Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa has approved the appointment of Dr. Lawan Ahmed Muhammad Sani as the 17th Emir of Gumel, following the death of his father, the late Emir, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammad Sani II.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by the Secretary to the Jigawa State Government (SSG), Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, in Dutse.
Bala said the appointment followed the recommendations of the Gumel Emirate Council kingmakers and the Jigawa State Council of Chiefs.
“Upon the recommendation of both the Gumel Emirate Council Kingmakers and the Jigawa State Council of Chiefs, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Jigawa, Malam Umar Namadi, has approved the appointment of Dr. Lawan Ahmed Muhammad Sani Sani as the 17th Emir of Gumel,” he said.
The new emir succeeds his father, who died in Egypt on Sept. 3, 2026, following a protracted illness.
The late monarch, who ascended the throne in 1981, reigned for 46 years and remained the traditional head of the Gumel Emirate until his death.
Before his appointment, the new emir served as Chiroman Gumel, a traditional title within the emirate.
He also has a professional background in information technology and cybersecurity, having served as Director of Cyber Security at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The SSG said Namadi expressed appreciation to the Gumel Emirate Council kingmakers, chaired by the Wazirin Gumel, Alhaji Adamu Muhammad Nasoro, for their role in the selection process.
The governor also acknowledged the contributions of the Emirs of Hadejia, Kazaure, Ringim and Dutse, who are members of the Jigawa State Council of Chiefs, for their advice during the process.
Namadi congratulated the new emir and wished him a successful reign, as well as many years of service to the Gumel Emirate, Jigawa State and Nigeria.
The appointment marks the beginning of a new traditional leadership era in Gumel following the long reign of the late monarch.
