You’re the face of hope, progress, NILDC urges Bakari to contest Adamawa guber election
The Nigeria Indigenous Languages Development Council (NILDC), Adamawa State Chapter, has formally called on Dr. Salihu Bakari Girei to contest the 2027 governorship election in the state, describing him as a credible and competent leader capable of building on existing achievements and taking Adamawa to greater heights.
The call was made on Thursday in Yola during a well-attended stakeholders’ meeting convened by the council.
Present at the event were members of the State Executive Council of NILDC, Board of Trustees members, Advisory Council members, Local Government Coordinators and other critical stakeholders.
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In a communique presented by the State Chairman of NILDC, Elder Joshua Napa, the council declared its collective decision to urge Dr. Girei to step forward and offer himself for service as governor in 2027, when the tenure of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri comes to an end.
According to the council, Dr. Girei represents “hope, competence, and integrity,” qualities they believe are essential for the next phase of leadership in Adamawa State. The NILDC emphasized that the state deserves a leader who listens to the people, acts decisively, and delivers tangible results.
Highlighting his track record, the council noted that Dr. Girei is a seasoned public servant and educationist who served with distinction under the administration of former Governor Murtala Nyako.
The communique noted that during his tenure as Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Bakari established 51 model primary schools across the 21 local government areas of the state.
It noted that Bakari also introduced the distribution of free school uniforms to encourage girl-child education and supported monitoring mechanisms to strengthen school supervision.
The council further stated that under his leadership, over 4,000 classrooms were built and rehabilitated in primary and junior secondary schools, alongside the establishment of six model boarding schools in different parts of the state.
“Born over five decades ago in Girei Local Government Area to the family of the late Alhaji Bakari Gudu, Dr. Girei began his educational journey at Girei I Primary School and later attended Government Secondary School, Girei.
“He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education (Second Class Upper Division) from the University of Maiduguri, a Master’s degree in Sociology of Education with distinction from the University of Jos, and later earned both a Master’s degree in International Education and a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Equity from the University of Sussex.
“Professionally, Dr. Girei has held several strategic positions, including Assistant Lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Yola; Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC); Assistant Director and Special Assistant at TETFund; Commissioner for Local Government Affairs in Adamawa State; and Deputy Director of Research and Development at TETFund.
“He currently serves as Director of the Research and Development Centre of Excellence Department and member of the top management team at Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), a position he has held since 2020.
“In recognition of his contributions to education and community development, he was conferred with the traditional title of “Wakilin Makaranta” by the Lamido of Adamawa,” the communique said.
The NILDC affirmed its readiness to mobilize support across the state should Dr. Girei accept the call to contest, stressing that Adamawa requires a leader who prioritizes education as a cornerstone of development.
“Let the voices rise and let the people decide,” Elder Napa said, as the council formally urged Dr. Girei to heed their call.
