Governor Malam Umar Namadi has officially launched the Jigawa State Date Palm Development Programme, a major agricultural project designed to boost food production, restore the environment, and create jobs for thousands of young people across the state. The event took place at the Fanisau NYSC Orientation Camp in Dutse, where the governor highlighted the initiative as a long-term investment in the economic future of Jigawa State.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Namadi expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the success of the project and emphasized its importance to the people and communities of Jigawa. He described the programme as a unique and multi-sector initiative that will have lasting benefits for agriculture, environmental sustainability, and the livelihoods of citizens.
“With deep gratitude to Allah, the Supreme and Owner of all Sovereignty, I am highly delighted as we are gathered here today to witness the launch of yet another remarkable milestone in pursuit of several initiatives aimed at bringing prosperity to the people of Jigawa State,” Governor Namadi said. “The program we are launching today is unique—being a multi-pronged initiative with multiple outcomes across several sectors of the State’s economy with a long-lasting impact on the socioeconomic wellbeing of our people and prosperity of our State.”
The Date Palm Development Programme involves the propagation and planting of over 200,000 date palm seedlings. These will be distributed across 1,042 hectares of land in selected Local Government Areas, with more than 2,000 young people engaged directly as custodians of the plantations. According to the governor, this approach will not only generate employment but also contribute to environmental protection and food security.
“As conceived, the Date Palm Development Programme will involve the propagation and planting of over two hundred thousand date palm tree seedlings across two thousand and eighty-four date palm clusters covering one thousand and forty-two hectares in some selected Local Government Areas across the State,” he explained.
During the event, the governor also oversaw the graduation of 400 young men and women from Birniwa, Babura, Sule-Tankarkar, and Yankwashi Local Government Areas. These participants completed comprehensive training in date palm plantation establishment, cultivation techniques, management practices, and value addition processes.
“Each of the four hundred trained youths will be entrusted with half a hectare for proper management. Already, all the sites were equipped with five industrial boreholes for watering and irrigation purposes and will also be fenced to prevent encroachment and safeguard the survival of the seedlings.
Each of the 400 youth will be entitled to a monthly allowance to manage the sites for an initial two years under expert supervision,” Governor Namadi stated.
He commended the committee responsible for designing and implementing the project, urging them to sustain the effort and ensure its long-term success. He also announced that the second phase of the programme is scheduled to commence by June 2026, expanding its reach and impact across more areas in the state.
The governor expressed optimism that this project would work hand in hand with the Federal Government’s Great Green Wall Project, an initiative aimed at combating desertification and climate change. He said this collaboration would further strengthen environmental resilience while boosting food security and economic growth not only in Jigawa but across Nigeria.
Experts at the event highlighted the significant economic and health benefits associated with date palm cultivation. Dr. Abdulhamid Hamza Muhammad, Head of the Nigerian Institute of Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) substation in Dutse, explained that dates are rich in essential nutrients, support brain health, and help in preventing certain diseases.
He noted that a single date palm tree can produce between 60 and 70 kilograms of dates annually. He added that a young farmer managing one hectare of land could potentially earn over ₦7 million annually through date palm farming.
“This initiative is not only about improving the environment but also about creating wealth for our young people,” Dr. Muhammad said. “Date palm farming has enormous potential to transform communities and provide sustainable livelihoods.”
Malam Rabi’u Ayuba Kazaure, a consultant with APESAN, also provided an economic forecast for the programme. He projected that the state could generate billions of naira annually from date palm production if managed effectively.
“Out of the 1,042 hectares allocated in Jigawa State, we took the minimum estimate and said at least five kilograms per tree base, since it produces twice a year. That makes it 30 kilograms each time and 70 kilograms annually per tree. With 150 trees, when you multiply by this number, it gives ₦47 billion worth of dates every year. This is the minimum that can be achieved from these 400 trees on the 1,042 hectares,” Kazaure explained.
(September 23, 2025: updated with more details)
