FAREWELL, AHMAD, YOUR GOOD WORK LIVES ON
Farewell Ahmad, Your Good Work Lives On
Today, i bid farewell to our dear colleague, brother, friend and partner, Ahmad Abdullahi, as he officially transitions from UNDP in Nigeria to take on a new role in another organization. Ahmad has been more than a partner—he has been one of the catalyst in strengthening the relationship between Yobe State Government and UNDP
From the very first day our paths crossed, Ahmad has been supportive, guiding us on how to work better, keeping us on our toes to meet timelines, and constantly reminding us that when we fail to deliver, we fail our own people.
Beyond official mandates, he devoted his time to building the capacity of senior government officials, field volunteers, and even our ad-hoc staff, whenever our path crossed and always with patience, accessibility, and humility.
Ahmad’s legacy in Yobe State is defined by the lives he touched and the system he helped strengthen. He was instrumental in ensuring that IDPs and other persons of concern remained at the heart of all project design and implementation, keeping the focus firmly on people, not just processes.
He worked tirelessly to align Yobe’s priorities with the interests of donor groups, opening new doors of support and helping to guide the state in mobilizing resources to match its humanitarian and development needs.
His impact will also be remembered through landmark achievements such as the
1.State Action Plan on Durable Solutions,
2. The domestication of the State IDP Policy,
3. His continued support in aligning government policies with partner priorities, and
4.His active role in UNDP’s early recovery project, RSF and passive roles in other UNDP projects will remain indelible in the sands of time.
Outside official engagements, Ahmad stood by Yobe State in critical moments:
1. His technical support to the secretariate during the planning the 5th LCBG Forum.
2. Joining the SEMA team during the 2024 Maiduguri flood rescue efforts, offering probono support.
3. Voluntarily training our technical staff in report writing and professional communication.
4. Ensuring our engagements with UNDP remained frugal, respectful, coordinated, and impactful.
While we would have loved Ahmad to remain with UNDP, we are also ambitious for him—confident that his next chapter will be filled with greater opportunities to share his wealth of knowledge and ideas.
Though he may have moved on, the capacity he built, the skills he transferred, and the relationships he nurtured and above all the lives touched will remain with us forever.
We wish Ahmad the very best in his new journey and look forward to crossing paths again in service to Humanity.