GABRIEL SUSWAN - GOVERNOR OF BENUE STATE
Governor Gabriel Suswan was born on November 15, 1964 at Anyiin, in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. He had his primary education at NKST Primary School in Zaki Biam, Benue State between 1971 & 1977 and after a brief stint at St. Andrew’s Secondary School, Adikpo was admitted into Government College, Markurdi where he completed his secondary education in 1982.
After two years at the School of Basic Studies, Makurdi between 1982 and 1984, he was admitted into the law faculty of the University of Lagos in 1986 and graduated with an LL.B (Hons) in 1989. After the mandatory one year at the Nigerian Law School in Lagos, he obtained his BL Certificate and was called to the Bar in 1990, after which he did his one-year National Service at Trendex Finance Firm in Lagos from 1990 to 1991.
Not yet done with his search for knowledge, he took two Masters Degrees – one from the University of Jos and another in Public Administration from University of Abuja. He also spared time to obtain Certificates in Management from the University of Lagos, Nigeria; Good Governance from Harvard University and Public Finance from Duke University, both in the United States of America.
Gabriel Suswan began cutting his legal teeth at Tokode & Co, a corporate legal firm in Lagos between 1991 and 1994 before establishing his Tingir & Associates Law firm in the same city. Between 1995 and 1997 Tingir & Associates metamorphosed into a fledgling law firm engaged in legal practice and consultancy. He subsequently relocated to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
It was in Abuja that Hon. Suswan partnered with a colleague to float SUSWAN OGBOLE & CO., another law firm. While practising in the Federal Capital, he succumbed to mounting pressure from his constituency to contest the House of Representatives seat to represent Katsina-Ala Logo and Ukum Federal Constituency at the National Assembly. He contested and won the election in 1999 under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party. During his first term (1999 – 2003) he was Chairman of two Committees, House Services Committee (1999 – 2001) and House Committee on FCT (2003). In 2003, he was again re-elected into the House of Representatives.
After two terms of 4 years each at the House, he aimed high and shot high by contesting the governorship of Benue which he won. Since his accession to power, he has been guided by the economic blueprint tagged, “Our Benue, Our Future” crafted by eighteen wise fellows which he commissioned.
The governance focus, which is in line with the blueprint, is to eradicate poverty and ensure prudent management of resources. Towards this end, Governor Suswan has reduced the number of ministries from 17 to 13, appointed 13 Commissioners to run the ministries and 17 Special Advisers. He has also created a new ministry of rural development and cooperatives and introduced a micro-credit scheme to boost rural economy and reduce pressure on the state’s economy.
These are steps in the right direction for Benue State tagged “Food Basket of the Nation” in its bid to further develop agriculture and transform the rural areas into centres of development.
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