Across the country today, 29 new governors were sworn in today.
Along with Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria and his deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, are 29 other governors that were sworn in today, opening an entirely new chapter in the life of the country.
Although election did not hold in Osun, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Anambra, Bayelsa, and Kogi States because the governors in these states are yet to serve out their terms in office, the new 29 and the old seven are sure to form the governors of the Buhari generation and make up the new Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Whilst some of them have been involved on the turf for a while, in one capacity or the other, a handful of others come in as freshers, although made in their respective rights, in their different callings. And as the change era takes off with huge challenges and expectations across the divide, brought even closer to you are your 29 new state chief executives.
Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa)
Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, candidate of the All Progressives Congress, is the senator for Adamawa North senatorial district. A popular businessman, industrialist, and philanthropist before going into politics, he is currently the deputy chairman, Senate committee on Army and Defence. He is also a member of the Committee on Science and Technology. Bindow holds a National Diploma and it is his first time as the governor of Adamawa State. Bindow was born in Mubi on June 16, 1963, and is married to Hajia Maryam with children.
Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom)
Udom Gabriel Emmanuel was born in Awa Iman, Onna Local Government Area of Eket Senatorial District, on July 11, 1966. The candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a specialist in corporate strategy and planning, corporate financial advisory service/control, business development, international investors’ relations, oil and gas sector, infrastructure and power sector, multilateral, conglomerates and private banking, and telecommunications.
He has been an executive director on the board of Zenith Bank Plc since December 2006 and non-executive director, Africa Finance Corporation, since 2010. He was director, Nigerian Interbanks Settlement System, 2009-2011, and non-executive director, Zenith Securities, Zenith Trustees and Zenith Registrars. The new Governor of Akwa Ibom State is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Institute of Financial Management, and an associate of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He is also a first time governor.
Samuel Ortom (Benue)
Dr. Samuel Ioraer Ortom, another first time governor and candidate of the APC, is an industrialist, farmer, businessman, politician, philanthropist, and administrator. Born in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on April 23, 1961, Ortom is the immediate past Minister of State for Trade and Investment in the President Goodluck Jonathan government and at various times, chairman of Guma Local Government Area, Benue State secretary of PDP, and national auditor of PDP.
He has a Ph.D. from the Commonwealth University, Belize, via distant learning, and Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management and Master of Public Administration from the Benue State University.
Kashim Shettima (Borno)
Kashim Shettima, an agricultural economist and candidate of the APC is a second term governor. He worked as agricultural economist, Commercial Bank of Africa, Ikeja office (1993-1997); manager, African International Bank Limited, Kaduna Branch (1997–2001); Deputy Manager/Branch Head, Zenith Bank, Maiduguri Office (2001); and General Manager, Zenith Bank, Maiduguri Office.
In mid-2007, Shettima was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in Borno State in the administration of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff. Born in Maiduguri on September 2, 1966, he later served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Education, Commissioner for Agriculture, and Commissioner for Health.
Shettima has a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan (1990-1991) and taught Agricultural Economics at the University of Maiduguri from 1991 to 1993.
Benedict Ayade (Cross River)
Professor Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade, born on March 2, 1969, is the senator for Cross River North senatorial district. Elected on the platform of PDP, he is the vice chairman of the Senate committee on Environment and Ecology and a member of the committees on education, marine transport, petroleum (downstream), and drugs/narcotics/crime.
He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology (1990-1994); M.Sc. Microbiology (1989 – 1990); MBA from the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma; and a degree in Law from Delta State University. He was a lecturer at the Delta State University, Abraka. A professor of microbiology, Ayade, a first time governor, was chairman of the ecological fund for Cross River State and chairman, International Institute of Environmental Research. He is married to Mrs. Linda Ayade and the union is blessed with children.
Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta)
Born in Owa-Alero in the present Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State on July 8, 1959, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okwowa, a medical doctor is the senator for Delta North senatorial district on the platform of PDP. He has served as chairman, Senate Committee on Health. Okowa was Council Secretary of Ika Local Government Area and the pioneer chairman of Ika North-East Local Government Area between 1991 and 1993. He is a former Delta North coordinator of the Grassroots Democratic Movement and ex-secretary of the Chief James Ibori Campaign Organisation.
Between 1999 and 2006, Okowa served as Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Commissioner for Water Resources Development, and Commissioner for Health. He resigned his appointment to contest the PDP governorship primary in 2007, losing to the incumbent governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. Okowa was later appointed Secretary to the State Government, and he served in that capacity between 2007 and 2010. He worked with the then Bendel State Hospitals Management Board as a medical officer on completion of his NYSC programme in 1982 before going into private medical practice.
A first time governor, he founded Victory Medical Centre, Igbanke, Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State in 1986. He later established the Victory Medical Centre at Boji-Boji, Owa, near Agbor, Delta State, with which he rendered free medical service to indigent residents of the community, a service that endeared him to many people.
Okowa attended Iroro Primary School, Owa-Alero, Edo College, Benin-City, and the University of Ibadan.
Dave Umahi (Ebonyi)
Born in Umunaga Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on July 28, 1963, Dave Nwaeze Umahi, a member of PDP, is an engineer by profession. The incumbent deputy governor of the state, Umahi was general manager, Norman Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited, 1990-1993; acting state chairman of PDP, 2007-2009; state PDP chairman; and chairman, Governing Board of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State, from 2010 to 2011.
He attended Umunaga Primary School, Uburu, 1971-1977; Ishiagu High School; Government Secondary School, Afikpo; and the Anambra State University of Science and Technology, where he graduated with the Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1987. He is married to Rachel and they have seven children. He is a first time governor.
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)
Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a PDP member, is a three-term member of the House of Representatives for Igboeze North/Udenu Federal Constituency of Enugu State. He is however coming to the governorship seat for the first time. Born in Orba, Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, on March 20, 1964, he has chaired the Committee on Marine Transport and served as deputy chairman of the Committee on Public Service Matters and Committee on Pensions.
Ugwuanyi was a member of the committees on defence, population, aviation, privatisation, science and technology, and states and local government affairs. He was a successful businessman before going into politics. He holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Ugwuanyi, a first timer, is married to Mrs. Monica and they are blessed with children.
Muhammad Abubakar (Jigawa)
The new Governor of Jigawa State on the platform of the APC is a graduate of Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Commerce of Nigeria. He is also a member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
A renowned philanthropist, businessman, and owner of the multinational Talamiz Group, Abubakar was born in Babura, the headquarters of Babura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, in 1962.
He is president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture. He is also the second vice president of the Federation of West Africa Chambers of Commerce in the West African region and holds the traditional titles of Sardaunan Ringim and Walin Jahun. Abubakar is married with children. He is coming as a first term governor.
Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna)
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a native of Zaria in Kaduna State and member of the APC came to the limelight in 1999, when he was appointed director general, Bureau of Public Enterprises, and later Minister of the Federal Capital Territory during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
After leaving the public service in 2007, El- Rufai went to the University of London for an LL.B degree, graduating with Second Class Honours, Upper Division, and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, where he got a Master’s degree in Public Administration. Born at Daudawa village, in the present Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, on February 16, 1960, he founded El-Rufai and Partners, a quantity surveying consultancy firm, before joining the public service. El-Rufai is married to three wives and has children. He is coming to the governorship seat for the first time.
Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano)
The Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, was the executive secretary of Lake Chad Basin Commission before becoming deputy governor in 2011. He was Commissioner for Local Government and also served as special adviser (political) to the Minister of Defence between 2003 and 2007. Ganduje was deputy governor during the first tenure of the current governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, between 1999 and 2003. He was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport from January 1994 to November 1998.
Ganduje has worked as a lecturer at the Bayero University, Kano, and personnel manager at Nornit Limited, Kano. In 1981, he joined the Federal Capital Development Authority as administrative officer and rose to the position of director, Planning, Research and Statistics in 1993. During his 17-year service at FCDA, Ganduje held various positions, including Development Secretary of Kwalli Development Area, Sole Administrator, Abaji Area Council, and chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council.
Born at Ganduje, in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, on December 25, 1949, Ganduje holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Ibadan. He obtained his first Master’s degree in Applied Educational Psychology from Bayero University Kano in 1979 and later returned to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, from 1984 to 1985 for a Master’s in Public Administration.
Aminu Masari (Katsina)
Former speaker of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007, Aminu Bello Masari, is a member of the APC. He was Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Katsina State, from 1991 to 1993, and elected member of the Constitutional Conference between 1994 and 1995.
Born in Kafur town of Katsina State on May 29, 1950, Masari attended Kafur/Malumfashi Primary School, Government Secondary School, Funtua, AWS Training School, Middlex Polytechnic, London, and the Administrative Staff College, Badagary. He has a post-graduate Diploma in Water Quality Control and Management. Masari is married with children.
Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara)
Second term Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdul-fatah Ahmed was born in Share, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, on December 29, 1963. Before becoming governor, he was Commissioner for Finance and Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development in the administration of Senator Bukola Saraki. Ahmed has a BSc. in Chemistry from the University of Ilorin and a Master’s of Business Administration from the same university.
He has worked at District Savings and Loans, Lagos; Guaranty Trust Bank Limited (now Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.); and Societe Generale Bank Nig. Ltd. He is married to Mrs. Omolewa and they are blessed with children.
Abubakar Bello (Niger)
Abubakar Sani Bello, son of a former military administrator of Kano State, Colonel Sani Bello, was born on December 17, 1967. He was Commissioner for Commerce and Investment in the administration of the incumbent governor, Aliyu Babangida, from August 2009 to August 2010. He was alternate director, Broad Bank; board member, Broad Bank; alternate director, MTN; chairman/chief executive officer, Millennium Travels and Tours; chairman/chief executive officer, Properties and Estates Limited; director, Dornier Aviation Nigeria AIEP Limited (DANA); and chairman, Millennium Air.
Bello attended St. Louis Primary School, Kano, the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, and the University of Maiduguri, where he got a BSc. in Economics. He did his NYSC with NICOTES in Port Harcourt between 1991 and 1992. He is married to Dr. Amina and blessed with children.
Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun)
Senator Ibikunle Amosun, a chartered accountant by profession and a member of the APC is the incumbent governor of Ogun State. He was in the Senate for Ogun Central senatorial district between 2003 and 2007. While in the senate, he served in the following capacities: chairman, Senate Committee on Commerce; member, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs; member, Senate Committee on Appropriation; member, Senate Committee on Privatisation; and member, Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence.
Born in Abeokuta on January 25, 1958, Amosun started his career in 1984 as an Audit Trainee with Messrs J.A.A. Adeniyi & Co. (Chartered Accountants) and later joined Lanre Aremu & Co. (Chartered Accountants), where he rose to become a manager in 1989. He was also with XtraEdge Consulting as a senior consultant. In 1990, he became an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
In the same year, he established the Accounting Firm of Ibikunle Amosun & Co. (Chartered Accountants). In 2003, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Institute of Taxation (FITN). Amosun is married to Mrs. Olufunso and are blessed with five children.
Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo)
Senator Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi is also the incumbent Governor of Oyo State and a member of the APC. He has worked with National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company, Shell International Oil Company, Shell International Storage Company of Togo, and Shell Marketing Company in Togo.
In 2003, he voluntarily retired after 26 years of service in the oil and gas industry, and went into politics. Born in Ibadan on December 16, 1949, Ajimobi became a senator in 2003, and was Deputy Minority Leader. He was elected governor in 2011 and has been re-elected for a second term. He is married to Mrs. Florence with children.
Nyesom Wike (Rivers)
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, a member of PDP, was born at Rumuepirikom community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on August 24, 1967. He is the immediate past Minister of State for Education and Supervising Minister of Education. He had served as Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, and director-general of Governor Chibuike Amaechi’s re-election campaign organisation.
Wike holds degrees in Political Science as well as Law. After a brief stint in private legal practice, he went into politics and was elected twice as chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. He is married to Justice Eberechi Suzzette, a high court judge with the Rivers State judiciary, and they are blessed with three children.
Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto)
Outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a lawyer and member of APC, was born in Tambuwal town, Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on January 10, 1966. Tambuwal was called to the Bar in 1992 after the one year compulsory legal studies at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
He began his law practice in Sokoto and served as public relations officer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sokoto State chapter, between 1996 and 1997.
He was a member of the Constitution Review Committee of the NBA between 1997 and 1998, Sokoto branch secretary of the NBA in 1998, and assistant national financial secretary of NBA (1998–2000). He worked as personal assistant on legislative affairs to Senator Abdallah Wali, the then Senate Leader, whom he, however, defeated in the April 11 governorship election in Sokoto State. In 2003, he was elected into the House of Representatives to represent Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, and became the Minority Leader of the House.
Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe)
The incumbent Governor of Yobe State, Ibrahim Gaidam is a member of APC and was born in Bukarti town, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State, on September 15, 1956. He has a public career that spans nearly 30 years, and rose from a classroom teacher to become audit officer and accountant in various government ministries in the old Borno State and present Yobe State. He was assistant director of finance in the defunct Directorate of Foods, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFFRI) and acting director of finance and supplies in the Yobe State Information and Culture Ministry.
Gaidam had served as Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, and director, Ministry of Finance, as well as Permanent Secretary in various ministries. In April 2007, he became deputy governor of Yobe State and served for 19 months before he was sworn in as governor on January 27, 2009 following the passing of Governor Mamman Ali.
Gaidam is a member of the Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria and a fellow of the Certified National Accountants of Nigeria. He is married with children.
Muhammed Abubakar (Bauchi)
A lawyer and APC member, Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar, was born in Gombe on December 11, 1956. He joined the Bauchi State civil service as a Pupil State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice and rose through the ranks to the position of Senior Parliamentary Counsel and Head of Legal Drafting Department of Bauchi State House of Assembly in 1998. He is a former chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, Bauchi State branch, and ex-deputy national secretary of PDP.
He was at various times Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kogi, Delta, Plateau, and Rivers states, before he was promoted as National Electoral Commissioner at the INEC headquarters, in charge of legal services, and supervisor of Borno, Jigawa, and Yobe States.
Abubakar retired as INEC National Electoral Commissioner in 2008 and went back to private legal practice as managing partner of M.A Abubakar & Co. (Fortuna Chambers). In June 2013, Abubakar was appointed member of the National Judicial Council. He is married and blessed with five children.
Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe)
The Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, a member of the PDP was born in Gombe on April 4, 1962. He started his working career at Coopers and Lybrand International (Chartered Accountants) – now Price Water House Coopers – and later joined the Central Bank of Nigeria, from where he moved to become the Accountant–general of Gombe State.
He later became Accountant-general of the Federation and held the position until 2011, when he was elected Governor of Gombe State. Dankwambo was re-elected for a second four-year term at the April 11 election. He holds the traditional title of Talban of Gombe.
Dankwambo has a B.Sc. from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; an M.Sc. in Economics from the University of Lagos; and a post-graduate Diploma in Computer Science from the Delta State University, Abraka. He is a Fellow and Associate of six professional bodies and associations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He is married with children.
Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi)
Atiku Bagudu, the Kebbi State Governor was born in Karaye, Maiyama Local Government Area of Kebbi State, on December 26, 1961. He was elected on the APC platform. He started his career as a lecturer in the Department of Economics, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. He had a brief stint in banking before travelling to the United States for a post-graduate degree. Upon his return to Nigeria, he became special assistant to a finance minister during the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime.
Bagudu later joined politics and was elected senator for Kebbi Central senatorial zone in a by-election after Senator Adamu Aliero was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. He ran successfully for re-election in the April 2011 general election.
He has a B.Sc. in Economics from the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, and a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Jos. He also has an MA in International Affairs from the Columbia University in the United States of America.
Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos)
Akinwunmi Ambode, the new Governor of Lagos State is a businessman, former permanent secretary, and former Accountant-General of Lagos State. After 27 years in the civil service, Ambode retired in August 2012 and founded Brandsmiths Consulting Limited to provide Public Finance and Management Consulting services to government at all levels.
Born in Epe, Lagos State, on June 14, 1963, he founded a non-profit organisation, La Roche Leadership Foundation, which aims, among other goals, to install Nigerian and Lagos State flags in all government-owned schools in Lagos State. Ambode attended the University of Lagos, Wharton Business School, United States, Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom, and Harvard Kennedy School of Government, United States. He is married with children.
Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa)
Born in Lafia in September 1952, the Nasarawa State Givernor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura was re-elected for another term on the platform of APC. He started his career as a teacher at Government College, Makurdi, and later worked as Assistant News Producer at the then Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Nigeria after graduating from the university. He established Al-makura Nigeria Limited, a civil and building engineering company, in 1978.
Joining mainstream politics in 1980 after years of responsibilities as a student leader, Al-Makura was elected as youth leader of the defunct National Party of Nigeria in the old Plateau State. He was elected into the Constituent Assembly in 1988 to represent Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency of the then Plateau State. Between 1990 and 1992, he served as secretary of the defunct National Republican Convention in the old Plateau State.
Simon Lalong (Plateau)
Simon Bako Lalong, a lawyer and governor of Plateau State was born in Ajikamai village of Shendam Local Government Area of the state on May 5, 1963. He was elected on the platform of APC. He started his professional career with the T-Obot & Co, Legal Practitioners, Jos, after his NYSC programme at the legal unit of the FCDA, Abuja. He also worked with Victor Famwul & Co as managing partner. In 1999, Lalong was elected into the House of Assembly (Shendam Constituency), and later became Speaker of the Assembly.
He was chairman, Conference of Speakers, a forum of all the Assembly speakers across Nigeria, for two terms. He left the political circle briefly, before bouncing back to win the April 11 election. Lalong has a Master’s degree in Law (LLM) from the University of Jos.
Abdul-Aziz Yari Abubakar (Zamfara)
Abdul-Aziz Yari Abubakar, a member of the APC was re-elected for a second term at the April 11 election. Born in the present-day Zamfara State on January 1, 1969, he has been in active politics since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999, when he was elected House of Representatives member for Talata Mafara/Anka Federal Constituency. He served in the administration of former Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima before eventually becoming governor. He is married to Hajia Asmau and they have children.
Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia)
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D., a renowned biochemist, teacher and a public servant, was born on October 18, 1964, in Umuobiakwa village, Isialaukwu Mbato Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. Ikpeazu served as a Graduate-Assistant in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Maiduguri, from 1986 to 1987 while studying for his M.Sc. degree. He also taught at the Calabar Polytechnic from 1990 to 1992 during his PhD programme.
In 2002, Dr. Ikpeazu served as the Transition Committee (TC) Chairman for Obingwa Local Government Area. This marked his entry into politics. He also served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia State. He was thereafter appointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) from 2007 to 2009. In 2010, he was appointed Chairman, Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Technology, Aba. In 2011, he was reappointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), a position he held till 2013.
In June 2013, he was appointed the first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and Environs; an assignment he creditably discharged to the admiration of not only the Aba populace, but also the entire Abia State and beyond, interpreting the vision of Chief T.A Orji, as it relates to environmental protection and waste management. He is a first time governor, married with children.
Rochas Okorocha (Imo)
Rochas Okorocha, born on 22 September 1962 in Ogboko, Ideato South, Imo State, was a Commissioner on the Federal Character Commission and a Member of the National Constitutional Conference. When democracy was restored in 1999, Okorocha competed in the primaries to be PDP candidate for the governor of Imo State, but lost to Achike Udenwa. He moved to the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), and was an unsuccessful candidate for President on the ANPP platform in 2003. He returned to the PDP, and President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him as Special Adviser on Inter-Party affairs.
He formed the Action Alliance (AA) party in 2005, planning to become a Presidential candidate for the AA in the 2007 elections. He again returned to the PDP, and in September 2007 indicated that he was interested in becoming PDP National Chairman.
He however took another shot at the office in 2011 on the platform of APGA and won. But last year, he also defected to the APC in the aftermath of the merger and was re-elected in this year. He is the incumbent and married with children.
Darius Ishaku (Taraba)
Former Minister of State for Niger Delta, Darius Dickson Ishaku, was born on Friday, July 30, 1954, in Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State.
He was enrolled into St. Bartholomew’s Primary School, Wussa, Zaria, in 1961 and obtained his first school leaving certificate in 1967. He however proceeded next door to St. Paul’s College, Kufena, Zaria, for his secondary education in 1972 and passed out in flying colours.
With his outstanding performance, he secured admission into the School of Basic Studies at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. By the time he completed his master’s degree in Architecture, he had travelled to many parts of the world, specifically to see different architectural landscapes.
He came into politics with personal record of success in his professional calling, serving his last as Minister of State for Niger Delta. He is also coming on board as a new comer and married with children.