Mojokerto Mayor Ning Ita Leads with Sincerity, Acts with Data

Ika Puspitasari, familiarly known as Ning Ita, has made history as the first female mayor of Mojokerto, East Java. She first served in the 2018–2025 period and has been entrusted again to lead the city for 2025–2030.

The spirit of Raden Ajeng Kartini remains strong in Ning Ita’s leadership perspective. For her, values of equality, sincerity, and advocacy for the community are not mere rhetoric but are realised in inclusive, data-based policies.

Behind her leadership as Mayor of Mojokerto, Ning Ita holds a simple principle that forms the foundation of every step: sincerity. This Mojokerto native, born on 12 April 1979, believes that leadership is not just about strategy or power, but about carrying out mandates with an honest heart and pure intentions.

“If we work with sincerity, the path will open by itself,” she said. This is a conviction she continues to hold. According to Ning Ita, pretence is only tiring, while sincerity will guide direction and decisions more naturally.

Data-Based Leadership

Of course, sincerity cannot stand alone. In practice, Ning Ita is also known as a leader who relies on a data-based approach. She believes that the right policies must emerge from an accurate understanding of community conditions.

Data, Ning Ita said, is a true portrait that cannot be manipulated. “We create data-driven policies. Data doesn’t lie. Data is facts about what exists in society,” she stated.

Through data, she maps various important aspects, from the number of women, micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) actors, female household heads, to the composition of productive age groups and the elderly. In this way, every policy designed becomes more targeted, on point, and measurable in its impact, both in improving welfare and reducing poverty rates.

Her firmness in maintaining data validity is clearly evident when addressing stunting issues in Mojokerto. For four consecutive years, survey data showed an upward trend, contrary to various interventions carried out by the city government. Rather than accepting it outright, Ning Ita chose to investigate deeper.

She also presented real data through the regional health system called Gayatri, an acronym for Gerbang Layanan Informasi Terpadu dan Terintegrasi, which contains health service data, including Puskesmas queue registration, PSN reporting, TB monitoring, stunting, and family health checks (family folder). “We invite various parties to discuss, test, even debate the existing data. For us, mistakes in reading data can lead to misguided policies,” said Ning Ita.

The struggle was not short. It took four years until the real data held by the Mojokerto City Government through Community-Based Nutrition Recording and Reporting (PPGBM) was officially recognised and used, replacing the previous survey method. The results are tangible; the city secured a budget of Rp 6.3 billion for stunting handling.

“One important lesson I hold is consistency and steadfastness,” she said. “Belief in the truth must be fought for, even when the results are not immediately visible.”

In running the government, Ning Ita also emphasises the importance of collaboration. She involves statistical institutions to academics to ensure every policy stands on a strong foundation.

Under Ning Ita’s leadership, the Mojokerto City Government has also paid great attention to economic empowerment, especially through MSMEs, which are mostly run by women. “I see great potential in women’s perseverance and meticulousness in managing businesses. Therefore, various training programmes, assistance, and digitalisation are continuously promoted,” she said.

Through the Integrated Business Service Centre (PLUT), MSME actors are equipped with new skills, especially in digital marketing. From creating accounts to managing online transactions, everything is comprehensively assisted. High enthusiasm is evident from the digital marketing classes that are almost always full every day.

Strengthening the MSME sector is also carried out through accelerating halal certification. From thousands of food and beverage business actors, now only a small portion remains uncertified and is targeted to be completed soon, in line with national policies.

In education, Ning Ita sees that the foundation is already quite strong. With a high Human Development Index (HDI), access to education in Mojokerto City is considered equitable. “The next challenge is to ensure women with good educational backgrounds get equal opportunities in the workforce,” she stated.

She also emphasised that there are no more limitations for women in choosing career fields. Currently, women have equal capabilities and have proven themselves capable of leading in various sectors, including as leaders.

Looking ahead, the focus will shift to innovation and sustainability. She realises the importance of preparing the next generation capable of continuing the achievements that have been pioneered.

Ning Ita’s leadership shows that the spirit of Kartini does not stop as history, but continues to live in inclusive, data-based policies that favour everyone. From economic empowerment to education, from sincerity to the power of data, everything becomes the foundation for building a fairer and more equal city.

For Ning Ita, leadership is also about ensuring the future.