Bello Yahaya Adoza Citation »

Yahaya Adoza Bello, born on June 18, 1975 in Okene, Kogi State, served two terms as the fourth Executive Governor of Kogi State. He is an Accounting graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he also obtained a Master of Business Administration. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

Before entering partisan politics in 2015, Alhaji Bello built a solid career in public service and enterprise. He joined the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) as a National Youth Service Corps member and was retained after his service year due to outstanding performance. He rose swiftly through the ranks into senior management, gaining a reputation for discipline, fiscal insight, and administrative clarity. He later resigned voluntarily to pursue private enterprise, where he established a diversified business portfolio with interests in transportation, real estate, and the capital market.

Driven by concern over persistent underdevelopment in Kogi State and Nigeria at large, he joined the All Progressives Congress and entered electoral politics. In 2015, he was elected Governor of Kogi State, becoming the youngest serving governor in the country at the time. He went ahead to govern Kogi State for eight years, from 2016 to 2024. His emergence marked a generational shift in leadership and introduced a governance style anchored on reform, inclusion, and long term planning.

As Governor, Yahaya Bello introduced the New Direction Agenda, a framework designed to reposition Kogi State through structured economic and social reforms. The administration adopted a development blueprint aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), applying them to local realities with emphasis on poverty reduction, access to basic services, and institutional renewal. These efforts earned Kogi State recognition at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly for progress in SDG implementation.

His leadership record reflects deliberate efforts to confront long standing social divisions. Policies under his administration promoted unity across ethnic and religious lines, expanded opportunities for women and young people, and advanced the participation of persons with disabilities in public life. He placed strong emphasis on civil service reform, health care delivery, education, and job creation, while executing infrastructure projects across roads, public buildings, and essential services that improved daily living conditions across the state.

Beyond Kogi State, Governor Bello played active roles in national political and peace building assignments. He was entrusted with sensitive responsibilities aimed at conflict resolution and party consolidation, which he carried out with notable success. Within the APC, he became a key mobilizer of youth participation in politics, broadening engagement and strengthening grassroots structures.

Under his administration, Kogi State received multiple commendations for performance in security management, inclusive governance, transparency, and accountability. These recognitions came from a range of credible institutions including international development partners, federal authorities, civil society groups, and regulatory bodies.

Former Governor Yahaya Bello’s public service is guided by a firm belief in Nigeria’s future and the necessity of leadership that builds consensus across differences. His work has earned him national and subnational honors, including the Grand Service Star of Rivers State and the Commander of the Order of the Niger.

His career reflects a blend of administrative competence, political resolve, and generational leadership. His record places him among contemporary Nigerian leaders whose public life continues to influence governance discourse and political development in the country.