Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago was born in Minna, Niger State on 22nd February 1974 to parents of Nupe extraction, a Nigerian banker and politician; a three-time member who represented Chachanga Federal Constituency in the National Assembly is the current Governor of Niger State since May 29, 2023. His late father, Alhaji Muhammadu Mustapha (Baraden Nupe) TECNO was a member of the Masaba Royal family of Bida, and his late mother, Hajiya Aishat Mohammed, was a member of the Jantabo Royal family of Lapai.
EXPERIENCE
- PUBLIC SECTOR
- House of Representatives, National Assembly, 2019 – 2023
- Chairman House Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa
- Member, House Committee on Air Force, Anti-Corruption, Capital Market and Institution, Labour Employment & Productivity, Media & Public Affairs, Port and Appropriation
- Contested for the Speakership position where he came second
- House of Representatives, National Assembly, 2011 – 2019
- Chairman House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration
- Member, House Committee on Banking and Currency Appropriation, Education, Internal Security, Information and Communication Technology, National Planning, Defence, Loans & Debts, Economic Development, Media, Civil Societies and Donor Agencies
- House of Representatives, National Assembly, 2011 – 2015
- Member, House Committee on Banking and Currency, Appropriations, Education, Internal Security, Information and Communication Technology, Defence, Loans and Debts, National Planning and Economic Development, Media and Publicity, Civil Societies and Donor Agencies, Police Affairs
- PRIVATE SECTOR
- AfriBank, 2007 – 2010
Area Manager/Assistant General Manager
- First City Monument Bank (FCMB), 2004 – 2007
Branch Manager/Regional Manger
- Standard Trust Bank, 2000 – 2004
Business Development Officer/Profit Center Manager
- United Bank for Africa (UBA), 1998 – 2000
Cashier/Cash Officer
- Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), 1997 – 1998
National Youth Service Corps, NYSC
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- Masters Degree in Finance
University of Calabar 2005
- Masters in Business Administration (MBA) Economics
Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma 2003
- Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Management
Federal University of Technology, Minna 2001
- Bachelor Degree in Political Science (Bsc)
Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto 1996
- Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE)
Federal Government College, Jos 1991
- First School Leaving Certificate
Marafa Primary School, Minna 1985
OTHER ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) in Agriculture
Federal University of Technology, Minna – 2025
- Certified in Agribusiness
Havard Business School Executive Education, Boston Massachusetts – 2024
- Certified in Conflict, Insecurity and Peace Resolution
United States Institute of Peace, Washington DC – 2024
- Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) and Fellow of Humanity and Political Economy
African School of Diplomacy and International Relations and ESTAM University, Benin Republic – 2021
- Certified Management Specialist with Distinction in Time Management
London Graduate School – 2020
- Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC) Nigeria – 2020
- Certified in Leadership in Parliamentary and Oversight Functions
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom – 2014
- Certified in International Visitor Leadership Program on Democracy and Good Governance in the U.S.
United States Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs – 2011
CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAININGS
- Attended the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), New York, 2024
- Attended the 2024 Spring Meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG), Washington DC, USA
- Attended the 28th Annual United Nations Climate Meeting (#COP28UAE), Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2023
- Attended G20 Compact with Africa (CWA) Conference in Berlin, Germany, 2023
- Participated in the First Saudi-Africa Summit, Saudi Arabia, 2023
- Attended the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), New York, 2023
- Participated in the first ever Nigerian flag raising event alongside the Mayor of New York at the historic Bowling Green in New York City, 2023
- Attended the Executive Leadership Retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, 2023
- Participated in Training on Finance and Accounting for Oil and Gas; and Supply Chain Essentials and International Oil and Trading Price Risk Management in Kigali, Rwanda, 2021
- Attended Capacity Building Retreat on Corruption, IFFS and Financing for National Development, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, 2021
- Participated in the Parliamentarian for Peace (P4P) Programme of the Open Diplomacy Institute, Nomandy Region that addresses World Peace and Global Security. Caen, France, 2020
- Participated in the International Maritime Oraganisation (IMO) International Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany, 2018
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Digital Governor of the Year (Digital Literacy), Bureau of Public Reforms (Presidency), 2024
- Voice of Africa (VOA) Canada Torchbearer Award 2024
- Distinguished Award for Agriculture and Food Security of Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS), State House Abuja 2024
- African Sustainability Outliers (ASO) Award by The African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2023
- Governor of the Year 2023 by Leadership Newspaper for his outstanding innovative leadership style and the immense developmental Strides of his administration in less than one year.
- People’s Choice of the Year 2023 Award by the Face of Democracy Nigeria Projects
- House of Representatives Press Corps Award of Excellence in Economic and Security Matters – 2023
- Grand Patron, Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Niger State Chapter – 2023
- Nigeria Institute of Architects, Niger State Chapter Award for Deliberate Efforts in Urban Renewal and Rural Transformation
- Forum of Fmr. Members of House of Representatives Award – 2023
- Award of Excellence as the Most Courageous Representative by House of Representatives Press Corp – 2021
- Champion of Good Governance Award by Nigeria Vanguard for Equity – 2021
- Award of Excellence by Students Union Government of Federal University of Technology Minna
Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, a core party man and lover of the people contested and won the APC gubernatorial primary elections in Niger State ahead of the 2023 general elections. He became the winner of the gubernatorial election after pulling 469,896 votes to his closest rival of PDP, Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi who got 387,476 votes.
As a great philanthropist and humanitarian, Hon. Bago has engaged in many community services through the “Bago Foundation” and has influenced so much in the area of education and across all sectors from 2010 to date. He has facilitated and commissioned several roads and infrastructural projects in Niger state.
His Excellency, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago is walking the talk to deliver a ‘New Niger’ as encapsulated in his gubernatorial campaign promises and BAGO’s plan, which focuses on Improved Livelihoods, Urban Renewal, Sustainable Economy, and Good Governance. His administration is paying serious attention to Security, Education, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Commerce and Attracting Investors, Tourism, Health, Infrastructure, Portable water, Transformation of Civil Service, Traditional Institutions Engagement, and Youth and Women Development amongst others, for a sustainable Niger for all.
All these and many other services earned him the nickname “Mr. Empowerment, The Architect of A New Niger” as he is now popularly known among Nigerlites. His Excellency Mohammed Umaru Bago has indeed touched so many lives in various facets of human development in such a sustainable manner. Posterity shall indeed be kind to him.
Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago is happily married to Hajiya Fatima and they are blessed with children.