By Muhammad B Muhammad
The Secretary to the State Government is a high-ranking appointed executive officer that works to achieving government’s vision and objectives through the provision of advice and guidance.
Prio to the appointment of Malam Bashiru Ahmad by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the office in Adamawa State has merely discharged its responsibilities in tune with best practices.
Indeed, Adamawa is lucky to have such a a trustworthy, honest factotum and Messiah whose coming has no doubt redefined and finetuned the office of the Secretary to the state government.
Malam is the genuine reflection of what all the products of my almamatter, Villanova Government College, Numan are expected to showcase in terms of character and characteristics of effective and efficient performance in public office.
His vasertile experience, commitment, dedication, hardwork, sincerity and loyalty have informed his selection and subsequent appointment by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who found him worthy in that regard.
On assumption into office, the Quantity Surveyor Bashiru Ahmad swung into action inline with the oath he has subscribed to and the trust bestowed on him by the state Governor.
It’s superb, his innovation on the implementation of decisions, policies and programmes as well as the operations of government ministries, agencies and parastatals.
He treats files with fairness on first come, first serve basis as well as priority without undue favour. Heads of government now become calm as they don’t have to follow up their files rather frustratingly as it hitherto the order of the day.
Ahmad is being mindful of and caring for the underprivileged in the society. Prioritizing the growth and well-being of individuals and their communities. Displaying awareness, empathy and foresight.
Ever since I have known him, Ahmad is not anyhow but somehow an exemplary unique personality who serves people with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; acts with patriotism, justice and leads a modest life.
To him, work first before any other thing when it comes to the official primary assignment, which he does even at closing hours. He mingles with the folks and adopts a simple modest life that amazes people.
Besides specified visiting hours and days to his office, he tolerates people at anytime. The engine room, as intelligent as he is, attends to people, no matter how much they are before him.
Bashiru Ahmad was born in Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State on the 31st December 1965. He attended Central/Gwadabawa primary school in 1970-1976; Sakato Secondary School, now Villanova Government College Numan between 1976-1981.
The Messiah of our time, Ahmad went to College of Preliminary Studies Yola 1982-1984 and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria 1984-1988 when he obtained a B.Sc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying.
He posses over 33 years of experience in Quantity Surveying, Project Management, Procurement Management, Construction Claims Evaluation, Development Planning and Management, Monitoring and Evaluation.
This in addition to General Procurement of Projects and Programmes of varying magnitudes and complexes in Building, Civil Engineering and Socio-economic Sectors of development.
He started his career at Auchi Polytechnic where he taught under the NYSC scheme, in 1988-89. He then joined Bell Quantity Surveyors and later Prime and Bell Partnership Kaduna as a pupil Quantity Surveyor on probation and rose to senior Quantity Surveyor 1989-1996.
After gaining a good experience, he decided to start up his own practice- B and B Partnership LTD in 1996 and have handled projects of varying sizes and complexities.
In 1997 he was called to contribute to national development by serving as a Senior Consultant and Head of Project Preparation unit on the Petroleum (Specialist) Trust Fund programme in Afri-projects Consortium when they handled the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund.
In Between the years, he has also been a part-time lecturer in Surveying Department and lectured various courses in Quantity Surveying at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria for 13 years without receiving payment in any form.
He has also worked for the Adamawa State Government (July, 2007 to October 2008) as senior special assistant on due process and later chairman state planning commission. He was also the Commissioner works; housing and urban development and also that of mineral resources development in 2014.
Ahmad is a member of various other professional bodies like fellow, Nigerian Society of Quantity Surveyors, the Society of Construction Industry Arbitrators (MSCIArb); Institute of Directors (Nigeria) (MInstD); National Geography Society, Netherlands (MNGS); Project Management Institute (APMI) to mention but a few.
He is currently the industry based external examiner to Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and is married with three children. His hobbies include teaching, reading and rural travels.