The overall success of a leader is not measured by the number of people following him/her but by the number of people following those following him or her.
It is about a man call Alhaji Mohammed Maude Lapai, mni, he was the Niger State Head of Service. Born November 30, 1956, in Lapai, headquarters of Lapai LG Area in Niger State, he is a many-sided civil servant. His versatility includes competencies as public administrator, ecomomic planning expert, banker, treasury manager, and debt management guru. He is the lynchpin between two past administrations and the current one in the state, having served two previous governments in high profile capacities, and thus brings formidable experiences to bear on his role as Head of Service. He had his primary school at Central Primary School, Lapai (1964-71) and was enrolled in Ahmadiyya Secondary School, Minna (1972-76).
A holder of B.Sc and M.Sc degrees in Economics, obtained from Northern Nigeria’s premier university, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, he is also an alumnus of the elite college, Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, which grooms topflight manpower for top echelon strategic roles in the country’s public and private life. Kick-starting his illustrious public service career as planning officer II, with Niger State Ministry of Finance in September, 1983, he had left after seven years for greater challenges and a more mouth-mouthwatering opportunity with the defunct NAL Merchant Bank, where he worked for 13 years.
In 2003, he left the bank in response to a clarion call by his mother state to come and fill an important need in the finance ministry for a strong treasury manager, with vast accounting experience, high professional acumen, and unimpeachable character.
Having impressed his employers in his role as Director, Treasury Accounts, he was promoted to a new role in the ministry as Accountant General, in 2007. That same year, he was assigned to establish the Niger State Debt Management Office, as its pioneer Director General.
In recognition of his contributions to sound financial and fiscal management at the state level and the glory he brought to his emirate as its ambassador in his many eminent roles, in the community and public service, the Emir of Lapai, His Royal Highness, Alh Umar Bago Tafida III, conferred him with the prestigious traditional title of Madamin Lapai, in 2006.
In November, 2008, he was appointed a Permanent Secretary in the Niger State civil service, and did tours of duty in that capacity in Ministries of Tourism and Culture, Agriculture and Rural Development, Planning Commission, and Niger State Public Procurement Board, where he also doubled as Director General.
Until his most recent elevation to the zenith of the civil service before his retirement, he was the permanent secretary, Ministry of Water Resources (2013-2015). He has visited several countries in Africa, Europe, America, and Asia. He is married and blessed with children. HOBBIES: Reading, table tennis, and travelling.
(Profile by Ndama Abubakar)
I saw a man blessed in all ramification, a man of honour, a man whose zeal is poised towards selfless service to both God and humanity and an incommensurable leader, when I had the rear privilege to visit him along sidey colleagues yesterday 9th February, 2017 as a mark of believe in his wealth of wisdom to tap from his abundant endowment on how best to propagate Change that will bring about peaceful coexistence of our great people and this are some of his words to us;
To create a change we have to change ourselves, kill sentiments and shun all forms of social vices. We should be nonpartisan and always look at personality and not the party, always stand by the truth and bear in mind that where ever you think you are today others have been there and who ever you will become tomorrow is determined by who you are today, so make use of the resources you have judiciously and finally advised that we should hold on tight to the PMB’s campaign #ChangeBeginsWithMe!. This is just a summary of our conversation, I therefore use this medium to call on every concerned Nigeria and to advise GYB to emulate this man and immediately take to action the change begins with me campaign and change his ways for a better Kogi state.
Comr. A.A Hussain
(Dir. Of communication PRCN).
