Arewa Group Lauds Bala Mohammed’s Gender-inclusive Governance

The Arewa Dignity Advancement Initiative (ArDA), a non-partisan and non-governmental organisation, has commended Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, for promoting gender-inclusive governance and creating opportunities for women to participate actively in political leadership, public service and elective positions across the state.

The organisation also applauded Alhaji Usman Adamu Sufi for establishing the ICT Centre in Azare, headquarters of Katagum local government area of Bauchi State, describing the facility as a significant intervention capable of promoting digital education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment in Bauchi North.

The chairperson of ArDA, Hajiya Baheejah Mahmood Abdullahi, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday.

She said the governor had demonstrated commitment to women’s participation in governance through the appointment, nomination and support of women to various positions of responsibility in the state.

According to her, the governor appointed six women as commissioners, while women were also nominated as local government chairpersons and deputy chairpersons in LGAs including Darazo, Giade and Warji.

She added that following the recent local government elections, several women were elected or nominated as councillors, while others had been appointed as special advisers, senior special assistants, special assistants, permanent secretaries and into other strategic positions within the administration.

Baheejah said the appointments demonstrated that democracy could be genuinely inclusive and responsive to the aspirations of women.

“Under his leadership, Bauchi State is increasingly demonstrating that democracy can be genuinely inclusive and friendly to women.

“His willingness to entrust women with important responsibilities and positions of leadership is a commendable demonstration of confidence in the capacity, competence and leadership potential of women,” she said.

The ArDA chairperson stressed that gender inclusion should not be viewed merely as the appointment of women to political offices, but as an opportunity for them to participate meaningfully in governance and contribute directly to the development of the state.

She congratulated women currently serving in various capacities under the present administration, urging them to regard their appointments as a call to service rather than mere privileges. Baheejah encouraged the appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them by the governor through diligence, integrity, innovation, accountability and measurable results.

“Their success will not only be their personal success; it will be a victory for women across Bauchi State and an inspiration to generations of young women who aspire to leadership,” she stated.

She also appealed to governors across Nigeria, political leaders and other authorities to provide women with greater opportunities to serve and lead.

According to her, women constitute a significant part of the population and play indispensable roles in families, communities, the economy and political development, adding that they deserve meaningful opportunities to contribute to governance and public affairs.

The organisation also expressed special appreciation to Alhaji Usman Adamu Sufi for his contribution to the development of Azare through the establishment of the ICT Centre.

Baheejah described the project as a major milestone for the people of Azare and the wider Bauchi North Senatorial District, particularly at a time when technology, digital skills, information and innovation are becoming increasingly important to education, employment, entrepreneurship and governance.

“The establishment of such a facility is a genuine milestone for the people of Azare and the wider Bauchi North Senatorial Zone.

“At a time when technology, digital skills, information and innovation are becoming increasingly important to education, employment, entrepreneurship and governance, an investment of this nature is highly commendable,” she said.

She noted that Bauchi North currently had limited representation in major and impactful federal appointments, but stressed that the development of the zone should not depend solely on political representation.

According to her, strategic interventions such as the Grand ICT Centre could make a significant difference by creating opportunities, building human capacity and empowering young people to acquire relevant skills for the modern economy.

She expressed hope that the ICT Centre would be utilised judiciously, transparently and sustainably, and would grow into a centre of excellence for digital education, innovation, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and youth development in Bauchi North and beyond.

Baheejah further called on individuals, institutions and governments to emulate the initiative by investing in similar development projects across the zone.