Alhaji Yahaya Bello was born on 18th June 1975 in Agassa, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State to the family of Alhaji Bello Ipemida Ochi and Hajia Hawa Bello. He is the last of six siblings. He started his early education in 1984 in LGEA Primary School, Agassa, in Okene LGA. His special talents started manifesting early in his life when he was made the class prefect from Class Two. The position he held till he was made the school Head Boy in Class Six due to the leadership qualities identified in him by his peers and teachers.
He later enrolled for ‘A’ level exams in Kaduna State Polytechnic Zaria in 1995 and proceeded to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria in 1996 to study Accounting. He graduated in 1999. His unquenchable thirst for higher education took him back to ABU for the Masters in Business Administration (MBA) which he bagged in 2004. While pursuing his Masters he also enrolled for professional certification with the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in Jos and became a chattered fellow of ANAN in 2004.
Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s working career started in 2001 when he was posted to Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for the NYSC mandatory service to his fatherland. He distinguished himself during the course of the service and was offered an appointment in the same office as Revenue Officer II. His hard work singled him out for promotion to the post of Accountant in a very short period. He was later transferred to head the Makurdi Zonal office Accounts Department. He has worked in various departments in the office and rose to the post of Assistant Chief Accountant.
He was pressed by the youths to vie as the running mate of Abubakar Audu for the position of Governor of Kogi state in the 2015 general election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. When Abubakar Audu, who won the election, died before his inauguration, INEC substituted him with Yahaya Bello.
As Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello says his policies have positioned the APC as the most popular party in Kogi State, because his administration is gradually winning the war against poverty. According to him, his administration has created thousands of jobs as well as provided numerous healthcare interventions for the people of the state.
The Governor said his administration has trained thousands of artisans and other entrepreneurs who are now contributing immensely to the economy of the state, assuring that he will continue to build on the success of the Omi Dam Agricultural Initiative.
On the salary scale issue for workers in the state, Governor Bello said his administration will continue to make workers’ welfare a top priority in order to build a “well motivated and capable workforce for the state”, insisting that his administration would continue to explore strategies for “the seamless payment of salaries in the state”.
He assured the people of his continued commitment to their welfare, pointing out that “politics will not be allowed to take the place of establishing tangible welfare packages for the people”.
It will be recalled that the State Government recently awarded contracts to repair all the bad portions of the Lokoja-Okene road to make it more convenient for motorists.
