The Exportable Minister by Adamu Bello - Hardback

This memoir provides a candid account by Adamu Bello FCIB DSc CFR of his period of stewardship as the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a period which spanned from 2001 to 2007. He subsequently became the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources in 2007 when the respective ministries were merged.

Bello touches on his background as a banker with a successful career that included becoming a Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. He discloses how these experiences prepared him for public service as a Minister in the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR.

Bello discusses his unique relationship with the President which started with a case of misidentification and a series of incidents that could have brought it to a premature end. Instead, the relationship transcended from a seven-month probation period to an almost seven-year tenure, with Bello becoming the longest-serving Minister of the administration.

As confirmed by data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the growth rate of the agricultural sector increased year-on-year throughout Bello’s tenure reaching a high of 7.40 per cent which still remains the highest on record. And, this was notwithstanding the relatively low budget of the Ministry of Agriculture at the time.

In reading this book, one would not only learn about the role of the Nigerian government in agriculture but also of the information which guided Bello’s decision-making at the time as well as the results. He further discusses the controversial circumstances he faced and challenges encountered, with their respective outcomes and evidence. This memoir also features interactions with influential figures of the past and present. With humorous exchanges, compelling details, and unique insights, it certainly makes for an interesting read.