Kogi: Ahmed Usman Ododo- 42 years
Ododo, born 7 February 1982, was elected governor of Nigeria’s North-Central State, Kogi State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He had worked closely with the former governor Yahaya Bello administration.
Before he was elected governor of Kogi state, he served as the auditor-general for local governments in Kogi State, overseeing the financial audit of local government councils in the state. Ododo studied in the Department of Accountancy in the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, before proceeding for a Bachelors in accounting at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and got his PhD from the University of Lagos.
He was appointed Auditor general for local government by former governor Yahaya Bello.
Many observers said it’s not just his expertise that sets Ododo apart. Ododo is seen as a true champion of transparency, accountability, and good governance in local government administration. His integrity and dedication to public service have earned him the respect and admiration of all who have the pleasure of working with him. With an unwavering commitment to precision and a meticulous approach, Ododo has proven himself to be a master of audits, investigations, and financial reviews. During his tenure as auditor general for local government, his attention to detail has played a pivotal role in upholding compliance with financial regulations and policies, leaving no room for error.
Rivers: Simi Fubara-50 yrs
Born January 28, 1975, in Opobo to the family of elder Joseph and Love Fubara, he was christened Siminalayi, which in the Opobo-Ibani Language translates as “the poor may beget the rich.”
The name became more of a prophecy in his life’s journey than just a mere identity.
He holds a Master of Science degree in finance and a second master of business administration from the University of Port Harcourt after his first degree in business education with an accounting option from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.
As a disciplined chartered accountant, Fubara rose through the ranks in the State Civil Service to occupy the envious position of the Accountant General.
It is often argued that Fubara is not a career politician. His acolytes easily agree because, to them, he is more of a technocrat than a politician. He is a politician of a different species, they say.
Their arguments are rooted in the exceptional qualities the governor has demonstrated in office, particularly his timeliness and trustworthiness. Supporters are quick to cite numerous examples where Fubara has exemplified these traits.
One such instance occurred during his electoral campaign when he promised to prioritize workers’ welfare. True to his word, just two days after his inauguration on June 1, 2023, he made the Rivers State Secretariat his first official stop.
That same day, Fubara brought relief to civil servants whose promotions had been delayed for eight years, personally ensuring they received their long-overdue promotion letters. The sight of elated civil servants thronging their offices to collect these long-awaited letters was a testament to his commitment.
Read also: Will the governors deliver the Tax Reforms Nigerians truly need?
Niger: Mohammed Umar Bago- 50
Mohammed Bago was born on 22 February 1974. He is a Nigerian banker and politician who is the current Governor of Niger State since May 2023.
The governor was born in Minna, Niger State, to a Nupe family. He was a member of the House of Representative representing Chanchaga federal constituency.
Bago emerged the winner of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Nigeria State after defeating Isah Liman Kantigi of PDP.
Born in 1974, Bago attended Marafa Primary School in Minna and Federal Government College in Jos. He obtained his West Africa School Certificate from WAEC and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science from Usman Danfodio University in Sokoto.
Bago holds several postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees, including a postgraduate diploma in management from the Federal University of Technology Minna in 2001, an MBA in economics from Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, in 2003, and a master’s degree in finance from the University of Calabar in 2005.
He is also a distinguished alumnus of Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, having completed a program there in 2014.
Ebonyi: Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru- 53
Francis Ogbonna Erishi Nwifuru, born 25 February 1975, is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who is the current governor of Ebonyi State since 2023.
He previously served as speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly from June 2015 to May 2023. He hails from Oferekpe Agbaja in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.
Nwifuru represented the Izzi West constituency at the Ebonyi State legislature between 2011 and 2023. He was the Deputy Chief Whip of the 4th Ebonyi State House of Assembly (2011–2015).
During that period, he served as chairman of Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Lands, Survey, Urban Development and Environment. His journey into the State House of Assembly was under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), until 2020, when he moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In 2007 he ran for his state constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, but lost.
He was later appointed as an ex-officio State Executive Member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Ebonyi State.
In March 2011, he took a second shot, winning the election to represent Izzi West Constituency at Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
In that same tenure, he became the Deputy chief whip and chairman of the House Committee on Lands, Survey, Urban Development, and Environment.
Enugu: Peter Mbah-53
Mbah was born 1972 and is a Nigerian maritime lawyer, financial analyst, and politician who assumed the governorship of Enugu State in 2023.
Mbah is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pinnacle Oil and Gas Ltd.
Mbah is a native of Owo, in Nkanu East local government area (LGA) of Enugu State, Nigeria.
He is a Fellow of the Certified Institute of Public Administration and Management (CIPM), a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Nigeria Bar Association.
Mbah was born in Enugu to the family of Chief Gilbert Ekete Mbah from Ashishi Owo Nkanu East LGA of Enugu. He attended Army Children’s School, Bori Camp, Portharcourt and Owode High School, Owode Egba Ogun State.
Mbah studied law at the University of East London,U.K., earning a Bachelor of Laws in 2000. He then proceeded to the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar.
After graduation, Peter Mbah participated in the
National Youth Service Corps in Udeh and Associates law firm in Lagos.As an entrepreneur, he founded the Peter Mbah Investments Limited in 1992, a service provider in the oil and gas sector.
Mbah was appointed Chief of Staff in 2003 and subsequently as commissioner for finance and economic development by governor Chimaroke Nnamani.
He also served as Chairman of the federal accounts allocation committee’s sub-committee on legal matters, chairman of the board of directors for the Enugu State insurance company, chairman of the board of directors for the Enugu State finance and investment company, chairman of the Enugu State tenders’ board.
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