,” the workshop coincided with the organization’s 40th anniversary of operations in Africa.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s recognition reflects the strength and depth of Gombe State’s longstanding collaboration with SAA, which over the years has supported agricultural extension services, improved smallholder productivity, enhanced climate resilience, and strengthened rural livelihoods.
The government of Gombe State has always maintained a productive working relationship with SAA, with support from The Nippon Foundation, to implement farmer-focused initiatives aimed at improving food security, nutrition, climate-smart agriculture and inclusive agricultural service delivery, particularly for women, youth and resource-poor farmers.
While nominating Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the Country Director of SAA Nigeria, Dr. Godwin Atser, described the award as a celebration of purposeful leadership and measurable results.
“This recognition celebrates a partnership backed by action. Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership is a true reflection of the kind of subnational commitment essential for transforming agriculture in Nigeria. Gombe State’s sustained support for farmer-focused interventions demonstrates what can be achieved when political will, institutional alignment and practical investment converge,” he said.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Governor, the Director of Agriculture in the State Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Dr. Ibrahim Sajo, conveyed Inuwa Yahaya’s appreciation to SAA Nigeria for the honour and reiterated the administration’s commitment to deepening strategic partnerships that improve farmers’ productivity and livelihoods.
He noted that the recognition has validated the Governor’s deliberate investments in agriculture as a major driver of economic growth, poverty reductionand sustainable development in the state.
SAA Nigeria’s partnership with Gombe State spans a broad range of strategic interventions, including Farmer Learning Platforms (FLP), Community Savings and Investment in Agriculture (CSIA), Private Extension Service Provision (PESP), and Community-Based Seed Multiplication (CBSM), among others.
Collectively, these programmes have strengthened the state’s agricultural ecosystem from production to post-harvest management, improved farmers’ access to technology, knowledge, quality inputs and markets, while also building the capacities of farmers and rural institutions.
The collaboration has equally promoted a pluralistic agricultural extension system, bringing together the private sector, farmer organizations, research institutions and civil society to scale effective agricultural services across the state.
This multi-dimensional cooperation continues to stress why Gombe State’s partnership with SAA remains a model of impactful collaboration and a deserving recipient
of special recognition.