Umar Namadi (Gov.)
Jigawa | Governor
Jigawa | Governor
Umar Namadi (born 7 April 1963) is a Nigerian accountant, entrepreneur, and politician who serves as the Governor of Jigawa State, a position he assumed on 29 May 2023 after winning the gubernatorial election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Before becoming governor, he served as the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State from 2019 to 2023 and was widely recognized for his contributions to public financial management and economic reforms.
Born in Kafin Hausa Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi was raised in a family of Islamic scholars, with his grandfather serving as the Chief Imam of Kafin Hausa. He attended Kafin Hausa Central Primary School before proceeding to Mallam Madori Teachers College, where he earned his Teachers Grade II Certificate in 1982. He later obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1987 and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1997 from Bayero University, Kano. In 1993, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and was later admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Namadi began his professional career in auditing and financial management, working with accounting firms before joining the National Board for Community Banks and Kaduna Textiles Limited. He later held senior financial management positions within the Dangote Group, rising to the role of Financial Controller. His career also included service at the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), where he served as General Manager of Finance and Accounts and later headed the Contribution Management Department. He subsequently established Namadi, Umar & Co. Chartered Accountants and invested in agriculture through Danmodi Farms and Danmodi Food Processing Limited, the first private rice milling company in Jigawa State.
His transition into politics began in 2015 when he was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning in Jigawa State. During his tenure, he introduced reforms that strengthened fiscal transparency, including the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and improvements in public financial reporting. In 2019, he was elected Deputy Governor alongside Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, serving until his election as governor in 2023.
As Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi has focused on infrastructure development, agriculture, healthcare, education, youth empowerment, and economic diversification under his administration's "Greater Jigawa" agenda. His government has prioritized expanding access to quality education and healthcare, improving road networks, supporting agricultural productivity, and creating an enabling environment for investment and job creation.
Beyond public office, Umar Namadi is respected for his philanthropy and commitment to community development. Through educational initiatives and agricultural investments, he has supported youth empowerment, scholarship programmes, and employment opportunities for thousands of people across Jigawa State. His leadership style is widely associated with fiscal discipline, transparency, humility, and public service.
Today, Umar Namadi is regarded as one of Nigeria's experienced public administrators, combining decades of expertise in accounting, finance, business management, and governance to advance the social and economic development of Jigawa State.