Commissioning of the Hajiya Safara'u Umar Radda Maternity and Children's Clinic, Gidan Dawa

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Almighty Allah (SWT), the Giver of life, the Granter of healing, and the Source of every blessing. We thank Him for granting us the opportunity to gather today for the commissioning of the Late Hajiya Safara'u Umar Radda Maternity and Children's Health Clinic here in Gidan Dawa, a project that represents hope, compassion and our shared commitment to improving the lives of our people.

This occasion is particularly emotional for me because this noble facility bears the name of my beloved late mother, Hajiya Safara'u Umar Radda. She lived a life defined by faith, humility, compassion and selfless service to others. Like many mothers across our communities, she never sought recognition, but devoted herself to raising her family with dignity and serving humanity with sincerity. I therefore express my heartfelt appreciation to the Executive Chairman of Katsina Local Government Council, Hon. Isah Miqdad A.D. Saude, for this thoughtful gesture. By dedicating this maternity and children's health clinic in her memory, he has honoured not only our family but also the enduring values of love, kindness and service that she embodied. I pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) accepts every mother cared for, every child safely delivered and every life saved in this facility as a continuous charity (Sadaqatul Jariyah) for her soul, and grants her Al-Jannatul Firdaus.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I have always believed that the true measure of leadership is not the number of projects we commission but the number of lives we touch. A government succeeds when development reaches the ordinary citizen, when hope reaches forgotten communities, and when every family can feel the positive impact of good governance. That conviction has guided every decision we have taken since assuming office.

When I sought your mandate, I made a clear promise that development would no longer be driven by the State Government alone. I pledged to strengthen our local governments as genuine partners in development by giving them the support, confidence and enabling environment to discharge their responsibilities effectively. I believed then, as I do today, that the government closest to the people is best positioned to understand their needs and provide lasting solutions. This clinic is one of the clearest fruits of that promise. It demonstrates that when local governments are empowered, supported and held accountable, they become true engines of grassroots development. This is the kind of partnership we envisioned, a State Government providing leadership and direction while local governments translate that vision into projects that improve the daily lives of our people.

The healthcare sector has remained one of the foremost priorities of our administration because a healthy population is the foundation of every prosperous society. We have therefore pursued reforms that are transforming healthcare across Katsina State. We are upgrading 268 Primary Healthcare Centres, while Comprehensive Health Centres in Zango, Kafur, Faskari, Dandume and Charanchi have been upgraded into General Hospitals, with Dandume now hosting its first-ever General Hospital. We have recruited 1,744 healthcare workers, sponsored 41 Katsina students to study Medicine and Surgery in Egypt, expanded residency training, improved doctors' welfare, modernised our major hospitals, established a 24-hour Dialysis Centre, and commenced the construction of Northern Nigeria's most advanced Imaging and Diagnostic Centre. Through the expansion of the Free Medicare Programme, Universal Health Coverage under KTSCHMA, strengthened drug supply systems, modern medical equipment and improved maternal and child healthcare services, we are steadily rebuilding confidence in our healthcare system.

The true success of these reforms is seen in the lives they continue to change. Every mother who returns home safely with her baby, every child whose life is saved through timely medical care and every family that can now access quality healthcare close to home reminds us why these investments matter. It is this commitment to people-centred healthcare that has earned Katsina State several national recognitions, including the honour of KTSCHMA being named Nigeria's Best State Health Insurance Agency for two consecutive years. These awards encourage us to do even more for our people.

Our journey, however, does not end here. To further strengthen emergency maternal and child healthcare, our administration will soon launch the Ward-Based Emergency Medical Transport Initiative, a first-of-its-kind programme that will deploy specially equipped tricycle ambulances to all 361 political wards in Katsina State. This initiative is designed to ensure that no pregnant woman loses her life because transportation is unavailable, no newborn is denied a chance to live because emergency care comes too late, and no family is left helpless in moments of medical emergency. It is another bold step towards bringing life-saving healthcare closer to every community, no matter how remote.

Today's commissioning therefore represents much more than the opening of another health facility. It is evidence that our vision of strengthening grassroots governance is yielding tangible results. I once again commend the Executive Chairman of Katsina Local Government Council, Hon. Isah Miqdad A.D. Saude, for justifying the confidence we have placed in our local governments. This project reflects purposeful leadership, prudent stewardship of public resources and a genuine commitment to the welfare of the people. I encourage other local government councils across our state to emulate this example as we continue building a healthier, safer and more prosperous Katsina.

To the doctors, nurses, midwives and all healthcare professionals who will serve in this clinic, I remind you that yours is a noble calling. Every patient who walks through these doors comes with hope. Serve them with compassion, professionalism and integrity. Let this facility become known not only for its beautiful structure but also for the quality of care, kindness and dignity that every patient receives.

It is now my singular honour and privilege to formally commission the Late Hajiya Safara'u Umar Radda Maternity and Children's Health Clinic, Gidan Dawa, for the service and benefit of the good people of Katsina State.

May Almighty Allah (SWT) bless this facility, bless all those who will serve within it, protect every mother and child who seeks care here, accept this noble gesture as a lasting Sadaqatul Jariyah for the soul of Late Hajiya Safara'u Umar Radda, and continue to bless Katsina State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Thank you very much.

Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.