Mohammed Jega

Major General Mohammed Jega was military Governor of Gongola State, Nigeria between March 1976 and July 1978 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, and again between January 1984 and August 1985 during the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari.

Birth and education

Jega was born on April 23rd, 1942 in Jega, Sokoto State. He attended Jega Elementary School and Birnin Kebi Senior Primary School from 1950-1956, and then Sokoto Provincial Secondary School from 1956-1961 . After joining the military, Jega attended the Nigerian Military Training College in 1962, where he became friends with Shehu Musa Yar'Adua. He then completed his commission at the Pakistan Military Academy from 1962-1965. Jega held the posts of Commander of the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Division, Onitsha, and General Officer Commanding 2nd Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army, Ibadan. In his second term as governor, he closed most of the schools that had been created by the civilian administration of governor Abubakar Barde due to budgetary constraints.

After retirement, Jega took an active part in the chieftainship lobbies in the 1980s. On 5 June 2005, Jega was named Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State, replacing Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo. Exactly 20 years later the Supreme Court of nigeria upheld and confirmed him as the substantive Emir of Gwandu.