SYNOPSIS
In this edition of NASARAWA SPOTLIGHT, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule moved officials of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Ministry of Lands, to Lagos, in order to facilitate the signing of agreements with the Dangote Group and Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC. It was a proactive and investment savvy move. While in Lagos, the Nasarawa State Governor was conferred with award as Nigeria’s Best State for ICT Penetration and on his return to Abuja, Business Day Newspaper quickly pointed to his business acumen which he was bringing to bear on governance in Nasarawa State and also gave Governor Sule an award.
ANALYSIS:
A flip through history shows that Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule is the same CEO who had the sheer wit and determination to turn around the ailing fortunes of AP Plc. from a share capital eroded with negative balance sheet of over N22 million to a surplus share capital of N5 billion in July 2006. As he took the spotlight on May 29 2019 to become Governor of Nasarawa State; that was when Nigerians also began to understand that this new Governor of Nasarawa State is this same Engineer Sule who was appointed Managing Director of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc. in November 2007 and confirmed in ten extraordinary years as the Group Managing Director of Dangote Sugar Refinery in June of 2018 before he ascended the saddle as Executive Governor of Nasarawa State on May 29, 2019. With 35 years experience in the Oil, Gas, and Sugar Industry of America in Nigeria, Governor Sule encapsulated his vision with the target: “To make Nasarawa State to be among the top three most competive states in Nigeria by 2023 in terms of sustained accelerated growth, increased economic opportunities and prosperity, social inclusion, and improved quality of lives of the citizenry!” The Key for Engineer Sule was to consolidate and nurture industrial linkages and insist on a knowledge-based economy anchored on ICT penetration.
KEY:
From the foregoing and on the basis of mele and pedigree, it was clear from the onset that Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule exemplifies the critical leadership attributes of competence, skill, experience, and worldview which are all a prerequisite to achieve results in governance.