Kogi is a state blessed with so many great personalities across all spheres of endeavor. From sports to politics, from entertainment to technology, from academics to religion, we have got men and women who have done or are doing exceptionally well.
As the story of every state can not be separated from the biography of its people and their respective contributions, we can’t describe how we have managed to come this far as a people without mentioning certain names and their remarkable achievements that have, in one way or the other, put the confluence state on the spotlight.
These people have successfully left their footprints on the sands of time, with their names etched on the plague of hearts of Kogites. In this Book of Records, we have been able to document as much information at our disposal about every single person worthy to be named an illustrious son/daughter of Kogi.
For sure, history will remember everyone in this book for good. The names here are not in any particular order. Without much ado, I present you with our first 3 personalities;
*Halima Abubakar
Actress/Entrepreneur
Basically, Halima Abubakar has contributed immensely in shaping the Kogi State Movie industry with her few appearances on indigenous and sponsorship. She was said to have helped some indigenous entertainers find a soft landing in NOLLYWOOD which is the third largest movie industry in the world.
Halima who has put Kogi on a sport light through her outstanding performances in the Nigerian movie industry was born on the 12th of June, 1985 in Kano State, Nigeria. She had her primary and secondary education Kano State, before proceeding to Bayero University, Kano where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
Halima Abubakar’s first step into stardom in 2001, when she got a minor role in the film ‘Rejected’. This was shortly after she joined the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood) and began attending auditions.
After gaining a little fame from the first movie, she got another opportunity to feature in ‘Gangster Paradise’, and it became her first major role in a Nollywood movie. After this, she became a centre of attention and has since then, featured in more than 20 movies.
Halima Abubakar has been featured in over 100 Nollywood movies. Some of them include:
• Slip of Fate
• Gangster Paradise
• Men in Love (film)
• Tears of a Child
• Secret Shadows
• Area Mama
Halima Abubakar Awards And Nominations
Halima Abubakar has earned a number of awards and nominations including:
• Actors Guild Icons Award
• Global Leadership Award
• Kogi state Youth Ambassador
• Afro Hollywood Best Actress Award
• Best Actress Award at City People Entertainment Awards
• Best Actress Award at the Eminent Awards
Halima is no doubt one of the richest and most influential Nigerian actresses. She is the CEO of Modehouse Entertainment, a music label and entertainment management company. She is also a receipent of a good number of awards in the Nigerian entertainment industry. According to Googlenaija.com, Halima Abubakar has an estimated net worth of $800,000.
*Alhaji Yahaya Bello
Politician/Entrepreneur
No doubt, Yahaya Bello who is currently the governor of Kogi state is leaving his name etched on the plague of hearts of the Kogites with his achievements as a young man and his contribution to the development of the state.
Bello was born June 18, 1975 in Okene, Kogi State and attended LGEA Primary School, Agassa in same Okene LGA beginning in 1984. He was named as a class prefect of class two and was made the school Head Boy in class six. He proceeded to Agassa Community Secondary School, Anyava, Agassa-Okene and obtained his JSSCE and SSCE certificates from Government Secondary School, Suleja-Niger State in 1994.
Bello studied at Kaduna State Polytechnic Zaria in 1995 and obtained an accounting degree from Ahmadu Bello University ABU Zaria in 1999. Yahaya Bello further enrolled for a Masters program in Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria where he obtained Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in 2002.
In 2004, Bello became a chartered fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.
According to online resource, Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s working career started 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 then grew and expanded his real estate investments expanding into a number of states in the country.
Bello’s noticeable contribution to the development of Kogi State as a governor includes; the rehabilitation Ankpa township road, Ibana-Ogugu Road, inter roads within Okene, rehabilitation of Lokoja Township Roundabout, NUJ Building, Ejiba Rice Mill, The Kogi Revenue House, Ejule-IDAH Road that connects all of Igala LGAs to their traditional HQ. The first ever Government House Chapel and others.
He also initiated the current Erosion control works in Dekina, OGUGU- Olamaboro and Okene
*Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan
Civil Servant
Dr. Folashade Yemi Esan who is the Head of Service of the Federation has helped scores of Kogites in securing jobs to eke out a living. No doubt, she is one woman history will not forget in a haste.
Folashade Yemi-Esan was born in Kaduna State, Nigeria. She is from Ikoyi, Ijumu, Kogi State. She had her primary school education at Bishop Smith School, Ilorin and preceded to Federal Government College, Ilorin for her secondary school education. She went to University of Ibadan, where she graduated in 1987 as the best dental surgery student. She later got a certificate in health planning and management, before obtaining a master’s degree in public and international administration.
Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan graduated as best Bachelor of Dental Surgery student in 1987 at the University of Ibadan and started her career at the Federal Ministry of Health and rose to become a director.
She rose to the position of Federal Permanent Secretary in 2012, serving first as Permanent Secretary, Service Policy and Strategy, Office in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
She has also served as Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
She was Director Information in the State House Abuja from 2012 to 2014 and the Information Attach’e in the Nigeria Information Service Centre, Embassy of Nigeria, Abijdan, Cote d’ Ivoire from 1992 to 1995.
In the next episode, I shall present you with;
Onoja Integrity Joseph
Kogi Born Social Commentator,
Written from Abuja