Jigawa State has, in recent years, earned praise for its progressive policy of offering automatic employment to university gradu...
However, as commendable as this initiative is, it also calls for reflection. The state government must take a closer look at the policy to ensure that other brilliant and hardworking graduates are not left behind, particularly those whose Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) falls between 4.0 and 4.49.
These students, though officially classified as Second Class Upper (2.1), have equally demonstrated distinction, resilience, and intellectual depth. In some disciplines — especially the technical and science-based ones — attaining a First Class degree is extraordinarily demanding.
Yet many of these students, with CGPAs slightly below the First-Class cut-off, are as competent and deserving of opportunities as their peers who crossed the 4.5 mark. Around the world, employers and institutions recognize this nuance. Graduates with Second Class Upper degrees are widely regarded as strong performers and are eligible for both public and private sector roles.
They also qualify for prestigious international fellowships and postgraduate scholarships. Indeed, scholarship programmes such as Chevening, Commonwealth, and several others typically set their minimum CGPA requirement between 3.5 and 3.7 on a 5.0 scale — comfortably within the Second Class Upper range.
This shows that the global academic and professional community values not only top-tier excellence but also consistent, well-rounded performance. It is on this basis that Governor Mallam Umar Namadi is urged to broaden the scope of Jigawa’s First-Class employment initiative.
By extending consideration to graduates within the 4.0 to 4.49 range, the government would not only promote fairness but also maximize the state’s pool of talent. Such an inclusive policy could be designed to include a fair and transparent screening process that rewards skill, creativity, and innovation — qualities not confined to a single grade classification.
A similar example can be seen in neighbouring Kano State, where the government recently introduced a domestic scholarship scheme that also accommodates Second Class Upper graduates. Many beneficiaries of that programme come from humble backgrounds, and their stories have shown how such policies can transform lives and families.
Jigawa State can take inspiration from this model and adapt it to its own development priorities. Governor Namadi has already demonstrated a listening and compassionate leadership style, particularly through his swift interventions during last Ramadan when he responded to citizens’ needs with empathy and urgency.
Extending opportunities to deserving 2.1 graduates would further strengthen public confidence in his administration and reinforce his image as a people-centered leader who believes in inclusive governance.
History will not forget him if he heeds this call. His legacy will be remembered not just for rewarding excellence, but for redefining it — by recognizing that excellence wears many shades, and that brilliance sometimes exists just a decimal point below a First Class.
In the end, what truly defines a visionary leader is not only how he uplifts the best but how he ensures that no capable hand is left idle when there is work to be done for the good of the state.
Highest regard,
Muhammad Abubakar Tahir
A Journalist who hails from Hadejia, Jigawa State.
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