Umar Nasco 2015

PROFILE OF ALHAJI UMAR MUHAMMED NASKO, FCIDA, FCIPA
(JARMAN KONTAGORA)

Born 39 years ago, on 13th March, 1975, at Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Alhaji Umar Muhammed Nasko is a Native of Magama Local Government Area of Niger State.

He received his early education at Command Children’s School Ann Barracks Yaba, Lagos from 1980 to 1985 during which period he showed signs of great appetite for education and training.

During his secondary education at the Nigerian Millitary School, Zaria, Kaduna State, Umar Muhammed Nasko performed very well academically and this impressed his Teachers who saw a bright future in him with a tertiary education.

Immediately after his Secondary Education, he was enrolled for the 43rd Regular Combatant Course at the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, he however opted out as fate had decided. After leaving the NDA, he gained admission into the University of Jos, Plateau State, and between 1991 and 1992 he had the University’s matriculation. But due to incessant strike actions, he left for the University of Abuja in 1993 where he undertook a course in Computer Basic Programming And Disk Operating System. At the end of his studies, he was awarded the University of Abuja’s Certificates in Computer Basic Programming and Disk Operating System. Immediately after this course, he gained another admission in 1993 into the Remedial School of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger State. After successfully completing his remedial course in 1995, he was offered Admission to read Agricultural Science in FUT, Minna but he however, decided to proceed to the University of Lodz in Poland an admission which came simultaneously with that of the FUT, Minna.

Alhaji Umar M. Nasko also undertook some courses in Polish Language Sciences at the University of Lodz Poland in 1996. His other qualifications include Masters Degree in Political Sciences obtained from Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland in 2001 and a Mashav Institute Certificate in Citrus and Mango Farming obtained in the year 2004.

Alhaji Umar Muhammed Nasko worked at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja in the 311’s Air Defence Artillery Detachment in the year 1990 as Sky Guard before proceeding to the United Nations Human Rights Office Krakow, Poland in 1999 as a volunteer where he served till 2001.

Between 2001 and 2002, Allhaji Umar M. Nasko served in the capacity of Assistant Secretary , Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes before joining Fathibro Ventures Nigeria Limited, Abuja as Project Manager.

As a high flying Administrator, Nasko rendered efficient and satisfactory services where ever he was called upon to serve. Perhaps, this accounts for his appointment as Managing Director of Madae & Sons Limited, Nasko, Niger State in 2003, a position he held till 2005.

Young and talented Umar Nasko has served on various Boards and Committees where he contributed his own quota to the progress of the work assigned to the Committees. He was a member of the Transition Committee in Niger State; Member, Niger State Government Committee on Public Private Partnership 2007; Chairman, Vehicle Verification Committee in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Niger State; Member of the Technical Committee on harmonization of Niger State Action Plan in the State Government, Chairman, Local organizing Committee for the 2009 National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST), Member of the Niger State Executive Council in his official capacity as the Honourable Commissioner of Tourism and Culture, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Ministry of Youth Development, Special Adviser on Tourism Matters, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Parks, gardens and Forest Resources and currently serving as the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Niger State,

His contribution to Tourism Development, infrastructural Development youth empowerment and environmental protection is beyond explanation and imagination. Tourism received its greatest boost during his reign till date. Today the State is still recognized with its colourful Sallah Durbar, and Carnival which attracts both Local and International Tourists to the State yearly.

In the same vein, some of the annual cultural Festivals organized by Local governments such as the Gani Cultural Festival, Kutigi in Lavun Local Government Area, Ebiko Fishing Festival, Nuwokota in Gbako Local Government have been brought into more lime light and expected to be raised to international standard in the near future.

All the abandoned tourist sites like the famous Zuma Rock, Gurara Water Falls, Zungeru Colonial Ruins were renovated.

Fondly described by many as sarkin Aiki, the Chief Servant had no choice but to appoint him as the overseing Commissioner of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural development.

Some of his major achievements as Commissioner of Transport and Infrastructural Development included renovation of Five roads in Minna Metropolis, construction of Lumma-Umma Road, Batati-Dabban Road, Kutigi-Fazhi Road, Bonu-Gurara, Mokwa-Raba/General Hospital Access Road, supervision of High Court Buildings at Kuta, Kutigi and Rijau, Minna Judicial Service Commission, Construction of access road to Fuel Dump at Minna International Airport.

Owing to his excellent performances, he has attracted Merit Awards from the Media, Academic Institutions and other Organizations, these include: Honourary Doctor of Public Administration by the Atlantic International University, United States of America; Development Merit Award for Excellence by African Age International Magazine, 2007; Distinguished Nigerian Award for Excellence by Time News Magazine, 2007; Distinguished Honour of the Great Achievers Gold Award for Africans, 2007; The Most Resourceful Public Figure of the Year Award, 2008 by NANISS, Africa Success Award in Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Co-operatives by Africa Certified Institute of Public Administrators (CIPA), Republic of Ghana, 13th February, 2008; Great Achievers Gold Award for Africans 2008 by the Bold News Africa; Fellowship Award by the Institute of Co-operative Professionals of Nigeria 2008; Certificate of Infrastructure in a Marketing Economy, Harvard University, 2008; National Quality Commerce, Industries and Tourism Commissioner of the Year 2008 by the Quality Management Development Institute, Lagos; Youth Ambassador in the North Central 2008 by the National Youth Council of Nigeria North Central (NYCN), Outstanding Great African Patriotic Achiever’s Gold Award 2008; Outstanding Leaders Gold Award 2008 by News in Africa; Real Nation Builders Gold Award (RNBGA) 2009 by Realmac; Special Merit Award, 2009 by the Nigerian Who is Who in Management Intelligence; Award of Excellencence by the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Zone “C” Niger State, to mention a few.

He has also obtained Certificates in various fields of endeavour such as Certificate on Benchmarking Emerging Markets, Singapore, 2008; Certificate of Participation in the 2nd Presidential Strategic Leadership and Governance Retreat at the University of Warwick United Kingdom October, 2007. Certificate of Achievement on Designing Legislative, Institutional and Regulatory Frameworks for successful Public Private Partnership from the Institute for Public Private Partnereship, Washigton DC, USA.

He also belongs to the following professional bodies - Fellow, Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration (FCIDA), Fellow, Certified Institute of Public Administration, 2008 (FCIPA). Member, harvard University Alumni Society. He was also a graduate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management. And above all, obtained a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration from the Atlantic International University, okija, Anambra State in 2007.

His involvement in Politics in the years 2001 to 2003 proved him to be an active Party Member of the United Nigeria People’s Party (UNPP) under which umbrella he was Chairmanship Aspirant. From 2003 to date Alhaji Umar Nasko has remained a committed member of the People’s democratic Patry (PDP).

On the professional side, Alhaji Umar Nasko belongs to the Nigerian Institute of Management.

Umar is an intelligent Administrator, a stickler for excellence and someone deeply committed to the promotion of professionalism in Civilian Administration. He is still holding the traditional title of Yariman Nasko, a recognition bestowed on him by his own people for his avowed commitment to excellent service to humanity.

As a concerned Nigerian who has the interest of his people at heart he has donated Seedlings - Flowers and Trees worth thousands of Naira to the General Hospital in Nasko town, renovation of one Mosque each in six Wards of Nasko LGA, provided 250 KVA Transformer and 500 KVA Transformer to Gwagwade and Nasko Communities respectively, in 2008. He donated Six Motor Cycles to Six Imams for the propagation of Islam in Nasko Area. As if that is not enough, he has impacted positively on the lives of the youths in all the Wards of Magama and Kontagora LGAs. to one youth in each of the eleven Wards. His developmental prowess even became more obvious when he was appointed by the Niger State Government as the Coordinator of the Ward Development Project in Magama Local Government Area which according to the peoples confession has transformed the lives of the rural dwellers like never before because of the renovation of roads, Schools, Market Stalls, Boreholes and other infrastructural facilities.

More contributions to the infrastructural development became more glaring when he initiated the “Green the Niger Initiative”. This program saw Niger State, especially Minna city wearing a new look in terms of serenity, cleanliness and evacuation of debris, dust bins and other environment-polluting agents thereby restoring high hygiene with far reaching implications on human health and longevity.

Also within the same period, ecological devastating factors such as erosion, have been brought under control through timely intervention of the Ministry of Environment under Umar Muhammed Nasko. Desilting of drainages around Minna is one of the good things that have ever happened to Minna because dangers of flooding have been averted.

Umar Muhammed Nasko is currently the Chief of Staff Government House, Minna , Niger State. His assumption into this office was as a result of his sterling, charismatic leadership style that brought about unprecedented transformation within the system.

As the Man at the helm of affairs of activities that concern the Chief Servant and Governor of Niger State and personnel of Government House, he has been responsible for supporting high-level executives in making decisions and completion of projects. These projects relate to staffing, contracts and meeting deadlines. In this regard, he has proved to be trustworthy, decisive and loyal over a period of time.

He has also been providing tremendous leadership with effective management of all staff and personnel members. This is because he possesses a strong team building skill which ensures that offices and departments are running efficiently.

He has fostered peace and unity among the Youths in Kontagora Emirate and that brings about economic and social development in the Emirate. This prompted his appointment as the Jarman Kontagora in Kontagora Emirate and Sarkin Kudun Birnin Magaji in Zamfara State.