Abdulfatah Ahmed

Abdulfatah Ahmed, born on 29 December 1963 in Share, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, is a former banker turned politician.

He attended Government College Funtua (1973–1978) and the School of Basic Studies at Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin (1978–1980), later earning a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Ilorin (1986). He also obtained an MBA in 1992.

Ahmed worked as a lecturer in Organic Chemistry and Acting Head of Department at Federal College of Arts and Science, Sokoto (1986–1990), before transitioning to banking. He served as Assistant Manager at District Savings and Loans, Lagos (1991–1993) and later joined Guaranty Trust Bank in the Credit and Marketing Unit.

In 1998, he moved to Societe Generale Bank Nigeria as Senior Manager/Group Head of Consumer Banking before taking on public sector roles. He became Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development under Governor Bukola Saraki’s administration (2003–2009), later serving in the newly created Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.

During his tenure, Ahmed chaired key committees like the Budget Formulation Committee and Economic Team of Kwara State. He was also Treasurer of Nigeria’s Forum of Commissioners of Finance for six years and chairman of Shonga Farms Holdings Ltd.

Ahmed first ran in the PDP primaries in 2011, winning 695 votes against rivals Bashir Omoloja Bolarinwa (39) and Alhaji Yekinni Alabi (9). In the April 2011 elections, he secured 254,969 votes, defeating Dele Belgore of ACN with 152,580.

He later defected from APC shortly after Bukola Saraki’s resignation in July 2018. His political career took a turn when he was arrested in December 2020 for alleged involvement in a ₦2 billion fraud linked to his wife’s activities. A second detention followed in May 2021 over allegations of diverting ₦9 billion from Kwara State government funds during his tenure as Governor and Finance Commissioner.

As governor (2011–2019), Ahmed implemented programs like the Shared Prosperity agenda, which included job creation, infrastructure development, and social welfare. He launched initiatives such as KWABES for unemployed graduates and IF-K to fund high-value projects, including roads, schools, and hospitals.

His administration expanded access to education by constructing 400 classroom blocks, introducing free tuition and notebooks at senior secondary level, and reducing tuition fees for Kwara State University (KWASU) students by 30%. He also started an N800 million Engineering complex for KWASU.

Post-government, Ahmed returned to banking as Managing Director of First City Monument Bank. A judicial inquiry accused him of selling state assets at low prices and mismanagement, recommending prosecution alongside Bukola Saraki.