Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed’s exceptional leadership and service to humanity have earned him the recognition of Governor of The Year 2024 award by LEADERSHIP Group Limited.
From the “Doctrine of Necessity” motion while serving as a senator in 2010 to his role as FCT minister and, most recently, as two-time democratically elected governor of Bauchi State, his transformative projects and impactful leadership have propelled his emergence from a journalist to a national leader. Known for his dedication to the “Bauchi Project,” his journey from local to national politics showcases a leader driven by service, innovation and empathy.
In 2019, Bala Mohammed became governor of Bauchi State, a role he took on with clear goals to uplift the state. His administration focuses on transforming critical sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and security.
Operating at the gateway to the northeast, a region challenged by insurgency, Governor Mohammed has focused on strengthening local security networks. He supports the state security apparatus and local vigilante groups to maintain peace. His administration has promoted unity across communities by engaging leaders in dialogue and peace-building efforts. He has distributed over 50 Hilux vans to different security outfits. Rewardingly, Bauchi is currently adjudged to be one of the most peaceful states in the country.
Understanding that education is vital for progress, the governor invested in building and renovating new schools. He constructed and renovated over 5,000 classrooms. His administration recruited and retrained teachers, ensuring children access to quality education in a safe and conducive environment. He steered Bauchi out of the ranks of a state with the country’s highest number of out-of-school children, from 1.2 million to about 521,000.
Under Governor Mohammed’s leadership, the Bauchi health sector has been another priority. He launched several healthcare projects to provide essential services, particularly for rural communities. Under his administration, over 1,000 general hospitals and primary healthcare centres were renovated or built from scratch. His administration’s flagship “Bauchi Healthcare Revival” project aims to ensure that every community has access to health services within a reasonable distance. With these efforts, maternal and infant mortality rates have decreased, showing the impact of a more muscular healthcare system.
Bauchi State’s infrastructure landscape has also been transformed under Governor Mohammed. The state now has better roads, bridges and drainage systems. One of his most praised achievements was the urban renewal project in Bauchi City, which saw the reconstruction and renovation of existing road networks and the construction of two modern flyovers at Wunti and Central markets to make the city more navigable and secure. His administration has also built rural roads, connecting farmers to markets and improving economic opportunities.
Mohammed and 25 other distinguished individuals and organisations who have made exceptional contributions to governance, business, social impact, and public service in Nigeria were nominated by the LEADERSHIP Newspapers’ Board of Editors after extensive deliberations at a meeting held in November 2024 at the company’s headquarters in Abuja.
Mohammed and other nominees will be celebrated for their outstanding leadership, vision, and commitment to national development at the LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards ceremony scheduled to be held next year.
Alhaji Aliko Mohammad Dangote, Nigeria’s foremost industrialist and philanthropist, won the Person Of The Year Award for his immense contributions to the nation’s economy. His philanthropic efforts make him a deserving recipient of this highest honour.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike won the 2024 Quinquennial Award For Governance and Infrastructure, a rare recognition by the LEADERSHIP Group Limited.
Also, for the year 2024, apart from Governor Mohammed, five other state governors were jointly nominated for the award of Governor of the Year. The are Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State; Pastor Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom; Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State; Mallam Umar A. Namadi of Jigawa State and Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke of Osun state.
The governors were recognised for driving sustainable growth, infrastructural development, and policy innovations in their respective states.
Adams Oshiomhole (CON), former Governor of Edo State, won the Politician of the Year award for his political influence in Edo State where he frontally led the campaign that led to the emergence of Governor Monday Okpehbolo as the governor, and advocacy for democratic growth in Nigeria.
The Business Person of the Year award was won by Benedict Peters, Founder and CEO of AITEO for massively investing in mining and hydrocarbons sector in Africa while Dame (Dr) Adaora Umeoji, GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, clinched the Banker of the Year award for her role in transforming the banking industry.
Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), Comptroller-General of Customs, emerged as the Public Service Person of the Year for his exceptional leadership in improving the efficiency of Nigeria’s Customs Service (NCS).
Other remarkable business leaders, including the CEO of NORD Automobiles Ltd, Oluwatobi Ajayi won the CEO of the Year award for thePrivate Sector) while Bamanga Usman Jada, MD/CEO of the Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority clinched CEO of the Year award for the Public Sector.
In other award categories, AVSATEL Communications Limited won the Company of the Year award, while ARCO Engineering Limited is the Oil & Gas Local Content Champion of the Year.
The Social Impact Person of the Year award will be presented to Olori Ivie Atuwatse III for her tireless efforts in championing education and healthcare initiatives. OPAY won the Fintech Company of the Year award for promoting financial inclusion in Nigeria, while Alternative Bank clinched the Most Innovative Bank of the Year award for its pioneering work in digital banking.
Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal will be honoured as Environmental Impact Person of the Year for his leadership in advancing environmental policies and addressing climate change.
The Outstanding Young Person of the Year 2024 award will go to ENACTUS team from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi. They are recognised for championing innovation and sustainability. Terra Cube will receive the Product of the Year award for its innovative solutions in sustainable living.