By Dr Abdullahi Adamu
Nigeria’s political space is set to witness a seismic epoch and massive turn around come 2023 presidential polls, as one of Nigeria’s finest sons and rare breed with the Midas touch, Dr. Ibrahim Bello Dauda, intends to throw his hat into the presidential contest under the cloak of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The entry of this enigma with a gangling reputation of excellence, track record of service, wealth of education and experience in addition to the youthful energy at his disposal represents a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s quest for the youth to occupy vital and strategic leadership positions.
The 49-year-old presidential hopeful, has paid his dues in party politics as he was one of the few young Nigerians who worked with president Muhammadu Buhari to float the Congress for Progressives Change, (CPC) founded to oust PDP from power.
Dauda, a trail blazer, was also part of the history which saw the coalescing of CPC with other legacy parties including Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress which defeated the ruling party at the center for the first time in the history of Nigeria.
This rare patriot has never faltered or wavered in his resolve to advance education, critical thinking and leadership through a number of interventions he is currently pursuing via the instruments and pedagogy of the social media.
A highly motivated and passionate professional, a goal-getter, a trail-blazer and a pacesetter, Dauda has conceived and translated several ideas into projects that have affected the lives of the people in multifaceted ways.
As an Accountant and an Administrator, he specialises in public and corporate administration, management accounting and fiscal management, risk management, project management, development planning, change management and business development.
These have sharpened his awareness as well as adherence to standards and quality in project and service delivery. At his best when nurturing ideas, promoting interaction, and transferring experience which has brought out the best in people in a way that positively impacts on lives continuously and permanently.”
QUINTESSENTIAL ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL
The aspirant specialises in public and corporate administration, management accounting and fiscal management, risk management, project management, development planning, change management and business development. Dr. Ibrahim Dauda was awarded doctorate in Business Management. But his academic and professional footprints read like a geographical Atlas.
PERSONALITY PROFILE
Born on June 3, 1972, Dauda hails from the Kanuri stock of the North-Eastern part of Nigeria. His parentage traces to Gora Town in Shani Local Government Area of Borno State. He however spent his entire childhood in his place of birth, Jos, the capital of Nigeria’s North-Central State of Plateau. After elementary school at the Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) Primary School, Giring, Jos, Plateau State, young Dauda proceeded to the Army Day Secondary School, Chindit Barracks in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Thereafter, he obtained the Ordinary Diploma (OD) in Financial Studies, followed by the Higher Diploma (HD) in Accountancy from the Plateau School of Accountancy and Management Studies (PSAMS) Jos, Plateau State.
Subsequently, he obtained his Master’s in Project Management (MPM) from the American Academy of Project Management. He was awarded doctorate degree in Business Management at the Cornerstone University in Israel. Thereafter, he obtained a Professional Diploma in Dynamics of Forensic Graphology, Professional Diploma in Intelligence and Professional Diploma in Criminology and Security Studies from the International Security Organisation (ISO) KLG in Collaboration with the Indian School of Profiling and Graphology and the Indian Institute of Handwriting and the Pan-African Shield College, Kenya.
Dauda is seen as the new face of APC. He said: “I know where we are coming from and where we need to go. It is my resolve to do things differently and stand out in the crowd. We must restore the integrity of this nation, respect, dignity and confidence.”
He postulates that, “It is the responsibility of every government to serve the people. We are set to give the people of this country the confidence that if they work hard in legitimate pursuits, the system will encourage and support them to attain the potentials of their abilities.
”This Motivational Speaker believes that life and destiny have equipped him with the multifarious disciplines needed for the onerous task of salvaging Nigeria. Today he works as the President of Platinum Vault Group of Companies, parent company of a firm where he sits as Principal Chief Executive Officer, PVG Consult Ltd, a management-consulting firm that he has run since 2017. Prior to this portfolio, Dauda has interfaced with various sectors of the economy, especially in the private sector, spanning accounting, auditing, banking, importing, risk management, business start-ups, investments, oil and gas, agriculture, mining, power generation, telecommunications, logistics, construction, and business management.
A multiple award winner, Dauda has a political foray that has seen him wearing several hats in APC and its antecedent in CPC, especially for projects in consonance with the politics and aspirations of Major General Buhari. He was in 2019 the National Secretary of the Central Working Committee of the APC Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team, as well as a Member of the Support Groups Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council and Director of Operations to the Buhari Support Organisations (BSO).
He had previously played a similar role in 2014-2015 as the National Coordinator of the Buhari Support Organisations (BSO). Under Buhari’s old ANPP and CPC, Dauda had been Plateau State Coordinator for The Buhari Organisations (TBO) in 2003-2007, Member of the National Media and Publicity Committee (CPC) in 2010, Coordinator of the Presidential Primaries for Plateau State CPC in 2010, Secretary to the Primaries and Congress Committee for CPC in 2010, and a Member of the National Investigation and Monitoring Committee for CPC in 2010.
In addition, he had been a Member in the National Election Monitoring Committee for CPC in 2011, the State Treasurer for CPC Plateau State in 2011, a Member of the National Strategy Committee for CPC in 2010 to 2011, Member of the National Registration and Membership Committee for CPC in 2013, Member of the National Convention Committee for CPC in 2013.
Upon joining APC, he was appointed the National Secretary of the Buhari Support Group Centre in 2014, the same year he became a Member of the Presidential Campaign Council’s Election Monitoring Committee for APC.
A GLOWING CAREER, HEAD OF AN OCTOPUS WITH FORMIDABLE TENTACLES
Dauda has also stamped daunting, formidable, and indelible professional footprints. Between 2010-2014, he became the Managing Director of Velscar Integrated Services, heading this consultancy that provided services in project consulting and management of business start-ups.
He currently sits as President of the Platinum Vault Group Of Companies, which he started in 2015. As its head and Chief Executive Officer, Dauda has turned the firm into an octopus that has blossomed into 10 companies with tentacles in oil and gas, agriculture, mining, power generation, telecommunications, logistics, construction, business, and management consulting.
As Chairperson of the board, he has four vice presidents under him for: Corporate Services, Finance, Business Development and Operations.
He said: “I am directly in charge of the Project and Risk Management Department of the group. Among the current project this unit is managing is the biometric registration of 12 million rice farmers in Nigeria under the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN). This is a wide project covering the registration of all members according to the cooperatives they belong to; mapping of their farms; creation of data base management system for the association; provision of seedlings; disbursement of funding; monitoring of performance of each farmer; and monitoring of crop yield and harvest.”
A philanthropist, the APC strongman runs the Almajirai Empowerment Foundation (AEF) that he co-founded in 2014 for the purpose of the advancement and empowerment of Almajiri and less-privileged children.
PRESIDENTIAL VISION AND PROGRAMME
Dauda who hailed from the North East geopolitical zone that has become the theatre of insecurity, insurgency, and terrorism, the presidential hopeful has expressed an overreaching desire to end the scourge through multifaceted approach aimed at deepening social inclusion, and equitable distribution of national resources.
He expressed an intense desire to resolve some of the nagging challenges that have dogged the Nigerian political landscape such as strident agitations and clamour for resource control and such other sentiments threatening to tear the country to smithereens.
“Insecurity and vices of frightening shapes and dimensions assail the land. Patriotic Nigerians believe that the nation is not moving in the right direction. This country has never been as divided as it is now. All these are manifestations of accumulated years of negative sentiments, emotions, selfish interest and of hollow commitment to the principles of patriotism.”
He believes that these divisive tendencies demand a man like himself to bring healing to the land and quell the different agitations.
Dauda says, “my entrance into the race as an aspirant for the highest political office of our land the PRESIDENT, marks a new dawn for Nigeria, and the resuscitation of hope for the redemption of Nigeria.
“It has pleased God Almighty to give Nigeria a fresh chance at getting it right, the country having been unfortunately dragged through the path of underwhelming performance. I will serve as the divinely-inspired vehicle to rescue Nigeria,” he said.
Dr. Adamu, a political strategist writes from Abuja.
