Saidu Komsiri: A rare emblem of leadership, excellence and purpose
By Mohammed Ismail
In the history of mankind, there are three types of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened.
Amongst the three types of individuals , only those who make things happen matter in history. One man who has silently carved a place for himself in our history is Saidu Njobdi Komsiri, the chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Adamawa State.
Komsiri who hailed from a humble background from the rustic village of Komsiri in Jada local government of Adamawa State made it a duty not only to challenge the odds, but slay them in the course of his eventful trajectory from childhood to adulthood. Through dint of hardwork, dedication, career development and educational pursuit, Komsiri has boldly established a reputation for excellence, and exceptional profundity in his chosen fields.
A game-changer, who lead with wisdom, moderation and diplomacy, Komsiri has over the years built a legacy founded on trust, purpose and commitment to the development of mankind. Such attributes made him to be engraved in the lives of those whom he touched in one way or the other throughout his checkered career as a technocrat, educationist and administrator of repute.
One solid refrain of history is that it is kind to heroes and very brutal to villains. The election of Komsiri to lead Adamawa State ADC mirrors the fact that history has a good place for heroes who dedicate their lives to serve humanity with panache, dedication and excellence. The optics of his trajectories from the civil service to politics is in itself a study in perseverance, dedication and commitment to the well-being of humanity.
The ADC chairman is a rare blend of new breed of leaders who have made tremendous impacts on governance and administration in silent, but very profound ways.
Take it or live it, Komsiri is one man who embodies strength of character, courage, humility, excellence and a sense of commitment to leave our communities better than he met them.
That he why he has left indelible footprints in all the areas he served the public to the admiration of all and sundry and that is why he is still a force to reckon with even after retiring from active service.
His sojourn as a teacher, administrator, and a civil servant in the employment of Adamawa State government is still remembered by associates, friends and colleagues with nostalgic feelings due to the impact he has made in their lives.
Komsiri, a level headed and well mannered technocrat is a leader with listening ears, kind to a fault and an excellent team player. His intellectual prowess, charisma, sharp wit and can do spirit, has made him not only a reliable partner but a beacon of hope who shoulders the burden of weaker members of his team.
PERSONAL DATA:
Saidu Njobdi Komsiri was born on 12th June, 1960 in Komsiri village in Jada local government of Adamawa State and is married with children.
EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
Komsiri started his early education at LEA
LEA, Primary School Mbulo, from 1969-1975 where he passes all examinations with flying colours. He then proceeded to Govt Arabic Teacher’s College Gombe from 1975-1980. He then proceeded to the University of Maiduguri from 1988-1991 where he bagged his first degree and later proceeded to Modibbo Adama University, Yola from 1996 – 1998.
PERSONAL ABILITIES
He is adept in the field of effective communication, analytical prowess and problem solving skills. He is a self-motivated with target driven propensities and has the ability to work independently with minimum supervision even in engaging, tasking in high-end and dynamic environments.
WORK EXPERIENCE:
He served as a classroom teacher at Kukawa central primary school, Kukawa LGA in Borno State from 1984-1985. He also served as Headmaster, unity boarding science primary school kukawa, Borno State, from 1985-1988.
He was later promoted to serve as Principal, unity boarding science primary school, kukawa Borno State from May-Dec, 1991. He was later promoted to the position of Assistant education secretary, kukawa LGA, Borno State from 1991-1993.
He was also promoted to the position of deputy education secretary, Kukawa LGA, Borno State from 1994-1995 from where he transferred his service to Adamawa state primary education board, Yola in 1996.
He later became the Principal education officer, school services, Adamawa state primary education board, Yola from1996-1997, Chief education officer, school services, Adamawa state primary education board, Yola from1998-2003, Assistant director, school services, Adamawa state primary education board Yola. from 2005-2011, deputy director, school services, Adamawa state primary education board Yola from 2012-2014 and became the Director, Quality Assurance, Adamawa state universal basic education board, Yola from 2014-2018.
During his stint in Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board, he carried a number of responsibilities including enforcing and implementing the universal basic education (UBE) program in Adamawa state, inline with the statutory provision of section 18 (3) of the 1999 constitution as amended, which place emphasis on eradication of illiteracy and provide free and compulsory qualitative education.
Providing free, compulsory and universal basic education for every Nigerian child as enshrined in section 2 of UBE Act 2004, compulsory free universal basic for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.
He ensured that our schools offer the right opportunities and provide the needed child friendly learning environment, qualified teachers and appropriate learning materials for basic education, at the minimum level. To succeed in that onerous responsibility, he galvanized critical stakeholders who after seeing his robust commitment also queue in and ensured that every child of school age actually goes to school throughout the crucial 9-years of basic education.
He also ensured that Adamawa state access its counterpart found provided by universal basic education commission (UBEC) for the development of basic education, in accordance with UBE act No. 8 of 2004.
He also carried out a critical oversight as Monitoring and evaluation officer (M&E),
State project technical support unit (SPTSU), World bank state education program investment project, additional financing for education recovery in Adamawa state, Northeast Nigeria. 2016-2018.
He also ensured that Adamawa State partners stakeholders and international development partners such as world bank, DFD, Japanese Aid, USAID, Islamic Development Bank etc, in the implementation of UBE program, particularly in funding and monitoring and evaluation of projects, mobilising resources in support of the program.
Because of his commitment and result-orientation, he was appointed as project coordinator Islamic development project out of school children from 2016-2018.
He was responsible for strategic planning and implementation of Islamic Development Bank grants to Nigeria, for building of 3 boarding school for out of school children in Adamawa state to mop up 400,000 out of school children roaming the street.
He retired as Director Quality Assurance at ADSUBEB Yola, on 01/05/2018 and immediately appointed Senior special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor, Adamawa state. 2019- September2025.
He contested for Member National House of Representative (Primaries) 2023, but was schemed out of the system. He was later appointed, Adamawa State Governorship and Presidential campaign council committee member in 2023.
He also founded Atiku Mandate Forum as National Coordinator from 2018-2023 and again Founded Atiku Volunteer Think-Tank Nigeria as National Team Leader from 2023 to date.
COURSES ATTENDED WITH DATES
He attended Pilot teachers certificate course, organized by national research council for science and mathematics in 1986. World confederation of organisation of the teaching profession workshop in 1988 and Train the trainers workshop on better school management organized by UNICEF/NPEC in 1996.
He also attended the National workshop on educational management organized by university of Jos in 1998
National train the trainers workshop on school inspection organised by the federal ministry of education, Abuja in 2007, attended training on education sector analysis for education policy makers, organized by UNICEF, Abuja in 2018 and attended training on monitoring and evaluation of disbursement linked education project for sustainable outcomes, organized by the World Bank Abuja Nigeria in 2018.
He also attended training on world bank supported better education services delivery for all (BESDA) for result (P for R) operation mission organised by the world bank in 2018, attended training on country performance portfolio report organized by the officials of world bank Abuja Nigeria in Nov. 2017.
He attended training of trainers (TOT) workshop for monitoring and evaluation of world bank assisted projects in the northeast, Kaduna in 2018 and Training of trainers on psychological support system and improve pedagogy for quality teaching learning delivery in Kaduna in 2018.
AD-HOC POST HELD WITH DATES
• Protem secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress, Kukawa LGA, BORNO State from 1986-1998.
• Secretary salary verification committee, Adamawa state primary education board, Yola in 1997.
• Chairman staff replacement committee state primary education board, Yola in 1998.
• Secretary, Nigeria primary education project ACR219 unit community based primary school improvement pilot project Adamawa state. (World Bank Assisted Project) in 1998.
• Desk officer, world bank special projects, Adamawa state primary education board, Yola from 1998-2003.
• Secretary Jada Local Government Council from 2003-2004.
Secretary, Jada Local Government Council from 2004-2006.
• Desk officer, federal teachers scheme (FTS), Adamawa state universal basic education board Yola from 2007-2010.
• Desk officer, state committee on integration of Quranic school into UBE programme, Adamawa state from 2007-2011.
• Assistant Director, Quality Assurance, Adamawa state universal basic education board, Yola from 2011-2012.
• He bagged Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Platinum leadership Award As ICON OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE NESPI in 2018 BY NORTHEAST STUDENTS PEACE INITIATIVE.
EXPERTISE
Through years of purpose-driven, work ethics and drive for excellence, Komsiri has moved from strength to strength in his various endeavors. He witnessed meteoric rise via the teaching profession, ascending from various cadres to the esteemed position of Director Quality Assurance (DQA) at the UBE Board in Yola, Adamawa state, in 2013.
His commitment to excellence led him to participate in prestigious training programs and workshops, including:
The World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession workshop, UNICEF Abuja’s national workshop on educational management in 2018.
He also per took in the World Bank’s training on Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) for Results (P for R) operation mission (2017), World Bank Nigeria’s high-level training on Country Performance Portfolio Report (CPPR) in (2017).
Sa’idu Njobdi Komsiri CEO ADIFUE Nigeria also has unique experience in:
1. International development
2. Project management
3. Education or vocational training
4. Entrepreneurship or economic empowerment
5. Leadership or executive management
6. Non-profit or NGO management
7. Community development or outreach
8. Partnership building or stakeholder engagement
Relevant Experience:
• UNICEF: Mrs. Maryama Dikwa, Led UNICEF programs in Consortium with SMOE, ADSUBEB YOLA for Basic Education on ensuring successful implementation and milestone achievements.
• USAID: In Consortium with ADSUBEB YOLA, Managed USAID under the team leadership of Dr. LIMAN Audu, AUN reeled programs on Technology.
• Enhanced Learning for All (TELA) for in-school and out of school children in Adamawa state, Nigeria, focusing on numeracy, reading, and writing.
• World Bank: In Consortium with FME, SMOE AND ADSUBEB YOLA Oversaw the Adamawa state Education investment Project (ADSEPIP) Additional Financing (2016-2018 pilot phase), ensuring effective program delivery, Under the team leadership of Dr. Olatunde Adekola.
• IsDB: Coordinated the Adamawa state Islamic Development Bank program, promoting bilingual basic education and addressing out-of-school Almajiri pupils in 9 states in Nigeria.
• Attended IMF/World Bank Annual Conference, Washington D.C., USA — CSO Delegate (21–27 October 2024)
Represented Adamawa Initiative for Underprivileged Empowerment (ADIFUE) in global policy dialogues with international financial institutions.
•Contributed to discussions on education and community development, with emphasis on applying sustainable development strategies in developing countries. Initiated follow-up frameworks to adapt conference outcomes into actionable programs for local communities, particularly in Ganye Chiefdom, Adamawa State Nigeria.
