By Ali Abare

Visionary leaders are defined by their ability to see the future, inspire others and turn dreams into reality. In considering the journey thus far, on the occasion of his 66th birthday, this definition finds a living example in His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.

His story, particularly over the last six years, is not one of mere administration, but of a man faithfully building the future he once saw on the horizon. It is a story that began not with fanfare, but with a document—a blueprint of hope and calculated ambition called the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS).

Today, as we celebrate his 66th year, we celebrate a leader who did not just have a vision, but who has been a diligent bricklayer for that vision, placing one achievement upon another with religious dedication.

When Governor Sule stepped into office in 2019, he came bearing this gift of clarity. NEDS was not just a government document; it was a promise etched in strategy. It was a comprehensive picture of what Nasarawa could be—a state not defined by its challenges, but empowered by its potential.

For many, such documents often become elegant fossils, buried in office drawers. But for Governor Sule, NEDS became his sacred text, the guiding map for every policy, every project, and every priority.

He saw a future of prosperity, and instead of simply describing it, he set about constructing it, piece by deliberate piece.

Consider the land itself. Nasarawa, blessed with fertile soil, held the seeds of agricultural revolution within its earth. The vision in NEDS saw this clearly. Under Governor Sule’s watch, that vision has sprouted.

The cultivation of 1, 300 hectares of rice at the Jangwa and Ayarkeke state-owned farm and the eventual launching of Nasarawa State brand of rice tagged NASACO rice, is not a tale out of some comic book but the reality of determination, foresight and uncommon Zealand to transform the agricultural sector of the state.

This initiative sets Nasarawa State apart to grow beyond subsistence, attracting major investments and partnerships that have transformed farming into a modern, job-creating enterprise. From the massive rice farms in Jangwa and Ayarkeke that are swelling the state’s output and feeding the nation, to the focus on crop diversification, the state is becoming an agricultural powerhouse.

This was not an accident. It was the direct translation of a chapter in the NEDS vision into living, breathing reality. He saw fields of gold, and today, those fields are yielding their harvest.

But a visionary knows that produce must reach markets, that goods must move, and that people must connect. This is where the governor’s commitment to turning dreams into reality becomes physically tangible on the roads and infrastructure.

Across the state, previously impassable 639km of roads have been given new life, linking rural farmers to urban centers, connecting communities, and weaving the state together with threads of asphalt and concrete.

These roads are more than just infrastructure; they are pathways to opportunity, symbols of a government that reaches out to its people. Each completed road project is a sentence from the NEDS document read aloud for all to see and use, a testament to a leader who understands that development must have a solid foundation.

A visionary leader also looks at the young faces in his state and sees the doctors, engineers, teachers, and innovators of tomorrow. This foresight has been central to Governor Sule’s translation of his vision.

In education and health, the quiet work of revolution continues. Classrooms are being renovated and built, bringing dignity to the learning environment. The focus on technical and vocational education is a direct investment in the practical skills that will drive the state’s economy forward.

In healthcare, the upgrade and equipping of facilities, from general hospitals to primary healthcare centers, including the relocation of the erstwhile Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia to Akwanga, where N5bn has been earmarked to upgrade the Akwanga general hospital to a trauma centre, means that the vision for a healthy, productive populace is being operationalized. This careful attention to human capital is the hallmark of a leader building for a generation he may not lead, but whose future he has clearly imagined.

Perhaps what is most compelling about Governor Sule’s journey is the atmosphere he has cultivated. He has brought a sense of quiet confidence, integrity, and inclusive governance to the state.

By tirelessly wooing investors and portraying Nasarawa as a secure and serious destination for business, he has changed the narrative around the state. This intangible yet crucial achievement—building trust—is the fertile soil in which all the physical projects take root.

It proves that his vision was more than just physical structures, but about spirit and reputation. He envisioned a state respected on the national stage, and through disciplined leadership, that is coming to pass.

As he marks 66 years, the story of Governor Sule is still being written, but the chapters so far are profoundly consistent. They tell of a man who arrived with a plan and has worked, day in and day out, with unwavering focus to make that plan the lived experience of his people.

He is a leader who is not shouting about a distant dream, but is calmly, methodically, bringing that dream into the present. The evidence is in the renewed farms, the smooth roads, the better schools, and the hopeful faces of a people who can see visible progress.

To celebrate Governor Sule at 66 is to celebrate the power of a promise kept. It is to honour the discipline of execution and the courage to follow a vision without distraction. He has shown that true vision is not in the eloquence of the idea, but in the sweat and perseverance required to build it.

Nasarawa State, under his stewardship, is not a project of chance, but a testament of deliberate, faithful construction. We celebrate, therefore, not just a year in his life, but the living reality of his vision.

We celebrate a visionary leader, a master builder, and a faithful servant of his people. Happy 66th birthday Your Excellency. May the years ahead continue to be filled with the strength to build and the joy of seeing your vision flourish for all in Nasarawa State.

Abare is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Abdullahi Sule