Governor Dauda Lawal has been honoured as the Sun newspaper’s Governor of the Year 2025.
This accolade was announced in a special publication yesterday.
Described as a “Goal-getter,” the newspaper noted that Governor Lawal has set a remarkable pace during his two-and-a-half-year tenure in Zamfara State, overseeing infrastructure development, economic revitalisation, and security across the region.
The SUN newspaper stated, “When Governor Dauda Lawal turned 60 last September, many well-wishers praised him for his dedication to the development of Zamfara State and his steadfast pursuit of peace and security.
In just two and a half years as governor, he has demonstrated what vision, commitment, and prudent management of state resources can achieve.
On assuming office, he embarked on a transformative journey, leveraging his extensive experience as an economist and banker to lay the groundwork for socio-economic progress.
With a six-point rescue agenda centred on Security, Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Healthcare, Economy, and Empowerment, he aimed to transform the narrative and establish Zamfara State as a shining example nationally.
To combat insecurity, Governor Lawal established the Zamfara Community Protection Guards, known as Askarawan Zamfara, and invested significantly in supporting security agencies, including donating 140 operational vehicles to enhance their mobility and response times.
His government, through a robust intelligence gathering system and collaboration with security operatives, has been identifying and neutralising major bandit leaders terrorising Zamfara.
In education, declaring a state of emergency has led to positive change, lifting Zamfara from the bottom of national rankings to a position of strength.
Over 500 schools across the 14 Local Government Areas have been constructed, renovated, and equipped, providing two-seater desks for more than 9,542 pupils and students, with improved standards benefiting teachers as well.
Tertiary institutions like Zamfara College of Arts and Science, College of Health Technology in Tsafe, Zamfara State University in Talata Mafara, and Abdu Gusau Polytechnic have also been renovated and equipped.
School feeding programmes have been reinstated, benefiting ten senior boarding schools across the state.
In partnership with the World Bank, his administration launched the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment to support young girls in primary and junior secondary education.
In the health sector, he has renovated and equipped general hospitals in Maradun, Maru, Kauran Namoda, Gusau, and Anka, among others, along with primary healthcare centres.
A notable achievement includes remodelling, upgrading, and equipping the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau.
Since 2023, when road construction programmes were launched, Governor Lawal has led a major urban renewal project in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, including the notable Gusau International Airport.
For his exceptional performance in office in less than three years, The Sun’s Board of Editors has honoured him as The Sun Governor of the Year 2025. of The Sun Governor of the Year 2025.
