By John Ekah, Zamfara
Governance is not all about provision of physical infrastructure. Developing or enhancing human capital is in many cases more immediately impactful.
This much was demonstrated by Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal, and his wife, Hajiyah Huriyya, when they reached out to directly and individually touch lives of people of the North-West Nigerian state.
While Gov. Lawal flagged off the distribution of fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals,loaded in 98 trucks, to farmers across the state, Hurriya made unconditional cash grants to 100 women, setting the stage for their removal from poverty.
The governor’s gesture was part of the state government’s efforts to boost agricultural productivity.
He kicked off the distribution in the premises of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Samaru, Gusau, the state capital.
Speaking at the occasion, Gov. Lawal said the initiative would benefit over 59,000 small-holder farmers across the state’s 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
Governor Lawal explained that the intervention was part of his administration’s commitment to increasing crop yields, achieving food security, and improving the livelihoods of rural farmers.
“As a state where over 85 percent of our population rely on agriculture for survival, we consider it both a duty and a moral obligation to support and empower our farmers. Zamfara remains the lifeblood of the nation’s park economy,” he noted.
The governor revealed that the government was distributing 34,800 kilograms of rice seeds, 80,000 kilograms of maize seeds, 23,740 liters of herbicides, 11,735 liters of insecticides, and 23,470 sachets of seed-dressing chemicals to farmers statewide.
Lawal emphasized the administration’s agricultural transformation plan which aims to drive food security, create jobs, reduce poverty, and promote inclusive economic growth.
“We are not only investing in seeds and fertilizers but also in systems, technology, and human capital that will deliver long-term impact.
“This year, we are placing renewed emphasis on the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with special needs. They are not just beneficiaries—they are agents of transformation,” the governor said.
He urged beneficiaries not to sell the commodities for quick gain, but to use them wisely to boost productivity and invest in their futures.
According to the governor, mechanisms have been put in place to ensure the inputs reach genuine farmers in every corner of the state, warning that anyone found diverting or selling the items would face sanctions.
To ensure transparency in distribution, Gov. Lawal announced the establishment of a monitoring and distribution committee headed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and comprising key stakeholders.
In addition, Gov. Lawal commissioned the newly constructed Fadama House, completed within six months through a partnership with the NG-CARES program.
He said the facility would serve as a central hub for programme coordination, technical support, and capacity building in the state’s agricultural sector.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Haruna Yau Gamji, praised the initiative and reiterated the administration’s focus on sustainable livelihood development through agriculture.
He disclosed plans to establish an international livestock market in the state, one he described that will be the best in West Africa.
Beneficiaries who responded while receiving the items expressed gratitude to the state government for the timely support.
They pledged to utilize the inputs to improve food production during the current wet season.
In a related development, the state’s First Lady, Huriyya Dauda Lawal, donated unconditional cash grant under the state’s Women Empowerment Programme.
She made the donation in Government House, Gusau.
In her remarks, the First Lady said the initiative was sponsored by Office of the Governor and implemented through her office.
According to her, the gesture reflected their shared commitment to empowering women and strengthening the foundation of communities.
“These grants are not just financial support, they are a testament of belief in the dreams, resilience, and enterprise of the women of Zamfara,” she affirmed.
Hajiya Lawal explained that the100 carefully selected beneficiaries would each receive cash grants ranging from ₦300,000 to ₦500,000, aimed at boosting and expanding their small-scale businesses.
“This support is unconditional because we trust your vision, your effort, and your ability to grow,” she added.
Hajiya Lawal emphasized that the programme aligned with Gov. Lawal’s broader vision of inclusive development, where women are not sidelined but are placed at the center of the state’s growth agenda.
“From the construction and furnishing of the new Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development, to the monthly cash transfers for women entrepreneurs, and the foundation-laying of a new Women’s Center, the message is clear: the welfare and dignity of women, children, the physically challenged, and the vulnerable remain top priorities of this administration.
“I thank my dear husband for his unwavering support, compassion, and clear vision for the future of our state. Together, Insha’Allah, we will continue to build a more empowered, inclusive, and prosperous Zamfara State,” she said.
The beneficiaries, while expressing appreciation, commended the First Lady for her impactful gesture, pledging to make judicious use of the funds for improved agricultural productivity in the state.
