Jun

03

2023

HIS EXCELLENCY ARC. AHMED MUSA DANGIWA

THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa is a highly accomplished administrator with a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years in administration, real estate, mortgage financing, and housing development. His expertise covers both the private and public sectors, as well as academia.

Prior to his appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Arc. Dangiwa was the Secretary to the State Government of Katsina.
Before then, Arc. Dangiwa served as the MD/CEO of FMBN (Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria), where he spearheaded transformative reforms that revitalized the institution. Under his leadership, the bank experienced an unprecedented increase in affordable, single digit mortgage loan disbursement by over N175 billion within a five-year period helping thousands of Nigerians to own their homes. Additionally, he oversaw the unmatched development of over 13,500 affordable housing units. His stellar performance increased affordable housing stock, increased transparency in the operations of the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme and fostered stakeholder confidence in the bank's operations. 

Before his remarkable work at FMBN, Arc. Dangiwa was the Managing Partner at AM Design Consults, a renowned architectural and real estate development consultancy firm. He was also the Managing Partner of Jarlo International Nig. Ltd, a Construction Company, where he successfully delivered numerous notable real estate projects across the country.

Arc. Dangiwa commenced his professional career at TRIAD Associates, a reputable architectural firm based in Kaduna. His exceptional work ethic, dedication, and resourcefulness led to rapid promotions. He moved from Pupil Architect to Principal Architect, Senior Architect, and eventually Associate Partner within a short span of time.

Furthermore, Arc. Dangiwa worked at Sahel Mortgage Finance Bank Limited, progressing from a Property Manager to leading the Credit Control Unit and ultimately becoming the Manager of the Mortgage Banking Division.

In 1988, Arc. Dangiwa also contributed his expertise as a Consulting Architect at Katsina State Polytechnic. He is a distinguished Fellow of several esteemed professional organizations, including the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Risk Managers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN), Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria (FICEN), Institute of Credit Administration (ICA), Institute of Strategic Customer Service & Trade Management (ICSTM), and Chartered Institute of Loan & Risk Management of Nigeria (CILRM). Additionally, he holds an Associate Membership with the American Institute of Architects (AAIA).

Arc. Dangiwa holds an MSc. (Arc) and an MBA from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in addition to a bachelor's Honors degree in Architecture from the same institution. He is an alumnus of the prestigious Wharton University Pennsylvania.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Arc. Dangiwa enjoys traveling, engaging in intellectual pursuits, and photography. He is happily married and blessed with children.

Jun

02

2023

HIS EXCELLENCY ABDULLAHI TIJJANI GWARZO

THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

His Excellency Engr. (Dr.) Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, was born on the 23rd of September, 1960, at Koyar Getso, in the Old Gwarzo Local Government area of Kano state. He started his early primary education at the famous Gwarzo day primary school, where he completed his primary education and obtained a primary school leaving certificate in the year 1977. Abdullahi Gwarzo, then proceeded to one of the Kano state science education project secondary schools at Dawakin-Kudu, in the year 1982, he  completed his secondary school education, upon which he obtained the senior secondary certificate. 

Intermittently, owing to the strategic location of Gwarzo in the economic and farming activities in a area that borders Funtua, Malumfashi, and Makarfi in the Old Kaduna State, before proceeding to the university, the young industrious Abdullahi, was engaged in farming and trading activities, through which he made significant savings for the consolidation of his greater vision of attaining a university education. It was against the above backdrop, that he got admitted into the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, where he studied Textile Engineering, and was awarded a Bachelors of Science (Tech) degree, in the year 1988. Between 1988 and 1989, he was posted to the Old Bendel state, to serve his country in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps((NYSC) scheme. At Asaba, he was posted to the Asaba Textile, where he worked and thereby, acquiring significant practical experience in his field of study. 

Consequently, upon the completion of the NYSC scheme in 1989, then educated Abdullahi Gwarzo, returned home, and joined the political activities of the third republic, where he pitched his tent with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). After rigorous and exhaustive electioneering process, in 1991, with the moral support from Dr. Musa Umar (his late brother) of blessed memory, and the far reaching goodwill, he enjoyed from the majority of the voting populace, he contested the Chairmanship of Gwarzo local government council, and emerged victorious, serving between 1991-1993. Ushering in what would be a successful political career, that would last for thirty two years, and still counting, in which he has served as the Executive chairman of Gwarzo Local Government Council, between 1997-1998 (NCPN), 2004-2007 (ANPP) during which he served as the State ALGON Chairman, and as well a caretaker chairman between 2003-2004(ANPP). He was appointed as the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Kano state on special duties, in the year 2007. As the saying goes, Luck favors the hardworking, in the year 2007, while he was working towards securing  the ticket of his party to contest the Gwarzo/Kabo Federal constituency, he was overwhelmingly drafted to partner His Excellency Malam Ibrahim Shekarau on the ANPP ticket, as the Deputy Governorship candidate in the 2007 elections. Following the victory at the polls, he became the Deputy Governor of Kano state, a position he held until 2011. While serving as the Deputy Governor of Kano state, he was assigned to supervise the state ministry for water resources, where he superintended the construction of a 75,000,000 liters per day, Watari water works, and the reticulation of the greater Kano water project, which earned him the mantra ‘RUWA BABA’. He also led the state Muslim contingent as the  Amirul-hajj, to the 2007 Hajj, in Makka, Saudi Arabia. At the tail end of the administration, he defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), where he contested as the party's Gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 governorship election, which he lost. 

His Excellency, Engr. (Dr.)Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, the loyal party man he is, has served his party in various capacity, first, as the pioneer interim chairman of the All-Progressives Congress in Kano State between (2013-2014), as  a Pioneer BOT Member, and at various times heading strategic party committees. By his altruistic instinct, he  founded the ATM GWARZO FOUNDATION, a philanthropic organization that caters for the less privileged and downtrodden. He was a recipient of several honors, awards and fellowships, prominent among which, were, Merit Award by Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees ( NULGE)  Kano State Chapter  (2005), an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public policy and management, awarded by the IHERIS UNIVERSITY TOGO, and the fellowship of the Textile Researchers Association of Nigeria (FTRAN). He has served as the Chairman, Governing council of the Federal College of Education, Zaria, between April 2021-June 2023. His Excellency (Dr.) Abdullahi  Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo FTRAN, is currently the honourable minister of state for Housing and Urban Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a public servant, with unblemished record of service, in a carrier that spans over three decades,  and a farmer. He is happily married,  and blessed with children. His hobbies include, reading, travelling, as well as political and developmental discussions.

May

29

2023

Dr. Marcus Olaniyi OGUNBIYI (PERMANENT SECRETARY)

PERMANENT SECRETARY FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Marcus Olaniyi OGUNBIYI, a seasoned and registered Agricultural Engineer started his career in the Federal Civil Service of Nigeria in 1993 as Agricultural Engineer I. He was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and worked extensively on the development and construction of on-farm crop storage and processing structures for grains, fruits and vegetables, fish and fish products between 1993 and 2008 and rose to the position of Chief Agricultural Engineer. Between 2008 and 2011, he worked in the Agro Processing and Marketing Department of National Food Reserve Agency, NFRA, and later in the Agribusiness and Market Development Department of the Ministry where he rose and attained the position of Director, Engineering in January 2018.

Dr. Ogunbiyi studied Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria and graduated with a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in 1988. He also obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc) degree in Agricultural Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria in 1992; Master of Agriculture (M.Agric) degree in Agro Bioresources Sciences and Technology from the University of Tsukuba, Japan in 2011 and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Crop Storage and Processing from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria in 2019.

Dr. Ogunbiyi attended several courses in agriculture and agricultural development among which Sustainable Rural Development Internship programme at Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand in 2011; short course on Lost Harvest and wasted Food at Wageningen University and Research (WUR), The Netherlands in 2018 and India-Africa Forum Summit III on Processing Machineries, Product Diversification and Entrepreneurship Development in Yuber Crops at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India 2018. 

Dr. Ogunbiyi has successfully worked in various capacities and undertook many assignments in the course of his career at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. He played very active roles in the successful executuion of the FGN/UNDP Project NIR/92/014 “Strengthen Post Harvest Food Loss Prevention” implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) from 1993-1996. He was the Focal Officer for the Establishment of 10 Nos. 30,000 tonnes capacity Integrated Large Scales Rice Processing Plants being executed by FMARD. Dr Ogunbiyi was also a Task force Member, ECOWAS Regional Offensive for Sustained Revitalization of Rice Production in West Africa, 2013-2015. He was also until his appointment as Permanent Secretary, the Country Focal Person, Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI). He is a Fellow Nigerian Institute of Agricultural Engineers (FNIAE), Fellow Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and he is registered with the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)