Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago is presently a Member of House of Representatives (MHR), a third-time member in the Green chamber, representing Chachanga Federal Constituency of Niger State.
He was born in Minna, Niger State on 22nd February, 1974 to parents of Nupe extraction. His late father, Alhaji Muhammadu Mustapha, Barade Nupe (TECNO) was a member of the Masaba Royal family of Bida and late mother, Hajiya Aishat Mohammed, a member of the Jantabo Royal family of Lapai.
His early education began at Marafa Primary School Minna where he obtained his first school leaving certificate (FSLC) in 1985 from where he proceeded to the famous Federal Government College, Jos where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1991 with distinction.
Hon. Bago earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science at Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. He also had obtained several postgraduate diplomas and master’s degrees, including a postgraduate diploma in management from the Federal University of Technology Minna in 2001, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Economics at the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, in 2003, and a master’s degree in Finance at University of Calabar in 2005. He is also a distinguished alumnus of the Cambridge University in the United Kingdom in 2014.
He is a Certified Management specialist with Distinction in Time Management from London Graduate School in 2020. He is also a recipient of Honourary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) and Fellow of Humanity and Political Economy, African School of Diplomacy and International Relations Abuja in conjunction with ESTAM University Republic of Benin – 2021.
Hon Bago began his career in the banking sector where he had an illustrious career and grew through the ranks before taking adventure into politics in 2011. He indeed tested the murky waters of politics beginning with the newly formed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) where he won his election into the House of Representatives to represent Chanchaga Federal Constituency.
He had his banking experience with first rate organisations like the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Standard Trust Bank, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and AfriBank respectively where he gathered invaluable knowledge and experience that became a great resource and inspiration in his quest for leadership advancement.
Today, he ranks one of the most versatile and outspoken Representatives Nigeria has ever produced. There is virtually no Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) he has not touched on oversight function as a House member and indeed has sponsored several bills and motions directed at ensuring that the dividends of democracy are made manifest.
Hon Mohammed Umar Bago assumed office on May 29, 2011 responding to a clarion call to serve his people as a federal legislator on the inauguration of the seventh Assembly on June 6, 2011. He was re-elected in 2015 for second term and also in 2019 for the unprecedented third term in Chachanga Federal constituency to underscore his wide acceptance by his people.
During his stewardship at the House, Hon Bago had served at various times with diligence in the following Committees: Banking and Finance, Appropriation, Education, Internal Security, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT). Others are Defence, Loans and Debts, National Planning, Economic Development, Media, Civil Society and Donor Agencies, Police and Public Accounts.
During his second term he was the House Committee Chairman on Maritime Safety and Education and also doubled as House Committee Member on Works, IDPs, Tertiary and ICT Committees respectively.
Presently, Hon Bago serves as House Committee Chairman on Co-operation and Integration in Africa. He also doubles as House Committee member on Air Force, Anti corruption, Capital Market, Labour Employment & Productivity, Media & Public Affairs, Ports, Labour, Steel and Appropriation Committee.
He is a strong advocate of good governance, a very influential member of the House and a great facilitator in the Green chamber. These virtues earned him the full support of the North Central Progressives Forum (NCPF) and the ticket to contest the House Speakership position with the present House Speaker Femi Gbajiabiamila where he came second. A core party man of Nupe extraction, Hon Bago has an eye for the gubernatorial seat of his State come 2023 with the hashtag #ProjectBago 2023.
A great philanthropist of repute, Hon Bago in his determination to improve access to education for his constituents, through his Bago Foundation established in 2010, purchased 1000 forms of JAMB in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) slated for 17th February 2020 and also on record to have distributed 11 trailer loads of rice to his constituents as palliative during Covid-19 pandemic period. He has facilitated and commissioned several road projects in his Chachanga constituency.
All these and more have earned him the name, “Mr Empowerment” as he is now popularly known among his constituents. Hon. Mohammed Bago has indeed touched so many lives in various facets of human development in such a sustainable manner. Posterity shall indeed be kind to him. Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago is happily married with three children.
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