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On Friday, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko turned a year older. He is a complete gentleman, diligent and result-driven. As part of efforts to celebrate the Aries celebrant, here is his summarized biography below.
Bello-Koko was born on March 25, 1969 in Koko-Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State. He completed his secondary school education at the Federal Government College Sokoto in 1986. He then proceeded to the Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto for his bachelor of science (B.Sc.) degree in Management Studies and Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 1992 and 1995 respectively.
Imbued by his penchant for continuous learning, he proceeded to the Harvard Kennedy School, USA where he bagged an Executive Certificate in Public Leadership.
He started his banking career with FSB International Bank Plc between 1996 and 2004 and functioned across several strategic portfolios including Banking operations, Credit-Risk Management, Treasury Operations, Retail banking and Corporate Marketing which found him in charge of Energy and Public Sectors, thus responsible for managing accounts of several multinational oil and Gas companies,
In 2005, he joined Zenith International Bank Plc where he grew rapidly to become Branch head at various locations, zonal Head Public Sector where his exceptional contribution to the bank’s globally referenced profitability and balance sheet in the period 2005 to 2015 earned him numerous awards in the bank and a spot in the bank’s Executive Management Team as Deputy General Manager and Zonal Head.
In 2016, Bello-Koko was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), a role he held with distinction till May 2021, when he was appointed Acting Managing Director.
His sterling performance as acting Managing Director evidenced by plugging of income leakages, unprecedented growth in revenue and improved operational efficiencies led to significant increase in container traffic to Onne Port and the demonstrated resolve to open up the Eastern Ports of Warri, Calabar and Rivers convinced President Muhammadu Buhari to confirm Koko as Managing Director of the NPA on the 15th of February, 2022.
Bello-Koko who is a fellow of both the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and the Institute of Strategic Management (ISMN), is also member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). He has attended several domestic and international trainings.
As a true Aries male, Bello-Koko doesn’t lack initiative or character and it is a fun competition to win his heart. Interestingly, the maritime sector as won his heart and he has resolved to tackle the numerous challenges affecting Nigerian ports.
Indeed, the challenges are enormous but industry stakeholders can be assured that NPA is being led by a man who doesn’t take no for an answer. Perhaps, the multifaceted problems at the nation’s ports have met a match in a resilient Bello-Koko. There are modest successes to show in this short stint as NPA boss, but let’s wait a little before giving the analysis.
