Saminu Ibrahim Turaki

Ibrahim Saminu Turaki (born 14 July 1963) is a Nigerian actuary and politician who served as the governor of Jigawa State from 1999 to 2007.

Prior to that, he was the Jigawa state chairman of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) and United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). He was the senator representing Jigawa North-West senatorial district from 2007 to 2011.

Ibrahim Saminu Turaki was born on 14 July 1963. He attended the Federal Government College Kaduna and the Ahmadu Bello University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in actuarial science in 1985.

He is currently the PDP Candidate for the Jigawa North-West Senatorial District for the 2023 general elections.

He was governor of Jigawa State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He was elected in the 1999 Jigawa State gubernatorial election and re-elected during the 2003 Jigawa State gubernatorial election on the platform of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP).

In December 2006, he transferred his allegiance to the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Turaki joined Nigeria's ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in December 2015.

Turaki championed the development of ICT, stressing its importance in nation-building. Key initiatives included establishing the biggest biotechnology centers in Nigeria in Kazaure, attracting DFID co-funding for a microcredit scheme, and sponsoring students for informatics education abroad.

He initiated the Jigawa State Broadband Network Project to drive socio-economic growth and global competitiveness in ICT. Founded Galaxy Information Technology and Telecommunication (GITT) in 2000, making Jigawa the first state to implement interactive distance learning and video conferencing.

Established the Jigawa Informatics Institute (JII) in 2001, which graduated over 7,000 students, many now active in e-government or ICT entrepreneurship. Despite criticism for ICT investments, his administration was praised for pioneering renewable energy projects, including solar-powered plants.

Turaki created a free trade zone in Jigawa (2000), aiming to attract foreign and local investors. In 2003, he signed agreements with American companies to export gum arabic, collaborating with the US Trade Representative for Africa to boost FDI.

In 2004, he received free land in Niger for housing dignitaries in exchange for building 86 units. He also pioneered the Universal Basic Education (UBEC) and the contributory pension scheme in 2001, long before national adoption.

Jigawa became the first state to introduce a housing mortgage scheme via the Jigawa Savings and Loans Bank, addressing housing shortages. His administration earned the label 'Jigawa, a State of Firsts' for these innovations.

Turaki emphasized security, safety, and justice, establishing the Jigawa State Justice Sector and Law Reform Commission (2006) and formalizing the vigilante system through the Jigawa State Vigilante Group Law (2005).

In September 2006, he faced mob violence after a blasphemous incident involving a Christian woman. His efforts included decentralizing governance in 2000, allocating powers to Emirate councils.

He was accused of corruption and money laundering in 2007 by the EFCC, arrested multiple times, and charged with N8.3 billion in 2017. On 13 October 2022, a Federal High Court discharged and acquitted him of all charges, releasing his travel documents.