By; Samson Yaki, Lafia
The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule, has clocked sixty-three (63) years of existence on earth.
Born on December 26, 1959, in Gudi Station, Akwanga-West Development Area of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule’s selflessness in serving humanity, devotion to duty and sense of humour, made him beloved to his family, friends and all people, thereby making him attractive like a magnet.
His father, Alhaji Sule, is the current traditional ruler, Sarkin Gudi, while his grandfather, Abdullahi Angulu, was the first traditional ruler of Gudi station.
Abdullahi Sule began his education at the Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) Primary School, Gudi Station, in 1968, upon completion, he proceeded to the Zang Secondary Commercial School, Bukuru, in 1974.
In 1977, he passed his SSCE in Bukuru, before proceeding to Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi and later Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, USA towards the end of 1980.
Through determination and hard work, he utilized a four-year scholarship to obtain both a BSc (1983) and an MSc (1984) degrees in Mechanical Technology respectively from the same Indiana State University, USA.
His work experience began in 1980 when he was offered employment by the Plateau Electricity Corporation, Jos, even before graduation in May 1980.
Upon graduation from government Technical College, Bukuru, he worked for about three months with the corporation before proceeding to Plateau State Polytechnic, in September 1980.
Engineer Sule, did his compulsory national service, NYSC, with the Plateau Utilities Board, Jos and later joined the Jos Steel Rolling Company Ltd in 1985 as a production engineer.
In 1987, he received accelerated promotion from GL9 to GL 12 in recognition of his performance and hard work. He later left Jos Steel Rolling Company as a principal production engineer in 1989 and returned to the United States.
On returning to the US, Abdullahi Sule went to Texas (San Antonio and later Houston) where he worked for the following companies: Lancer Corporation, San Antonio; OEM Components, Houston; Houston Engineering, Houston; Morgan Performance, Houston; Dril-Quip Incorporated, Houston and Osyka Corporation, Houston.
He worked in various capacities from workshop engineer to computer numerical control (CNC) programmer, NCN operator, facility engineer, project/ production engineer and finally the director of business development for Africa and the Middle East for Osyka Corporation.
He returned to Nigeria in the year 2000 and along with some friends, started a company called Sadiq Petroleum Nigeria Limited in Lagos and was made the pioneer Managing Director/CEO.
Later that year, Sadiq Petroleum Company participated in the privatization of African Petroleum Plc and won the bid. Upon acquisition of the 30% ownership of AP in November 2000, Engr Sule, was appointed AP MD/CEO on April 2, 2001.
He resigned in July 2006 to take up another job with an American Multi-national oil service company called Tetra international in July 2006 as a Director of Business Development/ country Manager.
While in AP as the MD/CEO, he also served as a Director in IMB International Bank
Plc, Ulti-Care Pharmaceutical and Chrismatel Holdings. He was also the chairman of AP Oilfield Service Ltd and Partner in star-AP Oilfield Services.
Sule was a director at the Dangote Group between 2010 and 2011. He was also the group managing director of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc between 2011 and 2018 when he stepped down to contest the Nasarawa governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In that March 9, 2019 election, Abdullahi Sule scored 327,229 votes to defeat his opponent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 184,281 votes, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate got 132,784 votes. He was sworn-in as Nasarawa Governor on the 29th of May, 2019.
In his words, “I entered politics to serve and to make an impact in the lives of the people of Nasarawa State.”
Engineer Sule, has shown that leadership is not just about self, but making decisions that bring growth and development to the people laced with good governance and ‘Exceeding all expectations,’ the coined blueprint of his administration.
In his last three and half years as the fourth democratically elected governor in the “Home of Solid Minerals”, Engr. Sule has shown that he understands governance.
His administration has been transparent and accountable, responsive and inclusive, people oriented and human capital focused and above all, very compassionate about his people.
Celebrating the people’s governor, the management of
Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic (IMAP), Lafia, showers its heartfelt feclicitation.
In a statement, the Rector of the institution, Dr. Justina Anjide-Kotso, prayed for Allah’s blessings, grace to continue to pilot the affairs of the state.
“We heartily felicitate with His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule Governor Nasarawa State and Visitor to the Polytechnic on your auspicious occasion of your 63rd Birthday Anniversary. May Almighty Allah (SWT) continue to grant you long life, sound health, happiness, and divine protections to continue to provide dividends of Democracy to the good people of Nasarawa State beyond 2023.
“I would like to also express very sincerely that our Polytechnic is proud to be associated with you and has remained grateful for your support to its growth and development”, she added.
