Abdulfatah Ahmed was born on 29 December 1963 in Share, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. He attended Government College Funtua, Katsina State, 1973–1978, and the school of Basic Studies of Kwara State College of Technology, now Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin (1978–1980). He went on to the University of Ilorin where he earned a B.Sc. in Chemistry (1986) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1992.
Alhaji Ahmed was appointed Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Kwara state, at the beginning of Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s Administration (2003–2009). He then became Commissioner of the newly created Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. During this period, Ahmed was also Treasurer of the forum of Commissioners of Finance in Nigeria for six years, and chairman, Budget Formulation Committee and Economic Team of Kwara State. He was appointed a member of board of directors of the International Aviation College, Ilorin, Chairman of the Millennium Development Goals Implementation Committee and Chairman of Shonga Farms Holdings Ltd.
In the PDP primaries in 2011, Ahmed won the most votes to become the party’s nominee for the governorship contest. In the 26 April 2011 governorship elections, Ahmed won 254,969 votes to emerge the winner.
Achievements in office
Workers under the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Kwara State Council have commended Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed for his commitment towards ensuring modern infrastructural development in the State.
The union acknowledged the effort of Governor Ahmed in transforming the architecture of the state through the various developmental projects his administration has embarked on. According to the labour leaders, projects such as the ongoing modern secretariat complex for civil servants, the Geri-Alimi diamond underpass, ongoing dualization of Kulende-UITH-Oke Ose road, various road constructions across the state, among other projects testify to the fact that the governor has affection for the people.
The workers described Ahmed as the ‘people’s governor’ and lauded him for the prompt payment of salary of state workers and for offsetting the outstanding salary arrears of the staff of the Water Corporation. The N1.1 billion State Secretariat project, which is being funded under the State Infrastructural Development Fund, is expected to be completed this year.
