Yahaya Bello is the current Governor of Kogi State, he was born on 18th of 1June 1975 in Agassa, Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State to the family of Alhaji Bello Ipemida Ochi and Hajia Hawa Bello Oziohu. He is the last of six siblings.
He started his education in 1984 in LGEA Primary School, Agassa In Okene LGA where he obtained his FLSC. In 1994 he obtained his SSCE from Government Secondary School, Suleja-Niger State, He immediately enrolled for ‘A’ level exams in Kaduna State Polytechnic Zaria in 1995 and proceeded to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria in 1996 to study Accounting. He graduated in 1999.
His unquenchable thirst for higher education took him back to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria for Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2002. He bagged the degree in 2004. Whilst pursuing his Masters he also enrolled for professional certification with the Association of National Accountant of Nigeria (ANAN) at Jos (2002) and became a chattered fellow of ANAN in 2004.
He started working in 2001 when he was posted to Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for his NYSC mandatory service to his fatherland. He distinguished himself during the course of the service and was offered an appointment in the same office as Revenue Officer II. His hard work singled him out for promotion to accountant in a very short period. He was later transferred to head the Makurdi Zonal office Account Department. He has worked in various departments in the office and has risen to the post of Assistant Chief Accountant. It is worthy of note to state that Alhaji Yahaya Bello has served meritoriously and contributed his quota to the development of his father land. Alhaji Yahaya Bello is married with children.
Applying his entrepreneurial skills, Alhaji Yahaya Bello mastered the art of informed stock trading and had a financial breakthrough right before the crash of the stock market. His stock portfolio investments cut across the oil and gas, finance, transportation, and agro related sectors.
He is an astute business man and the Managing Director of FairPlus International Ltd and also the Director of Kogi Youth Arise Forum.
It is worthy to note that his various businesses helped facilitate job opportunities for a number of unemployed graduates and youth particularly Kogi State indigenes.
Alhaji Yahaya Bello is a philanthropist per excellence. He currently funds three orphanage homes and sponsors hundreds of Kogi State undergraduates in various higher institutions both within and outside the country. His strong drive for community development inspired him to invest in various community projects.
He began his political journey by joining other progressive young men and women to form Kogi Youth Arise Group. This group threw its weight behind the candidature of Buhari/Osinbajo in the last presidential election. This group was also responsible for mobilizing youths across the 239 wards in the State in support of President Buhari.
With the teeming support from youths across the state for one of their own to lead Kogi into a brighter future, he presented himself to vie for the position of Governor in the gubernatorial election of 2015 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). His mandate however came about after the death of Audu Abubakar, the winner of the 2015 Governorship elections who died of a heart attack shortly after the declaration of the election results announcing him the winner.
He loves reading, traveling, driving, soccer and boxing.
