By Dr. Sa’id Alkali Kori

I write with an extraordinary confluence of personal joy and professional pride to felicitate with my dear brother and friend, Dr. Mohammed Goje, on his richly deserved appointment as Secretary to the State Government of Yobe State. I do so wearing three hats, each of which gives me a unique vantage point to appreciate what this moment means: as Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Food Corporation, as Special Adviser on International Relations and Investment to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, and as Technical Advisor to the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum.

This appointment is far more than a routine governmental change. It is, as many have rightly hailed it, a powerful and practical affirmation of generational inclusivity in governance — a deliberate, visionary act by His Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, to hand the engine room of state administration to one of the finest brains Yobe State has ever produced. Today, discipline, loyalty, intellect, and total commitment to the Buni administration have been rewarded in the most eloquent manner.

I have long known Dr. Goje as a sound and intellectually formidable mind, a true technocrat in every sense, yet remarkably down-to-earth, responsible, and unfailingly reliable. He is that rare listening friend who combines deep international networking with genuine grassroots sensitivity — a very good personality whose humility amplifies rather than diminishes his towering competence. These personal qualities have always marked him out for leadership on a grand scale.

Dr. Goje’s stewardship of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) remains the gold standard. He led with exceptional and skilful foresight through some of the most complex humanitarian challenges the Lake Chad region has ever faced, transforming SEMA into arguably the most successful agency in the state. In disaster risk management, post-conflict recovery, and multi-partner emergency coordination, he did not simply manage crises; he built institutional systems, mobilised resources, and advanced sustainable, resilience-focused interventions that directly improved lives. That was technocratic, selfless, welfarist leadership at its finest.

What makes this moment even more personal for me is the privilege of witnessing his brilliance on the regional stage. In my capacity as Technical Advisor to the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum, I have seen firsthand the sheer magic Dr. Goje has brought to the Secretariat he heads. He has driven the actualisation of several pivotal programmes with a level of administrative finesse, diplomatic deftness, and data-driven precision that has elevated the Forum’s credibility across borders. Colleagues from Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and beyond have spoken glowingly of the coordination, the follow-through, and the quiet yet firm leadership he provides. It is one thing to be called an “internationally networked” professional; it is another to watch him use those networks to stitch together a regional response that directly benefits the people of the Lake Chad Basin. He has done a fantastic job, and the entire region is better for it.

Permit me to recall a moment that will forever remain etched in my heart. Some time ago, in the thick of a critical period of programme design for the Forum, I found myself in a late-night strategy session with Dr. Goje and that other exceptionally fine personality, Dr. Suleiman Dauda. As the hours slipped by and complexities mounted, I watched the two brilliant minds in a quiet, disciplined, yet passionate exchange — sifting options, challenging assumptions, and always pulling the conversation back to the human face behind every policy decision. That night, I saw in Dr. Dauda the same rare blend of technical depth, emotional intelligence, and unyielding commitment to service that defines Dr. Goje. The camaraderie, the mutual respect, and the shared vision between them were nothing short of inspirational. It is on the strength of that memory — and on the evidence of his consistent excellence — that I join many in earnestly hoping that Dr. Sulaiman Dauda will be the one to step into the large shoes at SEMA and carry forward the blazing torch that has been lit. The continuity of that legacy would be a masterstroke.

Of course, this appointment also shines a brilliant global spotlight on the depth of capacity within Yobe State. A professional of international repute, Dr. Goje holds advanced academic and executive credentials from institutions that shape world policy — the Harvard Kennedy School and the London School of Economics. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, a member of the International Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), USA, and a holder of a Master of Science degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Universiti Putra Malaysia, complemented by certifications from Nottingham, Birmingham, Southampton, Bournemouth, Coventry, Deakin, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. With international study engagements in Japan and Pakistan, his mind has been rigorously built for the most demanding coordination role in our state.

Yet for all these towering credentials, I must return the greatest credit — and the most profound gratitude — to the leader who saw, nurtured, and has now strategically deployed this wealth of talent: His Excellency, Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN.

Your Excellency, this appointment is yet another masterstroke. It reflects your enduring commitment to rewarding competence, your deliberate policy of nurturing future leaders, and your disciplined focus on strengthening governance through capable, grassroots-oriented, tested, and trusted mentees. Since 2019, Dr. Goje’s professional growth has been shaped by your strategic leadership mentorship, blending formal academic brilliance with practical, high-level governance experience. By making him Secretary to the State Government, you have given the most powerful and practical affirmation that loyalty, intellect, and selfless service will always find a proud home in your administration. We are deeply, deeply grateful for your vision and your kindness.

Dr. Goje, as you assume this critical responsibility, you carry the hopes of a generation that sees in you the proof that merit and character can and will be elevated. Your rare combination of technical expertise, administrative competence, emotional intelligence, and results-driven approach positions you exceptionally well to coordinate government policies, enhance administrative efficiency, and drive forward the development priorities of the Buni administration.

As Chairman of the Nigeria Food Corporation, I look forward to the inter-agency synergies your new office will foster. As Special Adviser on International Relations and Investment, I am energised by the global partnerships your network will unlock for Yobe State. And as Technical Advisor to the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum, I rest easy knowing that a man of your calibre, now even more strategically placed, will continue to champion the regional integration and recovery that is so dear to our shared heartland.

Congratulations, my dear brother and friend. This is the beginning of an even higher level of service, and I have no doubt you will make the Governor, the good people of Yobe State, and all who have invested in you immensely proud.

Dr. Sa’id Alkali Kori is the Chairman, Board of Directors, Nigeria Food Corporation; Special Adviser on International Relations and Investment to the Executive Governor of Yobe State; and Technical Advisor, Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum.