IBRAHIM BOMAI: pearl of excellence
IBRAHIM BOMAI: pearl of excellence
By Nasiru Wunti
Renowned finance expert and technocrat, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai belongs in the genre of new leaders primed to make defining change in the nation’s political landscape in the emerging dispensation.
The taciturn and urbane Yobe state-born member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a silent achiever who etched his name in glittering gold as the Director of Treasury of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja, the nation’s capital through his virtuoso approach to duty.
Bomai, an indigene of Potiskum, Yobe state retired from the FCTA late in 2015. He signed off from the civil service in a blaze of honour and accolades after a meritorious career that spanned over three decades.
Bomai’s foray into politics is a huge plus for Yobe and an evident edge for the ruling APC in the desert state and the nation at large judging by his impressive credentials and depth of professional knowledge.
Born in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State on 10th February, 1960, the outstanding public officer who carved his name not only on the marble but in the hearts of thousands through uncommon philanthropy is blissfully married with seven children.
The celebrated public servant began his educational pursuit at Tudun Wada Primary School Argungu which he attended between 1966 and 1968. After spending two years at the school, the brilliant young lad was transferred to Shehu Garbai Primary School, Maiduguri in 1968 and completed his primary education there in flying colours in December 1972.
In 1973, he was deservedly admitted to the Government College, Maiduguri from where obtained his secondary school leaving certificate in 1977. He began his tertiary educational pursuit at the Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna which attended between 1977 and 1982.
He equally studied at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi from 1997 to 1999 and the Harvard University, Cambridge, Boston, USA between 2004 and 2006. He also had a stint at the London School of Management, London, U.K in 2005.
The educational certificates and laurels of the erudite scholar include primary school leaving certificate (1972), the West African School Certificate in 1977, Diploma in Accountancy [1980], Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (1982), Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management (1997) and Masters Degree in Business Administration (Finance), 1999.
Alhaji Bomai is a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, 1994, Fellow, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, 2000, Fellow, Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria, 2012 and Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, 2012.
He is a Member, the Institute of Management Specialists, U.K., 1990, Member, Nigerian Institute of Management, 1990, Member, the Nigerian Institute of Management Consultants, 1999 and Member Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (2013). He also has certificate in Public Financial Management, 2004, certificate in Advanced Auditing (2005) and certificate in Public Administration (2006).
Ibrahim Bomai’s rich work experience started began with his appointment as a lecturer, College of Education, Nsugbe, Anambra State during his mandatory national service (NYSC) between 1982 and 1983. Thereafter, he gained employment as a Finance Officer with BOADAP, Maiduguri in 1983. In 1985, he left BOADAP and joined the services of Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri as a Senior Accountant.
In 1986, following his sterling performance, Ibrahim Bomai was elevated to the position of Principal Accountant and Acting Bursar, Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri. In search greater challenge and exposure, he switched over to the Federal service in 1988 when he secured appointment as Assistant Chief Accountant and Acting Bursar, Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe State.
Due to Bomai’s sterling performance, he was confirmed as the substantive Bursar of the institution and held the strategic post till 2002 when he moved over to the nation’s capital, Abuja as the Assistant Director (Accounts), office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. He was subsequently posted to Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (MFCT), Abuja.
Between 2005 and 2008, he served as Deputy Director (Accounts) Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation on posting to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). Within the period, he served as the Auditor-General for the FCT area councils under the FCTA.
Alhaji Ibrahim Bomai was deservedly elevated to the position of Director of Treasury of the Federal Capital Territory Administration in 2008, a pivotal post in the FCTA which he held with distinction until he retired from the civil service meritoriously in August 2016. It is worthy of note that while serving as the Director of Treasury of the FCTA, Bomai at various times served as the Acting Permanent Secretary of the FCTA.
Following his retirement in 2016, Bomai charted another career line as a veritable financial consultant.
In the course of his glorious civil service career, the Yobe-born technocrat garnered several awards, honours and recognition as a result of his sterling performance. A man who stood out brilliantly as the proverbial northern star, Bomai was acknowledged for his fidelity to hard work, wisdom, candour, humility, diligence and will power.
His chain of awards and decorations included the productivity award for the year 1994, Federal College of Education (Tech) Potiskum, Yobe State (1st position for officers on EUSS 14 and above); distinction in Post-Graduate Diploma (Financial Management) and best student award for the programme, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He was also a recipient of the award of excellence by the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management; best performing Director of the year 2012 advancement award by the Federal Capital Territory Administration; Distinguished Meritorious Service Award [Gold] by the African Independence Magazine; Outstanding Prowess in Administrative Matters Award by the council of the Institute of Corporate Administration; and Good Leadership award by the African Expression News Media.
Ibrahim Bomai’s string of commendations and appreciations include letter of commendation for the successful completion of the task on the committee on matriculation committee of Federal College of Education (Technical) Potiskum which he received in May, 1990; commendation by the Governing Council of Federal College of Education, Potiskum for preparation of budget, good work and maintenance of very good records of finances of the college (May, 1993).
Others include commendation by Federal College of Education
(Technical) Potiskum College Management for good work and
dedication in producing workable financial documents for smooth take off of the FECOET staff school (Dec. 1995); commendation letter by FCE (T) Potiskum, college management for completion of the task of the 1995 merit award committee (25th march, 1996); commendation letter by the Governing Council FCE (T) Potiskum, for good track record of performance as the bursar of the college (21st July, 199); commendation letter by fce technical Potiskum council for impressive records of accounts maintained by the Bursary Department over the years with particular emphasis on the 1998/1999 accounts (2nd May, 2000); letter of commendation for hard work and efficient record keeping (20th Sept. 2001) and letter of commendation by FCE (T) Potiskum for the task on the committee on salary verification.
Some ad-hoc responsibilities and assignments he discharged excellently include Chairman, Committee on Investigation of Ethical Misconduct and Academic Incompetence, FCT (T), Potiskum; member, College management committee, FCE (T), Potiskum; member minor works committee, FCE (T), potiskum; member, junior staff appointments and promotion committee, FCE (T), Potiskum and member, admissions committee, FCE (T), Potiskum.
Others are chairman, ad-hoc committee to investigate allegation in
respect of academic misconduct FCE(T), Potiskum; member, Task
Force on take-off of FECOET staff school, FCE (T), Potiskum;
member, College Budget Committee, FCE (T), Potiskum; member,
consultancy & research committee, FCE (T), Potiskum; member,
housing committee, FCE (T) Potiskum; ex-council member-auditor,
committee of bursars of colleges of education of Nigeria; member,
enlarged management committee, FCE (T), Potiskum; member and
first secretary, task force committee of take off of FCE (T) Potiskum;
member, FECOET staff school management committee, FCE (T),
Potiskum and member, committee for the review of accounting
system of federal colleges of education in Nigeria.
The rest are Secretary-General, Committee of Bursars of Federal
Colleges of Education in Nigeria; member, senior management
committee, Ministry of Federal Capital Territory – Abuja; member,
committee to investigate allegations of financial misconduct in FCT
area councils service commission; chairman, Ministry of Federal
Capital Territory salary verification committee; member, Ministry of
Federal Capital Territory board of survey; member, Ministry of
Federal Capital Territory budget and funds disbursement committee;
member, FCT, public accounts committee, Ministry of Federal
Capital Territory – Abuja; secretary, Ministry of Federal Capital
Territory training committee; member, FCT Executive Committee;
member, presidential committee on monetization of fringe benefits of
Federal Government parastatals; member, Technical Committee on
Winding up of Ministry of Federal Capital Territory; chairman, office
of auditor general for area councils management committee;
national co-ordinator, committee of Auditors-General of Local
Governments in Nigeria; member, Joint Area Councils Allocation
Committee (JAAC) and member, Federation Accounts Allocation
Committee (FAAC).
All variables taken into account, Alhaji Ibrahim Bomai is clearly a
Tested technocrat and public administrator sufficiently heeled for
higher leadership responsibilities. Yobe is eminently blessed to have
cerebral and illustrious new generation leaders in the mould of
Ibrahim Bomai. There is a certain allure about the Bomai persona
That makes him to inspire, influence and galvanize all those who
come in contact with him for positive strides. With Ibrahim Bomai in
the fray the leadership ante is up in sahelian state.
- Mallam Wunti wrote from Damaturu, Yobe State.
