ALHAJI UT MOHAMMED: A GREAT LEGEND IN PUBLIC SERVICE

Alhaji UT Mohammed: A Great Legend in Public Service. 

Alhaji Usman Tinau Mohammed is a man of all seasons. He is a renowned economist and a financial expert of repute. He is very diligent, intellectually sound and morally upright. To be very precise, he is courageous, determined, kind and humble - which makes him stand out as a true leader and mentor to many.

Born on February 10, 1960 in Minna, Alh. U.T hails from Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State. He began his academic journey at the historic Central Primary School, Minna, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1972 before proceeding to the prestigious Government Secondary School, Minna, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1977.  Alh. U.T holds a  Bachelor's degree in Economics from the Bayero University, Kano; a Masters degree in Business Administration from the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto and a Diploma in Small Business and Industry Development from the famous Galilee College, Israel. 

He attended several professional courses both at home and abroad. Prominent among the courses are: Working Attachment to the Finance & Economic Division of OPEC Vienna, 1988; Petroleum Management  Certificate Programme, organised by the International Human Resources Development Corporation, Boston, U. S. A., 1991; Project on Advanced International Oil & Gas Financial Management organised by University of Texas, Dallas - USA,1994; Seminar on Industrial Project Preparation, Financial and Economic Analysis for Nigerian Investment Bankers, Vienna;  "Banking & Development Beyond the Year 2000" in Dublin, Ireland, 1998; Course on Macro-economic Policy and Financial Management, Kenya Monetary School, Nairobi, 2003; Course on "Creating and Maintaining Quality and Value for Money" in London, 2004 and Managing Budget, Procurement and Strategic Management Course, London 2008.

Alh UT served Niger State Government at different levels over the years and has been aptly described by many as a "model of excellence and positive game changer". He has been of great value to Niger State. Remarkably, he served twice as Special Adviser to the Governor on Economy as well as Executive Chairman of the Niger State Fiscal Responsibility Commission between August 4, 2011 to March 25, 2015.

Alhaji UT was later assigned the difficult task of sanitising the pension management system in Niger State. He accepted the challenge and at the end, he succeeded in sanitising the Board and also brought fresh initiatives that earned him numerous awards because he heralded the new era of prompt payment of pensions and gratuities. One of the reforms that he championed as Director General of Niger State Pension Board was  the mandatory publication of the names, status and payment to pension beneficiaries in the national dailies. This put to rest the misinformation and possible fraud in the system 

Apart from his feats as a civil servant and administrator, Alhaji UT meritoriously served as Vice-Chairman of PENGASSAN PID of the NNPC chapter in 1990; Chairman, Departmental Task Force on Integrated Data Management System of Central Bank of Nigeria; Chairman, Niger State Handball Association and later as Secretary, Departmental Committee on Strategic Business Unit Planning. He also served as member and secretary to various political, economic and social causes over the years. 

His life of dedication to duty and passion for service comes with tremendous commendations and medals of honours, among which are: Director's Award on the Preparation of Seminar on Oil Industry's Security Preparedness in 1989; 10 Years Long Service Award by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2003; Niger State Executive Governor's Award in 2008; Merit Award for Meritorious Service to Humanity in 2010 and Merit Award as Ambassador of Culture in 2010.

Without mincing words, Alh  UT is an embodiment of uncommon resilience, courage, professionalism and forthrightnness that we require today. Nigeria needs great legends the likes of Alh. U.T in the leadership cycle especially at the national level because of their  proficiency in economics and good grabs of 'how things work'. 

With the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari leaving behind a choking debt of N77 trillion, the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu needs capable hands -  the likes of  Alh  UT Mohammed to help in  salvaging the nation from the present economic stagnation!