BY: AMBASSADOR YUNUSA YUSUF HAMZA
On 31st January 2026, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State was honoured with the prestigious The Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year Award 2025 at a ceremony that brought together distinguished leaders, captains of industry, and national stakeholders in governance.
This recognition by The Sun Publishing Limited is neither incidental nor ceremonial. It reflects a profound appreciation for visionary leadership and its measurable developmental impact. As someone who has closely followed this administration, I submit that Governor Yusuf not only merits this national accolade but deserves even greater acknowledgement, both from Nigerians and from international partners.
Governor Yusuf’s tenure, commencing in May 2023 has been characterised by bold policy direction, steadfast implementation, and a resolute commitment to citizen-centred governance. The Sun editorial board’s decision was rooted in verified progress across multiple sectors such as:
● Education & Human Capital Development: Governor Yusuf has redefined education policy in Kano through strategic budgeting and targeted reforms. He allocated nearly one-third of the state budget to education, surpassing international benchmarks. Governor Abba recruited over 6,000 teachers and regularised 2,000 volunteer instructors, expanding the quality and reach of public schooling. Moreover, he slashed tuition fees by 50% at state-owned tertiary institutions and cleared exam-fee arrears for thousands of students.
Additionally, Governor Abba revived and expanded the foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, empowering over 2,000 scholars.
These measures are not merely line items in a budget; they represent a strategic investment in human capital, equipping Kano’s youth for a competitive global future.
● Healthcare Strengthening: Under Governor Yusuf’s administration.
Kano State exceeded health funding benchmarks set under the Abuja Declaration. Over 500 health professionals were recruited, enhancing service delivery across primary and tertiary health facilities. The State also established the Kano State Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
A new policy initiated by the administration now provides free caesarean section services for expectant mothers, easing maternal health burdens. This prioritisation of health demonstrates a genuine concern for maternal and child wellbeing, especially in rural communities often left behind.
● Agriculture & Rural Economy: Recognising agriculture as the backbone of Kano’s economy, a ₦1 billion free fertiliser programme benefited over 52,000 small holder farmers.
The ₦16 billion irrigation project at Jakara Dam expanded year-round farming. The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project has supported over 477,000 agro-entrepreneurs.
This focus on food security and rural productivity aligns with national imperatives for agricultural transformation.
● Infrastructure & Urban Renewal: Governor Yusuf’s infrastructure agenda has visibly reshaped Kano State’s urban and peri-urban landscape. Rehabilitation of at least 17 key roads across the metropolis, a ₦27 billion commitment to major interchange projects, improving traffic flow and commerce, restoration of the Tamburawa Water Plant, and boosting water supply capacity.
These transformations enhance mobility, business activity, and quality of life.
● Women & Youth Economic Empowerment: Governor Yusuf’s administration has invested in inclusive development, a ₦2.3 billion livestock entrepreneurship scheme for women across all 44 LGAs through the distribution of 7,158 goats to 2,386 women, expanding household incomes.
Empowerment of over 1,000 graduates with starter kits, and support to thousands of small business owners.
These interventions reflect a governance model that lifts the vulnerable and sustains dignity through opportunity.
● Workers’ Welfare & Fiscal Responsibility: Governor Yusuf has also tackled historical challenges head-on as he initiated the clearance of a ₦48 billion backlog of pensions and gratuities, with significant disbursements already made. This act of fiscal prioritisation reasserts the social contract between government and workers, a foundation for lasting stability.
Why Governor Yusuf Deserves More Recognition
Governor Yusuf’s leadership transcends the typical measures of political popularity. It is impact-driven and service-oriented, grounded in tangible results that touch daily lives, in classrooms, hospitals, farms, and marketplaces.
The Sun Newspaper Governor of the Year award is well-deserved; yet, it should be seen as a milestone rather than a culmination.
What Governor Yusuf has delivered, and continues to deliver deserves broader acknowledgement by national institutions, development partners, and global observers.
His example reminds us that good governance is not an abstraction, but a practice that is visible in policy choices, budgetary discipline, and real improvements in the human condition.
As Governor Yusuf humbly accepted this national award, he reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of Kano State with every policy lever at his disposal. Indeed, what the people of Kano, and indeed, Nigeria have witnessed under his leadership is the institutionalisation of a service ethic that prioritises people, dignity, and development.
For this, and for the concrete progress achieved so far, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf not only deserves the award he has received, he deserves even more.
~ Amb. Yunusa Yusuf Hamza is the traditional title holder of “Falakin Shinkafi”