After several delays and suspense, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman
Abdulrazaq on Tuesday finally released the remaining
commissioner-nominees he prefers to work with him in his cabinet. The
additional six and supposedly final names which brings to sixteen
altogether were read by the Speaker, Hon Danladi Yakubu-Salihu at the
floor of the State House of Assembly during plenary. With the latest
list, Kwara now has nine women (56.25%) and seven men (43.75%)
commissioner-nominees who included bureaucrats, entrepreneurs,
educators, professionals and ‘politicians’ across the sixteen local
government areas of the state according to a statement by the Chief
Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye. Their profiles form
the thrust of this report by HEAD POLITICS, MUMINI ABDULKAREEM.
Joana Nnazua Kolo: Miss Kolo, the youngest commissioner-nominee in the
state’s history, is a 2018 graduate of Library Science from the Kwara
State University (KWASU). Reportedly a grassroots mobiliser, Miss Kolo
is said to be an ardent advocate of community development. If
confirmed, she would be Nigeria’s youngest commissioner, taking the
trophy from Oyo State’s 27-year-old Oluwaseun Fakorede. Miss Kolo has
just completed her National Youths Service Corps programme in Jigawa,
where she taught at Model Boarding Junior Secondary School Guri.
Mrs Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu: A 1997 graduate of Economics from the
Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Mrs Modibbo-Kawu also holds
Masters in Business Administration from University of Ilorin and
various certificates from Penn Foster Career School Scranton in the
United States and Metropolitan School of Business and Management in
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A member of several professional bodies
like the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria and Nigeria
Institute of Management, she is a co-founder of a number of schools
and learning centres. She is married to the Director General of the
National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Ishaq Modibbo-Kawu and would
be representing Ilorin South in the cabinet if her nomination scales
through the House of Assembly.
Arinola Fatimoh Lawal: Arinola Fatimoh Lawal, a 1993 graduate of
Catering and Hotel Management from the Kwara State Polytechnic, is a
top-rated player in Nigeria’s hospitality industry with experience as
chief executive officers of several firms including Batool Nigeria
Limited, Mohbalamira Nigeria Limited and MirMira Enterprise. Hajia
Lawal, who was a member of the Kwara State Transition Committee in
2019, is a daughter of former Kwara State Governor Mohammed Lawal from
Ilorin East local government. Her skills cover project management,
tourism and hospitality, change management, and Risk Management. A
grassroots mobiliser with effective leadership skills and emotional
intelligence, the nominee is a chieftain of the All Progressives
Congress in Kwara State.
Aisha Ahman-Pategi: A scion of one of Kwara’s oldest political
families, nominee Aisha Ahman-Pategi is a professional business
manager with over 20 years experience in communication strategy,
investment/financial consulting, and marketing and motivational
leadership. She is a serial entrepreneur known for a contagious
passion for excellence and innovation with great resource skills in
research, government and relations. Ms Ahman-Pategi was educated at
the School of Remedial Studies and FASS-International Relations in
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State in 1996; Agent and Broker
License Barney Fletcher School, in Atlanta GA, USA in 2004; Capstone
Institute of Mortgage Finance, also in Atlanta in 2006; Stanford
University, Stanford California where she obtained a certificate in
Political Science (Data Analysis) in 2013; Bachelor of Art – Mass
Communication from Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma; and MBA
Business Administration from American Inter-Continental University,
Dunwoody GA. Aisha was Sales Manager for J&S Auto Sales Decatur, GA
30082 before founding A-Line Realty SMYRNA, GA 30082 in 2004 as the
President and Managing Broker. The agency serves more than 300 clients
by providing financial planning, assets management, commercial and
residential estate transactions. Between 2005 and 2007, she joined
Continental Mortgage/World Financial Services Inc., Atlanta, GA 30324
as Financial Advisor/Mortgage consultant where she assisted clients
with their needs via financial need analysis. Aisha, a former Senior
Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on
Strategy and Communication, has also worked for the non-profit Project
Coach Foundation since 2018 as executive director. The non-profit
organisation serves the most vulnerable communities in Nigeria through
Community Outreach, Advocacy, Capacity building and Health (COACH)
projects.
Barrister Salman Jawondo (Asa): With 29 years of post-qualification
experience as a lawyer, Jawondo is almost synonymous with the
longstanding struggle to change the political status quo in Kwara with
his numerous court cases and advocacy to challenge previous
administrations. Barrister Jawondo is an alumnus of the University of
Lagos where he read Law between 1986 and 1989. He was at the Nigerian
Law School between 1989 and 1990. A disciplinarian and no-nonsense
lawyer, he is a member of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary
Committee in the North Central Zone and was Chairman of the Nigerian
Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, between 2009 and 2011. He is the
founder of the Jawondo &Co., Legal Practitioners. He is from Asa Local
Government Area of Kwara State.
Lafia Aliyu Kora Sabi (Baruten): A former chairman of Baruten Local
Government and a grassroots politician, Aliyu Kora Sabi has a
Bachelor’s degree in Education (Guidance and Counselling),
PostGraduate Diploma in Public Administration and Masters degree in
Public Administration from Universities of Ado Ekiti and Ilorin, among
others. He taught in various schools and served as a senior
administrative officer in his Baruten local government for nearly two
decades. Sabi, who was born in 1970, is from Yashikira town of Baruten
Local Government area of the state.
Dr Raji Razaq (Ekiti): Born in 1979, Raji Razaq is the Medical
Director of the Comprehensive Health Centre Agwara, Agwara Local
Government Area of Niger State.
A polyglot, Dr Razaq attended the University of Ilorin for his
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery between 2000 and 2006; the Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ife, for his Master in Public Health between 2015
and 2017. He was the NYSC Chief Medical Director, Kebbi State Camp
Clinic in 2007 and an aspirant for the House of Representatives in
Ekiti/Oke Ero/Irepodun/and Isin Federal Constituency. He hails from
Osi in Ekiti Local Government area of the state.
Architect Aliyu Mohammed Saifudeen (Kaiama): Architect Saifudeen hails
from Kaiama Local Government area of Kwara State. He holds a
Bacherlor’s degree in Architecture and Master of Science in
Architecture — both from the University of Jos between 1993 and 1999.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and
Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON). Saifudeen has
worked with various local and multinational firms in his area of
expertise, including French-owned Bouygues Nigeria Limited where he
was Assistant Design Manager; Lebanese Sageto Limited where he was
Project Coordinator; and Crushed Rock Industries Nigeria Limited owned
by Germans. He is the Managing Partner at Constyle Services Limited;
Chairman of Fiasminat Limited; a partner at Kab Development Services.
Saifudeen is an accredited resource person with the National Board for
Technical Education (NBTE) and a member of the Education Sub-Committee
of the Nigerian Institute of Architects.
Wahab Agbaje (Whyte, Offa): A successful businessman and
administrator, Wahab Agbaje (Whyte) holds a Master’s degree in Public
Administration from Ladoke Akintola University. He also bagged High
National Diploma in Accounting from Kwara State Polytechnic and
National Diploma in Accounting from Federal Polytechnic Nasawara.
Agbaje is the Managing Director of Whyte and Associates Nigeria
Limited. He is the Community Representative of the Governing Council
of Federal Polytechnic Offa. A senior member at the Institute of
Diplomacy and Conflict Management, Agbaje has had at least 12 years
experience in educational and business administration, conflict
resolution, agriculture, revenue mobilisation, construction and
contract negotiations. Whyte, as he is fondly called, has been a
grassroots politician since 1990. He was a member of the Contact and
Mobilisation Committee for President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign
Organisation (2018) and Director of Contact and Mobilisation Committee
of the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq Campaign Organisation (2018). Agbaje was
National Vice Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party
(ANPP. He was elected state chairman of the party in 2006. He was also
councillor-elect Shawo South West Ward, Offa Local Government in 1996.
Murtala Olarewaju (Oyun): Murtala Olarewaju is a grassroots
politician, an administrator and a teacher. He attended Federal
College ofEducation Kontangora for his National Certificate of
Education; Kwara State Polytechnic for his Higher National Diploma;
and Ladoke Akintola University for his Master in Public
Administration. He also has Teacher Grade II Certificate from New
Bussa Teachers College Niger State. He taught at various schools
between 1982 and 1998. He was an administrative officer with the Kwara
State Local Government Service Commission between 1998 and 2017. He
retired as Deputy Director of Administration in 2017. Olarewaju hails
from Ijagbo town in Oyun Local Government Area of the state.
Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet (Ifelodun): An entrepreneur and
renowned community development advocate, 38-year-old Harriet hailed
from Okeayo/Ora community in Ifelodun local government area of the
state. She was an officer at Surveillance Department of the National
Pension Commission (PENCOM) Abuja between 2007 and 2011 and was until
the appointment the Chief Operating Officer of M&P Micro Credit
Scheme. Harriet, a top chieftain of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC), has contributed immensely to her community’s
development, including the ongoing relocation of Ora Community Grammar
School, construction of the AWUA bridge that connects her local
government to Isin local government. Harriet is an alumnus of the
University of Ilorin, Kwara State Polytechnic and Abadina College of
the University of Ibadan.
Ahmad Fatima Bisola (Ilorin West): Fatima Bisola, who holds a
postgraduate Diploma in Education from Usman Dan Fodiyo University,
graduated from the Department of English of the University of Ilorin
in 2011. She attended Federal Government Girl’s College, Omu Aran. The
30-year-old nominee is currently an employee of the Kwara State
Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), attached to the Sheikh
AbdulSalam Junior Secondary School, Ilorin. The nominee is an author
of two publications: Aesthetics of Africanism in Camara Laye’s African
Child and Radiance of the King and Effect of Mother Tongue
Interference in Spoken English.
Aremu Bose Deborah (Irepodun): Deborah, who holds a Bachelor of
Science in Economics from the University of Ado-Ekiti, currently
teaches at the ECWA Secondary School Omu Aran. The 45-year-old nominee
has taught for over 10 years. She is a leader of the Irewolu
Cooperative Society which facilitates women’s access to small loans
and credit as part of the community’s efforts to empower women in
small scale businesses.
Oyedun Juliana Funke (Isin): Funke, 57, holds a Bachelor of Education
(Guidance and Counselling) from University of Ado-Ekiti and Nigeria
Certificate of Education from Kwara State College of Education Ilorin
(Integrated Science). She worked at the Kwara SUBEB as School Support
Officer (SSO) between 1980 and 2015 where she retired as a Deputy
Director. Funke, a chieftain of the ruling APC, was Organising
Secretary of APC Women Elders’ Forum and Secretary of the Kwara State
chapter of the Women Teachers Association of Nigeria.
Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence (Oke Ero): Florence, 31, holds a Post
Graduate Diploma in Education and Master of Science in Industrial
Chemistry. She is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin and National
Teachers’ Institute Kaduna. She was until her appointment the
Administrative Manager and Public Relations Officer at Roemichs
International School Ilorin. She also worked at Dabco Nigeria Limited
Ilorin. Florence is a member of the ruling APC who participated in the
party’s electoral campaigns. She has always been a political activist
in her locality where she has acted as female youths leader and
canvasser.
Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu (Moro): Rotimi, a 38-year-old political and
community development campaigner, was until his appointment the Energy
Development Coordinator for the BUA International Limited where he was
Projects Coordinator at the conglomerate’s multimillion dollars
Lafiagi Sugar Company. He was between 2013 and 2015 the Manager, Gas
and Power Package at Bua Edo Cement, a subsidiary of the Bua Group in
Edo State. He was also Energy Development Coordinator of Epe Power
Generation Limited, another subsidiary of the BUA Group. Rotimi is an
alumnus of the Newcastle University, United Kingdom, where he bagged a
Post Graduate Diploma in Pipeline Engineering in 2009. He read
Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ilorin where he graduated
in 2006. He is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). A
scion of an influential political family from Moro local government,
he has expertise and interests in Agriculture, Plant Mechanics, People
Development, Supply Chain Management, and Workshop Efficiency, among
others.
