By Murtala Shehu Umar
Director General Bureau for Land Management
No doubt every beginning has an end. In December 2019, we gathered, received and welcomed Dr. Zainab Ibrahim Braji when she assumed duty. She was transferred from the Council Affairs Directorate as Permanent Secretary, to head Kano State Bureau for Land Management with the same rank.
Dr. Zainab Ibrahim Braji, a seasoned academic, started her career as Assistant Lecturer at Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education where she held many, many positions such as: Head of Department, Examination Officer, Faculty Dean up to the position of Director.
Because of her commitment, dedication and hard work. In June 2019, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje chose her among thousands of Kano State civil servants and appointed her as Permanent Secretary in the state civil service.
After her appointment, Dr. Zainab Braji was posted to Kano State Council Affairs Directorate, the utmost decision-making council where she contributed and brought positive changes within her six-month stay.
She was later redeployed to Kano State Bureau for Land Management as Permanent Secretary after completing her years of service on 25th November 2022 as Director General. “Dambu mai-hawa biyu”.
Dr. Braji is the first female to head Land and Survey since the creation of the ministry in 1975 and she did so for two consecutive terms.
During her stay, Dr. Zainab Ibrahim Braji brought so many changes in land management and administration such as: introducing Private layout, re-introducing and reviving One-stop-shop, creation of about 20 new layouts and contributed towards boosting state IGR.
Other achievements are settling land disputes at Fanisau layout, western bypass layout, Kofar Waika Layout, and Dawanau 196 Layout, to mention just a few.
On staffers’ matter, Dr. Braji boosted the morale of staffs both the junior and senior ones by appreciating and rewarding any staff who dedicated himself/herself to duty, and inculcating discipline among staff.
As an academic who knows the value of education, Dr. Braji encouraged staff members to go and further their education, attending seminars, workshops both at home and abroad, provision of working materials, good conducive atmosphere to workers and she has an open door policy.
To meet the best ICT global practices, Dr. Braji recorded a huge success in that direction because land automation processes has reached 60 to 70 percent.
Mama, as we called her, is truly a mother who cares, loves and shows a sense of belonging to those who have been working with her right from Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education to Kano State Bureau for Land Management.
Today, we have gathered again to appreciate what have done to the Bureau and land administration in general. No doubt, Dr. Zainab Ibrahim Braji’s name will be written in Gold because of the transformation she has brought to land management and administration in Kano State.
When writing this “article”, my pen dropped, my heart beat like a drum, my eyes turned to an ocean, the ocean full of hot water spilled out and burnt my cheeks, when I realized the my situation I said: “From God we came and to Him we shall return.” So I came back to my senses and continued writing till the end.
Mama we really, really miss you but missing you for a while because you left some good legacies which will remain permanently in our hearts and land management and administration in general.
Murtala Shehu Umar
PRO KSBLM
24/05/2023.
