Adamu Bello

Adamu Bello
Adamu Bello
	Adamu Bello
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
	In office; February 2001 – January 2007
Preceded by	Sani Daura
Federal Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources
	In office; January 2007 – May 2007
Succeeded by	Abba Sayyadi Ruma
Personal details
Born	20 May 1951 (age 73)
Profession	Banker, Politician

Adamu Bello (born 20 May 1951) is a Nigerian politician who was Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 2001 to 2007. He also headed the consolidated Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources from January to May 2007.^[1]

Early life and education

Bello was born in 1951 in Numan, Adamawa State, Nigeria, the son of Justice Mohammed Bello. He had a comfortable childhood with a complete education. Justice Bello died in 1956 leaving Adamu in the care of his oldest brother, Justice Aminu Bello.^[2]

Bello graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1975,^[3] and completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Pittsburgh in 1982.^[4] He attended Harvard Business School's six-week Advanced Management Program (AMP) in 1990.^[5]

Banking career

Bello started his career in banking in 1976 as an Investment Executive with the New Nigerian Development Company (NNDC). Between 1976 and 1981, he rose to become the General Manager of New-Devco Finance, a subsidiary of NNDC. In 1983, Bello joined Habib Bank as Deputy Managing Director, subsequently becoming Managing Director and then Chief Executive in 1988, remaining in the position until 1994. After leaving the bank he became a financial adviser, a real estate developer, and shareholder in numerous ventures until he was nominated as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Intercity Bank in 1998, followed by his appointment as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Habib Nigeria Bank in 1999, where he had previously been Chief Executive Officer.^{[citation needed]}

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

In January 2001, Bello was nominated by the President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, to be Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and he took up the post in February 2001. President Obasanjo renominated Bello after being re-elected in May 2003.

With Bello as Minister, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development improved the road network from rural areas to urban markets and provided water facilities to aid the irrigation of farmlands, sometimes in conjunction with the Ministry of Water Resources and the United Nations.

Bello is the longest-serving Nigerian Agriculture Minister.

Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources

In January 2007, the number of ministries was cut from 34 to 19. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Water Resources were merged to become the largest ministry, with Bello as the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources with two Ministers of State.

Controversy

Four months after Bello assumed his new post, he approved the import of a few million tons of beans into Nigeria from Burkina Faso, a decision which was strongly criticised in the media.

Bello was also accused by former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Bode Olowoporoku, of conspiring with foreign companies to defraud the country in a 3.4 billion Naira deal over fertilizer imports. According to the allegations, a bag of fertilizer was said to cost N1500 in Ukraine, the main import country, but was allegedly sold by the ministry for N2800 with the margin on each taken by the minister. Bello told the Federal Cabinet that the disparity was due to transport and duties costs incurred during the delivery of the fertilizer from Ukraine to Nigeria, which was accepted by the Cabinet. The case was dismissed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Olowoporoku continued with his proceedings against Bello, even escorting the Minister of State for Agriculture, Bamidele Dada, out of the Senate chambers when he came to discuss the matter. Bello said that Olowoporoku had a vendetta against him due to not being awarded fertilizer contracts during the process, which could have earned him N200 million. The senator denied ever requesting contracts from the Ministry, but an investigation concluded that Bello was correct, and the Senate relieved Olowoporoku of his position as Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and excluded him from all committees. He was eventually expelled from the ruling People's Democratic Party. The affair was widely covered in the media.^[6]

Titles and conferment

Bello was conferred with the chieftaincy title of the "Dan Iyan Adamawa" in 1989 by the chieftaincy council of his native Gongola State. In 2003, he also received another chieftaincy title; "Otun Babalakin" in Ekiti State.

Bello was made a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB) in 1991. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) by the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.

Bello was named a Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic in December 2006, the first serving member of the Federal Cabinet to be decorated in this way. He has also received numerous leadership awards, and has been nominated for Minister of the Year Awards by numerous media organisations in Nigeria.

Personal life

Bello is married to pharmacist Lubabatu Bello, and they have six children.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ "Adamu Bello - Summary". 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
^ Nigeria, ICPC (2019-02-06). "Hon. Justice Adamu Bello (Honourable Member)". ICPC. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
^ "Board of Trustees". Jaiz Foundation. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
^ "Board of Trustees". Jaiz Foundation. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
^ "Board of Trustees". Jaiz Foundation. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
^ "A Scandal Comes up Short". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.

External links

Babatunde, Jimoh. Agric minister takes stock of achievement

[1] "Adamu Bello - Summary". 2022-07-27. Retrieved 2022-11-22.

[2] Nigeria, ICPC (2019-02-06). "Hon. Justice Adamu Bello (Honourable Member)". ICPC. Retrieved 2022-11-22.

[3] "Board of Trustees". Jaiz Foundation. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.

[4] "Board of Trustees". Jaiz Foundation. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.

[5] "Board of Trustees". Jaiz Foundation. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.

[6] "A Scandal Comes up Short". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.

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v t e Cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo 2003–2007
Vice President	Atiku Abubakar (May 2003–May 2007)
Agriculture (and Water Resources from Jan 2007)	Adamu Bello (July 2003–May 2007)
Aviation	Isa Yuguda (July 2003–July 2005) Babalola Borishade (July 2005–Nov 2006) Femi Fani-Kayode (November 2006–May 2007)
Commerce and Industry (initially Commerce)	Idris Waziri (July 2003–June 2006) Aliyu Modibbo Umar (Commerce July 2006–January 2007, Commerce and Industry January 2007–May 2007)
Communications (later and Information)	Cornelius Adebayo (July 2003–Aug 2006) Obafemi Anibaba (Aug 2006–Jan 2007) Frank Nweke (Jan 2007–May 2007)
Defence	Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (July 2003–2006) Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi (2006–May 2007)
Education	Fabian Osuji (July 2003–Mar 2005) Chinwe Obaji (June 2005–June 2006) Obiageli Ezekwesili (June 2006–May 2007)
Energy	Edmund Daukoru (July 2003–May 2007)
Environment (and Housing from Jan 2007)	Bala Mande (–July 2005) Iyorchia Ayu (June 2005–Dec 2005) Helen Esuene (Jan 2006–May 2007)
FCT Administration	Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai (July 2003–May 2007)
Finance	Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (July 2003–July 2006) Nnenadi Usman (July 2006–May 2007)
Foreign Affairs	Oluyemi Adeniji (July 2003–July 2006) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (July 2006–August 2006) Joy Ogwu (August 2006–May 2007)
Health	Eyitayo Lambo (July 2003–May 2007)
Housing (merged into Environment Jan 2007)	Rahman Mimiko (June 2005–January 2007)
Information and National Orientation	Chukwuemeka Chikelu (July 2003–June 2005) Frank Nweke (June 2005–May 2007)
Industry (merged to Commerce & Industry Jan 2007)	Magaji Muhammed (–June 2005) Fidelis Tapgun (June 2005–January 2007)
Internal Affairs (Interior from January 2007)	Iyorchia Ayu (–June 2005) Magaji Muhammed (June 2005–June 2006) Oluyemi Adeniji (June 2006–May 2007)
Justice (Attorney General)	Akin Olujimi (–June 2005) Bayo Ojo (June 2005–May 2007)
Labour	Hassan Muhammed Lawal (July 2003–May 2007)
National Planning Commission	Abdallah Wali (Jan 2007–May 2007)
Police Affairs (merged into Interior in Jan 2007)	Broderick Bozimo (July 2003–January 2007)
Power and Steel	Liyel Imoke (July 2003–January 2007)
Science and Technology	Isoun Turner (July 2003–May 2007)
Solid Minerals (later Mines & Steel)	Odion Ugbesia (–June 2005) Obiageli Ezekwesili (June 2005–) Leslye Obiora (Jan 2007–May 2007)
Sports	Musa Mohammed (July 2003–July 2005) Saidu Samaila Sambawa (July 2005–June 2006) Bala Bawa Ka'oje (June 2006–May 2007)
Tourism, Culture and National Orientation	Femi Fani-Kayode (2006) Babalola Borishade (2006–May 2007)
Transport	Precious Sekibo (July 2003–January 2007) Cornelius Adebayo (Jan 2007–May 2007)
Water Resources (merged with Agriculture Jan 2007)	Muktar Shagari (July 2003–January 2007)
Women Affairs	Rita Akpan (July 2003–June 2005) Maryam Ciroma (June 2005–May 2007)
Works and Housing	Adeseye Ogunlewe (July 2003–March 2006) Obafemi Anibaba (March 2006–Sep 2006) Cornelius Adebayo (Sep 2006–Jan 2007)
Youth Development	Frank Nweke (April 2004–June 2005) Musa Mohammed (July 2005–June 2006) S. A. Jankanda (January 2007–May 2007)
See also Cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua