Ndume Mohammed Ali

Mohammed Ali Ndume (born 20 November 1959) is a Nigerian politician who has served as the senator representing Borno South Senatorial District since 2011. He is currently a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mohammed Ali Ndume was born in Gwoza Town of Borno State. He attended Gadamayo Primary School in Gwoza and completed it in 1972. He proceeded to Comprehensive Secondary School Mubi in then Gongola (now Adamawa State) from 1973 to 1978, obtaining his Secondary School Certificate and WASC. He was recognized for leadership early, becoming Junior House Captain and later House Captain in his final year. He consistently ranked first in his class at Comprehensive Secondary School Mubi.

After secondary school, he studied Marketing at Kaduna Polytechnic, earning an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in 1980 and a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing in 1982 with an upper credit level. He completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Federal Polytechnic Ilaro in Ogun State between 1982 and 1983.

In 1983, he joined Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri as a lecturer, rising to the rank of Senior Lecturer. In 1988, he was awarded a USAID Post-Graduate Scholarship to study Business and Computer Education at the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA, graduating with a B.Ed and M.Ed in 1990 and earning Magna Cum Laude academic honors. He was also admitted to Phi Kappa Phi academic society for outstanding performance.

Upon returning to Nigeria, he continued his teaching career at Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri until 2003. He was elected to represent Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the ANPP platform from 2003 to 2011. He became the Minority Leader in 2007. In December 2010, he defected to the PDP, citing injustices within the ANPP, and won the 2011 Senate election for Borno South, securing 146,403 votes.

Ndume has been a key figure in the Senate, serving as Chairman of the MDGs Committee. His political alignments led to his defection from ANPP to CPC, then APC. He was Senate Majority Leader from 2015 to 2017 but was impeached by APC Senators in 2017. He later became the Chief Whip of the 10th Senate in 2023 but was removed on 17 July 2024 due to an APC national chairman’s letter.

As a senator, Ndume has championed numerous constituency projects, including the construction of classrooms, health care centers, electrification, motorized boreholes, and job opportunities across Borno South’s nine local government areas. He has drilled twenty boreholes and donated tractors to each LGA. In 2023, he facilitated 100 houses in Gwoza LGA. Governor Babagana Zulum commended him for his efforts.

Ndume has received numerous awards, including the USAID Award, Dreams African Leadership Excellence Award, Diplomatic Award for Iconic Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, and Ambassador Award. He has also been recognized for his parliamentary leadership and media awards. His wife is Justice Aisha Ndume, and he is blessed with 15 children.