Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris – Biography, Early Life, Achievements
Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris FCA is a Nigerian government official and diplomat serving as the Commissioner of Finance since 2016 till date. He previously served as the Special Adviser on Finance Economy, Commerce and Investment to the Governor of Kogi State in January 2016 under Governor Yahaya Bello.
Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris was appointed Special Adviser on Finance Economy, Commerce and Investment to the Governor of Kogi State in January, 2016 and later the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development where he served the State diligently from February, 2016 to November, 2019 under the New Direction Administration.
As the Commissioner of Finance, he had a key role in spearheading several financial reforms which helped in stabilizing the finances of the State. After a stellar performance over a period of four (4) years and gaining the confidence of his Principal His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello the Executive Governor of Kogi State, he was reappointed as Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning in January 2020 a position he held till date.
Early life and Education
Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris was born on December 11, 1975, in Isanlu, Yagba East LGA, to Asiru Ijagbemi and Hajia Hawawu Ijagbemi. His father was a farmer and his mother is a trader, and the iyaoloja of Bagido in Isanlu. He attended Bagido primary school Isanlu, and St. Kizitos College, Isanlu where he had his Secondary School Certification.
He proceeded to College of Education, Oro in Kwara State where he obtained Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics/Mathematics. He also attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he majored in Accounting and graduated as one of the best Students in his year group with a Second Class Upper Division. He is a Master’s Degree Holder of Accounting from the Kogi State University, Ayingba.
Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris is a Professional Chartered Accountant, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria and also fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. He is also a registered student member of Chartered Financial Analyst and a student member of Chartered Institute of Stock Broker. He has over 10 years experience in Accounting, Financial Management and Administration.
Early career
Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris started as an Executive Assistant, Head teller in Zenith bank where he ensured that customers enquiry are promptly and professionally attended to within the stipulated turnaround time. By 2006 he became the Senior Executive Assistant, Vault Administration/Cash Officer with the same bank where he handled liquidity management of the bank cash position and ensure adequate utilization of both material and human resources under his control. He was later promoted to become the Assistant Bank Officer, Head Administration, where he was responsible for the procurement of the branch needs, adopting best procurement policies and organize training for Human Capital Development of the staff.
Between 2007 and 2009 he was appointed as a banking officer, Head Retail and Commercial Banking Group where he managed pricing of various products particularly, Credit, Cash and Trade products in order to maximize profitability and earnings while remaining competitive in the market. He was also responsible for deal origination and development of new and innovative businesses. All of these was crowned by increased in the balance sheet size of the group by over $35million in the financial year 2008/2009 as a result of his creativity.
Asiwaju was promoted to Assistant Manager, Head Corporate Banking Group where he managed the bank’s relationship with assigned companies with turnover in excess of $30million.
He was also responsible for managing risk asset of about $10million for major national companies. In 2015, he became the Manager, Branch Head, Zenith Bank Plc, Obajana branch, where he effectively managed the branch resources to achieve the organization goal within the shortest time.
Civil Career
The sterling performances of Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris in Zenith Bank attracted him to the likes of Governor Yahaya Bello who appointed him as the Special Adviser on Finance and Economic Management in 2016. This gave him an ample opportunity to serve as an acting Commissioner of Finance and supervise the activities of the State’s Ministry of Finance.
During his appointment By His Excellency Governor Yahaya Bello, as the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, the Ministry recorded the following milestones;
The Economic and Investment Management Team was established and saddled with the responsibility to interact and brainstorm with investors in other to arrive at theist investment for the State. He was able to attract quite a number of investment which are now physically functional in the State and has positively boosted the economy.
Based on experience, he institutionalize quality financial reporting system based on standard chart of account for Kogi State through the Single Treasury Account (TSA) which serves as an effective tool in checkmating fraud in management of public funds.
he ministry of finance in compliance with Federal Government policies and most of the World Bank objectives for reforms successfully establish projects to institutionalize quality financial reporting system based on standard chart of account for Kogi State under his tenure.
Asiwaju also engendered a financial re-engineering which has helped in plugging financial loopholes, aid prudency in the system and provide value for money at every instance of project and program execution. Under his stewardship as the Chairman of World Bank State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability program (SFTAS), which its premium objective is to improve transparency, accountability, quality in public finance management, human resources management, achieve increase value for money, better service delivery to citizens.
This made Kogi State 1st among the 36 States of the Federation for the 2019 fiscal year.
Asiwaju through the mandate of Governor Yahaya Bello championed the process of restructuring the State Government Bond to extend and spread the repayment process to a longer tenor in order to ease the burden on the State’s monthly allocation. The Ministry of Finance facilitated the passage into Law the State Fiscal Responsibility Bill which streamlines procedures for the management and control of public finance.
Appointed as the Interim Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), the management of the Agency was restructured into eleven 11 directorates for adequate control for effective and efficient service delivery.
He also worked with the World Bank on Public Governance Reform and Development Project (PSGRDP) to address weaknesses in Public Finance Management (PFM) systems and negotiated on behalf of the State Government Bond to extend and spread the repayment process to a longer tenor in order to ease the burden on the State’s monthly allocation and was able to keep the debt indices of Kogi State, both foreign and local, drastically low despite constraints of Global recession, Covid-19 plague and high inflation.
Due to his diligence and result-driven agenda, he was appointed a member of the Ajaokuta Presidential Project Implementation Team by the Federal Government in May 2020 by the recommendation of his principal, Governor Yahaya Bello.
He served in the capacity of the Alternate Chairman of the Kogi State Economic Management Team and also Chaired the Forum of Commissioners of Finance of Nigeria and Kogi State Forum of Commissioners at different times.
As a way of a futuristic plan for the State’s economic growth and development, He introduced the 32 years Kogi State Strategic Development Plan which is to further build on the ongoing growth and economic of the State.
Asiwaju possesses leadership qualities that has made him outstanding, dependable in the discharge of his duties. He is a diplomatic leader committed, dedicated, result-driven who has shown absolute transparency, prudency, accountability and leadership skills during his role as the Commissioner of Finance Kogi State.
He has spent the last 7 years in the public sector as a member of the cabinet to the Government of Kogi saddle with the responsibility to steer the Economic affairs of Kogi State, a very critical sector of the State.
During his time as the Commissioner, he was appointed to head several Boards and Committees including a number of World Bank Assisted Developmental Programs Committee. He was also appointed as the chairman of Economic Management Team from 2016-2022.
Marital and Personal life
Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris is married to Rukayat Asiru Idris and their marriage is blessed with three (3) children. Asiwaju is fluent in English and his native language. He is a tennis player, a reader, a footballer and likes travelling by way of his hobbies.
COMMITTEES HEADED BY MUKADAM ASIWAJU IDRIS
- Appointment as Chairman of Asset Recovery Committee
- Appointment as Chairman, Committee to Assess the Level of Destruction in Kogi State in the aftermath of ENDSARS Protest in Nigeria.
- Appointment as Chairman Steering Committee for the Coordination of all Local and Foreign funded Projects/Programmes in the State.
- Appointment as Member, Implementation Committee of the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara
- Appointment as Member of Adhoc Committee for the Successful Implementation of the Ohono Truck Transit Park Project
- Appointment as Alternate Chairman, Kogi State Livestock Transformation Plan Steering Committee
- Appointment as Chairman, Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) Interim Management Committee
- Nomination as Co-Chair, State Steering Committee on Kogi State Open Government Partnership (OGP)
- Appointment as State Focal Person, Kogi State Enabling Business Environment Council (SEBEC)
ASSOCIATIONS HE IDENTIFIED WITH
- Synergy Investment Club, Lokoja
- President, Isanlu Professional Association of Nigeria
- Chairman Zumratul Islamiyah Youth Association of Nigeria, Kaduna
AWRADS AND PRIZES
- Overall Best 100 Level Accounting Student, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 1996
- Overall Best 200 Level Accounting Student, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 1997
- MD/CEO letter of commendation for Team Player, Zenith Bank Plc, 2002
- MD/CEO award for the best operational efficiency cash officer in the North, Zenith Bank Plc, 2006.
