Dutse, Jigawa State – In a bold step to boost agriculture, restore the environment, and create massive job opportunities, Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi has launched the Jigawa State Date
Palm Development Programme, a pioneering initiative designed to transform the state’s economy while empowering thousands of young people.
The official launch, held at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Fanisau, Dutse, on Monday, drew stakeholders from across the agricultural and economic sectors. Governor Namadi, in his address, described the programme as a “multi-pronged initiative with multiple outcomes,” adding that it represents a long-term investment in the prosperity of Jigawa families and communities.
Planting 200,000 Date Palms Across Jigawa
The ambitious programme targets the planting of over 200,000 date palm seedlings across 1,042 hectares of land in selected Local Government Areas. More than 2,000 youths are to be directly engaged as custodians of the plantations, ensuring both sustainability and youth empowerment.
“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,” Governor Namadi explained.
Training and Empowerment of Youth
At the event, Governor Namadi also presided over the graduation of 400 young men and women drawn from Birniwa, Babura, Sule-Tankarkar, and Yankwashi LGAs. These youths completed intensive training in plantation establishment, cultivation, management, and value addition.
Each trained participant will manage half a hectare of plantation under a structured support system, including industrial boreholes for irrigation, fencing for crop protection, expert supervision, and a monthly allowance for two years.
“This is not just a programme but a life-changing opportunity for our young people,” the Governor emphasized.
Billions in Economic Potential
Experts at the event highlighted the massive economic and health benefits of the programme.
Dr. Abdulhamid Hamza Muhammad, Head of the Nigerian Institute of Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) substation in Dutse, noted that dates are rich in nutrients, improve brain health, and help prevent diseases. He added that a single date palm tree can produce up to 70 kilograms of dates annually, with potential earnings of over ₦7 million per year for a youth managing one hectare.
Similarly, Malam Rabi’u Ayuba Kazaure, a consultant with APESAN, projected that the initiative could fetch Jigawa State up to ₦47 billion annually from date palm sales.
“With the 1,042 hectares allocated, even using minimum estimates, the state can expect massive returns from this investment,” he stated.
Strengthening Environmental Resilience
Governor Namadi expressed optimism that the initiative would complement the Federal Government’s Great Green Wall Project, enhancing environmental resilience while boosting food security and economic growth in Jigawa and across Nigeria.
He commended the committee that designed and implemented the programme and assured that the second phase will commence in June 2026.
“This is a vision that goes beyond today—it is about building a sustainable and prosperous future for our people,” he concluded.
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