Dauda Lawal, a prominent banker and politician, emerged as the governor of Zamfara State under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 Nigerian gubernatorial elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Lawal the winner of the election after he polled 377,726 votes to defeat Bello Matwalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 311,976 votes.
Here are 6 things you need to know about him:
- Early life: Dauda Lawal was born on September 2, 1965, into a family renowned in the textile industry in Gusau, Zamfara State.
- Educational background: Lawal earned his B.Sc. in political science from Ahmadu Bello University in 1987, his M.Sc. in political science/international relations in 1992, and a PhD in business administration from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He has also taken courses at prestigious universities such as the London School of Economics, Harvard Business School, Oxford University Business School, and Lagos Business School.
- Professional career: Lawal began his career in 1989 as a political education officer with the Agency for Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reliance Nigeria. He later joined Westex Nigeria Limited as an assistant general manager before serving as an assistant consular officer and chief protocol officer at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, D.C. He joined First Bank of Nigeria Plc in May 2003 and served in various capacities, including executive vice president and executive director of the public sector north.
- Banking career: Lawal is an established leader in the Nigerian banking industry and a key player in the financial sector of the Nigerian economy.
- Political career: Lawal ran for the office of the governor of Zamfara State in the APC primary election held in 2018 but lost to Mukhtar Shehu Idris. He ran again in the PDP primary in 2022 and was nominated the party’s flag bearer. In March 2023, he defeated incumbent Bello Matawalle to be elected governor of Zamfara State.
- Business acumen: Lawal’s experience in the banking industry has given him a strong business acumen, which he intends to apply to his new role as governor.
