By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
The Director-General of the Gombe State Joint Projects Development and Essential Social Services Agency, JPDA, Dr Mahmood Yusuf, is among Nigerian and international delegates attending the WorldSkills 2026 conference in Shanghai, China.
The global skills development event brings together policymakers, academics, business leaders and heads of government agencies from across the world to deliberate on skills development, policymaking, industrialisation and the future of technical and vocational education.
The opening ceremony attracted senior government officials and representatives from several countries, with China and Malaysia among the countries represented.
Other Nigerian delegates attending the conference include the Minister of State for Education; President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, Bldr. Bimbo Kolade; First Vice-President of the institute, Bldr. Idris Abubakar Sadiq; Director-General of C-STEMP, A.A. Okwa; and the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF.
The WorldSkills 2026 event in Shanghai features participants from 68 countries and showcases 64 skills competitions and demonstrations involving human competitors and advanced robotic technologies.
Yusuf, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Building, FNIOB, has served in the administration of Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for about three years.
The agency, formerly known as the Gombe State Joint Projects Development Agency, was expanded and renamed the Gombe State Joint Projects Development and Essential Social Services Agency, with a broader mandate to drive development interventions and provide essential social services across the state.
Reflecting on his experience in public service, Yusuf said his years in office had taught him important lessons in leadership, accountability and human relations.
He said some of life’s most valuable lessons were acquired not only through formal education but also through interactions with people and practical experiences associated with public responsibility.
“Working directly under His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has made me understand that leadership is ultimately about the impact one makes in the lives of others,” he said.
Yusuf said his experience in government had also strengthened his appreciation of accountability, prudence, effective communication and the importance of listening to diverse views.
“The experience has broadened my understanding of leadership and public service. These past three years have been years well spent in my personal journey, and I remain deeply grateful to His Excellency for his tutelage, guidance and confidence in me,” he stated.
Projects across 11 LGAs
The JPDA boss said the agency had recorded significant achievements within the period through projects aimed at improving infrastructure, strengthening grassroots administration, promoting renewable energy and enhancing economic activities across Gombe State’s 11 local government areas.
According to him, the interventions were designed to support the state government’s broader development agenda and improve the quality of life of residents across the state.