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SAMINU TURAKI Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki (b. 1963) has been governor of Jigawa State in Nigeria since 29 May 1999. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He was originally elected and subsequently re-elected in 1999 and 2003 respectively on the platform of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP). He is currently seeking the 2007 presidency through the PDP.

TURAKI, THE MILLENNIUM GOVERNOR Born on 14 July, 1963. Attended Federal Government College Kaduna and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Actuarial Science in 1985. Before the inception of Dr. Saminu Turaki’s Administration in Jigawa State for over a decade after the creation in August 1991, the process of social-economic development in Jigawa State has been a difficult one as it was devoid of any logical articulated and documented blue print that would steer the State’s development efforts. Consequently, until last few years when the state under the leadership of Dr. Saminu Turaki laid a solid foundation robust enough to guarantee rapid and sustainable socio-economic development in the state. A man who transformed a hitherto rural oriented and subsistence farming state to become a leading proponent of Nigerian’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution. Major focuses of Dr. Ibrahim Saminu Turaki’s administration is the use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) effectively and strategically as tools to convert poverty, promote sustainable economic growth and empower individuals and communities to participate more fully and creatively in their societies and economies As Nigeria braces up for the information technology era, Jigawa State thrives to be identified as the forefront of that development. The state pursues the mission through an integrated set of programmes areas; Field based research, pilot projects and support for innovation in using ICT creatively and strategically to address specific development challenges in a broad range of sectors (Education, health, rural development, public sector reform and governance) Best practice guidance and how best to support the effective integration of ICT in development strategies and programmes. Þ Research, capacity building, innovations and global dialogue and Knowledge sharing to support policy and regulatory frame works and public private partnership that enable increased access to ICT infrastructure and services. To achieve all these, the Jigawa State multi Billion naira Broadband Network. Project was initialized. The project is a satellite based communication facility for delivery of a broad range of multimedia services encompassing Video, Audio and Data. This broadband is first of it kind in Nigeria and the biggest in Africa and with 90% Data to cover Africa. The Jigawa Network is controlled by the main earth station located at the state capital, Dutse with uplink and downlink facilities to the satellite. The Dutse Teleport authenticates and controls all access signals transmitted to and from any system linked to the Network. The Jigawa Network also allows multiple teleports, Independent of each other. That is why by having a Network of terminal earth stations across vast regions, this connectivity project could potentially represent single communication platform to be reckoned within Africa.

So ultimately, the project in addition to its anticipated social services to the people of Jigawa State has strong commercial viability which the state stands to get for its up keep in the near future. In line with these, Dr. Saminu Turaki is putting information technology to stimulate development of every sector of the agrarian state. He established Informatics Institute in the state that caters for the teaching and the research needs for the students and teachers. The Institute provides first digital library in Nigeria and it the first to be established in Africa.

Dr. Ibrahim Saminu Turaki us putting information technology (IT) to stimulate development of every sector of the agrarian state. The state is making people to be economically independent and empowered. This is an effort of transforming the hitherto rural oriented and subsistence farming state to become a leading proponent of Nigeria’s information and communication technology (ICT) revolution.

Jigawa State is geared to develop globally competitive quality manpower in information technology and related disciplines.

The administration of Dr. Ibrahim Saminu Turaki is making the use of IT curriculum for the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. It has established facilities for electronic distance learning network. All the local government headquarters was connected with internet which acts as their resource and skill acquisitions centres.

These developments would create an information society with cutting edge technologies in the state which every citizen of Jigawa be empowered to contribute positively to national development and wealth creation. These could be achieved by tapping the vast free and paid information resources of the internet for the state’s socio-economic development. And consequently promote healthy and ethical internet culture in the state, and also promote access to e-learning opportunities available on the world wide web (WWW) and also facilitate the use of e-commerce in the state and the country at large.

The aim of the state was to produce not less than 300 professional graduates annually and be the regional hub for software development production and for assembly of hardware by the 2015 and achieve 100% computerisation of key government activities by 2007. in addition to what is obtained in the state, the administration of Dr. Ibrahim Saminu Turaki sponsored hundreds of its youth to Singapore to study B. Sc. Computer and Computer Engineering.

Dr. Ibrahim Saminu Turaki wants the nation top move forward in terms of information technology and stop the over dependence on oil which displaced the majority of our people from their productive economic activities, and created great wants and wide spread of poverty and made economic activities in most parts of our communities stagnated, participating high unemployment social decay, infrastructural distortions and general insecurity.

The simple analysis the administration of Dr. Ibrahim Saminu Turaki took for this huge investments in ICT was; if small country like Singapore with about 3 million population they have 5 times Nigerian economy. Also Taiwan which has 10 million people has 10 times Nigerian G.D.P. with all the excess crude oil. But, if you add the oil in Saudi, Iraq and other gulf countries together they amount about 70 billion dollars, but Taiwan make over 270 billion dollars by exporting electronic products. So, which one is bigger, Taiwan or the gulf countries put together.

So, the Jigawa State wants to move the nation from the old order to the new order of ICT revolution. This is the work of visionary governor of an agrarian state who wants to transform his state to be reckon in the world in terms of ICT revolution.

One wonders what would happen if Dr. Turaki would be given the chance to lead the country come 2007.

Long live Dr. Saminu Turaki !!! Long live Jigawa State !!! Long live Nigeria !!!

By Usman Mohammad Na-Allah Maigatari. Phone: +2348059363600 Email: usman_naallah@yahoo.com