For greatly touching and shaping the fabric of the social life of his subjects via peace and security, education, poverty alleviation, climate change and health, Emir of Bauchi Alhaji (Dr) Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, CFR, is Social Impact Person of the Year 2023.

Alhaji (Dr) Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, CFR, Emir of Bauchi

While Bauchi Emirate has been a force to reckon with under the defunct Sokoto Caliphate, social progress, cohesion and cooperation remained elusive before the enthronement of its 11th Emir, Alhaji (Dr) Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, in July 2010.

Being the commander of the army of the caliphate (Sarkin Yakin Daular Usmaniya), the Emir was tactical enough in his approach to taming the rising spate of Sara-Suka thuggery, illiteracy, poverty, and perceived diminishing self-esteem glaringly manifesting in many residents.

However, in the last 12 years, the social life of an average citizen of Bauchi has witnessed tremendous uplift against the myriad social constraints that held Bauchi to ransom.

Early on, it became apparent that the Emir, a builder by profession, was the needed catalyst to support the government’s efforts geared towards improving the socio-economic and political conditions of the people of Bauchi. His doggedness in this case is the epitome of his manifested commitment to the people of his emirate. Hence, his leadership has resulted in positive changes that have improved the quality of life for the people of Bauchi.

During his reign, he is known for exhibiting justice and fairness, promoting unity among the people of his emirate, and caring about peaceful co-existence and harmony. He often assists the less-privileged and mobilizes the youth to become self-reliant.

The Emir’s commitment to peace and justice helped create a climate of peaceful co-existence in Bauchi — it was adjudged the most peaceful state not only in the Northeast geopolitical zone but in Nigeria as a whole.

Unlike in the past when traditional rulers enclosed themselves in their turbans and regalia in the comfort of their age-long palaces, the Emir is unrelenting in helping and representing the interest of his people. Recently, Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir made the Emir chairman of the Fuel Subsidy Palliative Distribution Committee. The committee under the leadership of Alhaji Rilwanu successfully distributed 89,000 bags of 25kg rice worth N2bn to the intended beneficiaries across the state, thereby reducing the burning scourge of poverty inflicted on Nigerians by the removal of subsidy on petrol.

In his commitment to ensuring that the palliatives got to the targeted beneficiaries, he toured the 20 local government areas of the state to see that deserving poor and vulnerable persons got the rice given as palliative.

Not satisfied with his role as chairman of the State Palliative Distribution Committee, Alhaji Rilwanu, sometime in early November, embarked on a one-on-one encounter with traders in Bauchi markets. He pleaded for a reduction in prices of commodities to enable poor households to afford the basics of life. He visited Bauchi Central Market, Muda-Lawal Market, Railway Market and Durun Market, about 23km away from Bauchi metropolis.

While Bauchi previously accounted for the highest number of out-of-school children in the country, the involvement and active participation of Alhaji Rilwanu towards re-enrolment of out-of-school children has ensured that most of those kids now attend classes.

Because of the firm interest of the Emir in education, the state governor recently appointed him to lead the 2023 Education Steering Committee saddled with the task of enrolling street kids in school and remodelling Tsangay schools in the state.

Addressing the Emir shortly after inaugurating the committee, the governor remarked: “Your selection to serve on the Committee is therefore based on your record of success, your commitment to the socio-economic development of the state and your determination to make sure that no child is left behind in the acquisition of knowledge.”