Mohammed Hayatu-deen may look like a newcomer in the ranks that he currently finds himself, of politicians and 2023 presidential aspirants. On the national plane and particularly in the Nigerian business and public service planes however, he is the Turn-Around magician who brings to every challenge a new depth to the meaning of heavyweight.
Beginning with his educational preparations. This 1976 Economics graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University [ABU] Zaria, ABU Zaria (1976), alumnus of Government College, Keffi and NYSC lecturer at the Ondo High School, Ondo State has been to some of the world’s best schools for high level business and management training. He has been to Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, London Business School’s Strategic Leadership and Corporate Renewal program, Harvard Business School’s Making Corporate Boards More Effective program, as well as Strategic Leadership Programme of INSEAD in France.
Born in Bama, present-day Borno State in 1953, Hayatu-Deen was the pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FSB International Bank Plc [1990-2001] and its Chairman/CEO for the following three years. He acquired legendary status in banking circles by turning FSB from a distressed Government savings institution into one of the country’s best six commercial banks, probably the best case of management and privatization turn around in Nigerian business.
FSB was not even his first magic wand. Hayatu-deen was Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of New Nigeria Development Company [NNDC] in 1983-1988. At the time, NNDC was the single largest diversified holding company in Nigeria and as its CEO, Hayatu-deen led 13 subsidiary and 127 associate companies under the NNDC group.
As GMD of NNDC when he was under 30, Hayatu-deen’s magic wand included changing NNDC’s mission from a development company to an aggressive, profit driven commercial company, launching NNDC’s first 3-year Strategic Plan, substantially improving the Group’s profits, revolutionizing its Management Information Systems, transforming NNDC’s portfolio of insurance and brokerage companies and creating a Divestiture Department that successfully divested from 10 companies poorly performing companies within 9 months.
It was Hayatu-deen who successfully negotiated and obtained a $35 million foreign line of credit for NNDC from European Investment Bank as well as a large facility from UNIDO for financing various technical assistance projects. He also rehabilitated manufacturing enterprises which had been closed down for more than 5 years, as well as established a quality Merchant Bank as NNDC subsidiary.
Prior to becoming NNDC’s GMD, Hayatu-deen had been director of its Textiles, Chemicals and Other Manufacturing Division and of the Real Estate, Construction and Building Services division. As a very young economist in 1979, he led an Economics Team for the Kano River Project, an intensive 18 months’ field work and feasibility report preparation on existing farm management practices within the study area of 200,000 hectares.
Hayatu-deen’s huge imprints on the national business, public service and cultural scenes include being Chairman of Nortex, New Nigeria Construction Company, Nigerian Leatherworks, Valuecard, Vic Lawrence and Associates and Arewa Textiles. He was also director of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Express Merchant Bank, NAL Merchant Bank, Newdevco Finance Services (Stockbrokers), Arewa Hotels,Northern Nigeria Investments, New Deal Commerce, Nigeria Hotels and Kaduna Textiles. He was also Chairman, Nigerian Life and Pensions, Hogg Robinson Insurance, Virgin Nigeria Airline and First Securities Discount House.
More than that, Hayatu-Deen has been a member of Institute of Directors, Director of Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian German Business Council, World Economic Forum, Africa Business Round Table, West Africa Business Association, National Council of Vision 2010, National Council on Privatisation, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Chairman, Business Advisory Council of Conference of Northern States Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Presidential Advisory Council, President Buhari’s Transition Committee & Chairman of Transition Committee on Economy, as well as Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, this country’s leading economic think-thank.
Hayatu-deen established Alpine Group in 2005, a project development company intervening in high growth sectors of the economy. Alpine’s flagship project, Ado Bayero Mall in Kano, is currently the largest shopping mall in West Africa.
He was awarded an OON national honour in 2000AD.
Before I forget, Mohammed Hayatu-deen has also been a member of Metropolitan Club, Lagos; West African Committee, Lagos Motor Boat Club, MUSON and Nigeria Conservation Fund. In the last 14 years, he presented 72 papers at various lectures, seminars and workshops on subjects such as political economy, banking, insurance, community service, education, health, solid minerals, oil & gas, sports, philosophy and literature.
This father of 5 renewed his PDP membership last year and waded into the race for the party’s presidential ticket. Some said he is a novice in politics. But then, those who are veterans in politics are together culpable for what the country’s security, economic, social, business, fiscal, monetary and cultural scenes have become. Enter, the Master of the Business Turn Around. Mohammed Hayatu-deen has one more turn-around art to perform. This time, it is Political Turn-Around.
