The spokesperson to Dr. Jamil Gwamna, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Gombe State in the 2027 general elections, Ibrahim Shawai has disclosed that his principal vowed to replicate his private-sector strides in the administration of the state if elected into office.
Shawai, who explained that Gwamna had been active in Nigerian politics since the return to democratic rule in 1999, described his political journey as one marked by grassroots engagement, party organisation and attempts to seek elective office.
According to him, Gwamna was an APC governorship aspirant ahead of the 2019 general elections and later contested the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary in 2022, where he emerged first runner-up.
He subsequently returned to the APC and, in 2026, emerged as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Gombe State.
“His emergence as the APC Gubernatorial Candidate for Gombe State for the 2027 general elections marks a significant milestone in a political journey spanning more than two decades,” Shawai said.
He noted that Gwamna’s relationship with communities and traditional institutions across the state was also reflected in traditional titles conferred on him, including Sardaunan Gombe, Kangiwan Tangale, Walin Bojude, Dan Burum Din Waja, Marafan Tumfure and Jagaban Dadiya.
Shawai said Gwamna’s profile brought together experience in economics and finance, private-sector management, electricity and infrastructure, public-private partnerships, agriculture, academia, public administration, entrepreneurship and community development.
“As the APC Gubernatorial Candidate for the 2027 general elections, Dr. Gwamna enters the contest with a background that combines private-sector executive experience, public-policy exposure, academic training, community engagement and longstanding participation in the political life of Gombe State,” he added.
While revealing that governorship hopeful is widely commended as a politician whose career spans more than three decades of experience in economics, business management, public administration, infrastructure, energy and community development, his spokesperson stressed that it is this profile that his principal will be bringing to the Government House.
Shawai, who maintained that Gwamna is a man who believes in the ideals of transparency, on Monday, further highlighted Gwamna’s what he described as the “professional career, academic background, corporate leadership and community interventions.”
According to Shawai, ‘Gwamna, who holds the traditional title of Sardaunan Gombe, was born on December 5, 1965, in Gombe and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1986.
“He later earned a Master’s degree in Business Economics and Finance with Distinction from London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, in 2004, and a PhD in Economics from the same institution in 2008.
“Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna is an economist, business executive, public-sector administrator and politician with more than three decades of experience spanning finance, industry, infrastructure, energy, public-private partnerships and community development,” Shawai said.
He continued, “Gwamna began his professional career in 1986 as an officer with the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry before joining Kaduna Aluminium Limited and Kaduna Machine Works Limited in 1987 as Chief Accountant.
“He subsequently served as Marketing Manager in 1989 and General Manager in 1990, before becoming Chief Executive Officer of Amstrade Ventures Limited between 1999 and 2000.
“From 2000 to 2003, he served as the Executive Chairman of the Gombe State Water Corporation, while in 2005 he became Managing Partner of Jamen Consultancy Limited.
“He also served as the Executive Director of Sahelian Energy and Integrated Services between 2009 and 2011 before becoming the company’s Managing Director,” he revealed.
He highlighted s major phase of Gwamna’s corporate career to be his tenure as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kano Electricity Distribution Company, a position he held from 2013 to 2022.
Shawai said Gwamna oversaw electricity distribution operations across Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states during the period, claiming that under Gwamna’s leadership, KEDCO recorded improvements in its operational and financial performance, with aggregate technical, commercial and collection losses declining from about 55 per cent before privatisation to an average of approximately 47 per cent.
Monthly collections, according to the profile, also rose from about N634 million to nearly N5 billion.
“These improvements were supported by reforms in metering, customer and asset validation, infrastructure, revenue administration, staff development, operational systems and accountability,” Shawai said.
He added that Gwamna’s tenure at KEDCO also created employment opportunities for people from Gombe State, with more than 1,500 young people reportedly securing employment within the company during the period.
Beyond corporate management, Shawai explained that Gwamna had contributed to discussions and initiatives around infrastructure financing and public-private partnerships.
He said the APC candidate participated in the formulation of Nigeria’s National Policy on Public-Private Partnerships in 2008 and was involved in the design and supervision of agricultural development initiatives for the federal government.
These, he said, included the Community/Cooperative Tractor Hiring Scheme and Agro Export Conditioning and Preservation Centres.
“His academic and professional work focused particularly on economics, infrastructure financing, project finance, privatisation, risk allocation and Public-Private Partnerships,” the politician’s spokesman said.
He added that Gwamna also taught Economics, International Business and Finance at London Metropolitan University.
According to him, Gwamna’s research interests have included privatisation, public-private partnerships, private finance initiatives, private ownership, risk allocation and infrastructure development.
Shawai further highlighted what he described as Gwamna’s interventions in education and human capital development, saying, Gwamna sponsored the education of 39 students from Gombe State at Yamusa Science Academy, Birnin Kebbi, in 2017, with the beneficiaries subsequently completing their studies.
“In 2019, he personally sponsored 10 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, drawn from across Gombe State’s 11 Local Government Areas, for studies abroad. The beneficiaries completed their programmes and returned home,” he said.
He added that Gwamna had also supported capacity-building initiatives, including the sponsorship of training for journalists from Gombe State.
On economic empowerment, Shawai said interventions through the Sardauna Foundation and other personal initiatives had targeted women, youths and economically disadvantaged households.
According to him, more than 2,000 sewing machines were distributed to women between 2012 and 2018, while about 1,200 grinding machines were provided between 2015 and 2018.
He said approximately 1,000 deep freezers were also distributed in 2018 to support women involved in small-scale businesses.
“Between 2015 and 2024, approximately N70 million was reportedly provided as business and livelihood support to women across Gombe State,” Shawai said.
The spokesperson also listed medical assistance among Gwamna’s community interventions, saying he had supported individuals who could not afford medical treatment, including patients requiring specialised treatment and surgery in Kano, Abuja and other locations.
He cited the case of a young man from Kaltungo who lost a leg following serious medical complications, saying Gwamna supported his treatment, rehabilitation and efforts to obtain a prosthetic limb.
“In 2026, he provided 100 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities and others with mobility needs,” Shawai listed.
He said Gwamna had also supported disadvantaged families, young people requiring assistance for marriage and religious and community institutions.
According to him, Gwamna financed the construction and renovation of mosques across eight Local Government Areas and provided vehicles to religious organisations to support their activities.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
