05:44 GMT 8th November 2011
Under the administration of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Ahmed served as the State Commissioner for Finance for six unbroken years, and commissioner for the then newly created Ministry of Planning and Economic Development for two years. During the time he was regarded as being prudent with the state finances and helped to increase revenue.
When it was time for a change of guard in the state, little wonder that Ahmed, 47, emerged as the man most qualified to succeed Saraki, who recommended him to the ruling party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) as his successor. Since coming to office on May 29, the governor has proved to be a seasoned administrator and a great apostle of continuity in government.
Born on December 29, 1963 in Ifelodun Local Government of Kwara State, Ahmed attended Government College, Funtua, Katsina State, between 1973 and 1978. From there, he proceeded to the School of Basic Studies of the Kwara State College of Technology (Now Kwara State Polytechnic), Horin, between 1978 and 1980.
He then went to the University of I1orin, where he earned a BSc in chemistry in 1986. He got an MBA from the same university in 1992. As a graduate Ahmed worked as a lecturer in organic chemistry and was later appointed Acting Head of Department at Federal College of Arts and Science, Sokoto, between 1986 and 1990.
From there he moved to the corporate sector where he served as Assistant Manager at District Savings and Loans, Lagos between 1991 and 1993. He joined Guaranty Trust Bank (Now GTBank) in 1993 and served in the Credit and Marketing Unit. Thereafter, Ahmed worked in the Societe Generale Bank Nigeria as a Senior Manager/Group Head, Consumer Banking and later Public Sector Group for the North West region in 1998.
He later returned to GTBank as head of Institutional Banking Group for the Northern region.
In 2003, he was called to service in his state by his mentor, Governor Saraki. As commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Ahmed managed funds prudently in the face of scarcity of inflow into government treasury, which helped smooth operation of government business. He improved the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by almost 400 per cent from N64m at the inception of Saraki's administration.
He successfully took the state to the market to raise a N30 billion bond in support of capital developmental projects such as the International Aviation College, Kwara State University, the Stadium and the State Secretariat renovation, municipal water distribution, the medical diagnostic centre and irrigation schemes.
Abdulrasaq Kolawole Mohammed, the Managing Director AI'Nur-Alanury Travels, said, 'Just like his predecessor, Governor Ahmed has clearly shown that he is out to transform the state. Every step he has taken so far is for the development of the state. I am particularly relieved that Saraki choose the right candidate for the job.'
Tunji Moronfoye, the state commissioner of Information and Communication, said the mantle of leadership fell on Ahmed because he was the most qualified to take it up. 'He is someone who has been involved in the planning of this state in the last eight years ... You need a skilled and a creative person to manage what you have. Among his peers in the past government, he was the most qualified person to succeed his predecessor,' Moronfoye said.
In his mission statement Ahmed declared he would ' sustain and build upon the legacies of development and harmonious coexistence in Kwara State as exemplified by the ideals of Dr. Bukola Saraki administration'. So far, he has remained truthful to that statement and the state is the better for it.
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