Three books extolling the importance of documentation to national development, authored by Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, have been officially launched in Abuja.
The three books, “Evolution and Development of a Federal Capital Territory” (Second Edition), “When the Spirit Whispers”, and “Steward of the Nation: The Role of Civil Servants in National Development,”
Speaking at the launching, the Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the publications as intellectually rich and timely, noting that they collectively speak to Nigeria’s journey, institutional growth, and the values that sustain public service and personal purposes.
She said, the three books offer moral clarity, purpose, and inner conviction in leadership and daily life and also underscores the indispensable role of civil servants in national development, reinforcing professionalism, accountability, and service as pillars of effective governance.
The Minister commended the author’s dedication to knowledge and nation-building, encouraging readers to engage deeply with the books as they align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The author Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, the Acting Director of the FCT Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department within the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), described the milestone as the fulfilment of seeing a dream coming into reality.
Explaining the timing of the second edition of The Evolution and Development of a Federal Capital Territory with the celebrationof the golden anniversary of the creation of FCT, she noted, “50 years is a milestone, something has to be put out there that will tell the story of Abuja from individuals’ accounts.”
She emphasised that the book contains “first-hand information of how the city evolved,” capturing voices of engineers, planners, labourers, teachers, politicians and traditional rulers.
Former Minister of State FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, described the launch as timely, stating that, “Nations most deliberately preserve their history and strengthen governance structure.”
She noted that the book, “The Evolution and Development of a Federal Capital Territory” deepens understanding of the FCT as both an administrative centre and a symbol of the nation’s unity, adding that the publication reinforces Abuja’s place, not just as Nigeria’s capital, but as a living symbol of unity.
Keynote speaker at the event, Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche, declared that it was not merely a book launch but it is a moment of reflection, a moment of reckoning, and perhaps, a moment of national redirection.
She described the three books as architecture of place spirit and service, stressing that national transformation is not an event marked by applause. It is discipline repeated daily over years.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Ogwu James Onoja, while unveiling the books, said “One of the biggest assets any generation can have is having something written. The works would unite us in knowledge and enhance the unity of this country,”.
Book reviewers, including Professor Sale Dauda, Professor Armstrong Idachaba and 12-year-old Rukqayya Abdulrahman, commended the author for expanding national discourse and enriching Nigeria’s body of knowledge.
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