By Nidala Muhammad Rabiu In a remarkable celebration of leadership, service, and community transformation, the Speaker of the Ho...
By Nidala Muhammad Rabiu
In a remarkable celebration of leadership, service, and community transformation, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., marked his second anniversary in office with a three-day programme that left a lasting impression across Zaria.
The event, held between June 26 and 28, 2025, drew government officials, traditional rulers, educationists, community leaders, and thousands of constituents.
Spanning infrastructure commissioning, groundbreaking ceremonies, scholarship disbursements, and inspections of strategic development projects, the commemoration reflected Speaker Abbas’s commitment to grassroots advancement and national development through education, healthcare, and inclusive governance.
Day One: Education at the Heart of Development
The celebration began at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Zaria, where Speaker Abbas performed a groundbreaking ceremony for what is now termed the Zaria Education Village—an ₦80 billion project set to house multiple federal institutions.
Speaking to a crowd of students, staff, and dignitaries, Speaker Abbas emphasised that education remains his top priority. “Education is the key to unlocking the future of our youth and our nation. We must build a knowledge-driven society,” he declared.
The Education hub will include:
A rebuilt FCE Zaria complex
A Federal College of Nursing and Health Sciences
A Federal College of Legal and Islamic Studies
A permanent campus for the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)
Boarding schools and a digital learning hub
According to the Speaker’s media office, the Education hub project will not only offer world-class education to northern youth but will also generate over 4,000 jobs during and after construction.
Day Two: Infrastructure and Community Empowerment
Day two featured a tour and commissioning of various constituency projects championed by Speaker Abbas across Zaria.
Notable projects visited included:
The newly completed Vocational Training Centre in Nagoyi
Phase One of Zaria City Market in Amaru
20-bed Primary Healthcare Centre in Kakiyeyi
Several bridges including Agoro Bridge, Kofar Doka Bridge, and Abba Bridge
Road rehabilitation projects in Tudun Wada, Jushi, and Kufena.
At every location, the Speaker was met with songs of praise and traditional blessings, particularly from women and youth groups who hailed him for “bringing government closer to the people.”
Addressing journalists at the end of the tour, Speaker Abbas noted, “These projects are not just structures. They are investments in dignity, health, trade, and economic self-reliance.
Day Three: Scholarships and Strategic Announcements
On the final day, the Speaker turned attention to education financing and human capital development. Before a packed audience at Amaru Community Hall, he announced that over 10,500 students would benefit from his scholarship and academic support scheme in 2025.
These include:
6,500 full federal scholarships for tertiary students
4,000 JAMB/UTME sponsorships for indigent secondary school graduates
The initiative, funded in part through federal allocations and constituency development funds, covers tuition, textbooks, and accommodation for beneficiaries. Speaker Abbas called it "an antidote to poverty and social exclusion."
He also disclosed that seven new federal institutions would be operational in Zaria by the end of 2025. These include:
1. Federal College of Agriculture
2. Federal Technical College
3. Federal School for the Disabled
4. Federal Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Institute
5. Technology Incubation Centre
6. Centre for Management Development
7. Four new Federal Secondary Schools in underserved communities
“These are not promises. They are fully captured in the 2025 Appropriation Act, and we are committed to ensuring their implementation,” he assured.
A Vision Beyond Politics
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, representing Zaria Federal Constituency since 2011, has often been described as “a silent performer.” Yet, his two-year tenure as Speaker has brought unprecedented federal presence to his constituency.
Traditional leaders, including the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, commended his humility and effectiveness, saying, “This is the first time we are seeing tangible transformation delivered directly from the office of the Speaker.”
The event ended with a unity prayer and cultural presentation by students, as Speaker Abbas reiterated his desire to “build a constituency that is educated, empowered, and economically resilient.”
The three-day celebration was not merely a festivity, but a reflection of legacy, impact, and long-term vision. For the people of Zaria, it was also a clear reminder that political office, when used sincerely, can indeed transform lives.
As the federal government continues to decentralize development, the Speaker’s blueprint in Zaria may soon become a model for effective grassroots governance across Nigeria.
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