biography of governor of zamfara state

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Dauda Lawal Biography: Net Worth, Cars, Wife, Age, Children, Tribe, House, Phone Number, State, News

The next governor of Zamfara will be a politician and banker from Nigeria named Dauda Lawal Dare .

In the 2023 Nigerian gubernatorial elections, he defeated incumbent Governor Bello Matawalle of the APC by standing on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) slate.

He is a well-known leader in the Nigerian banking business and one of the leading characters in the nation’s financial sector as the executive director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc’s Public Business North.

Governor Bello Matawale of the APC was beaten by Dauda Lawal Dare, a candidate for the People Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 election for governor of Zamfara state.

Dauda Lawal was born on September 2nd, 1965, in Nigeria’s Zamfara region.

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He was born into a modest, well-known Zamfara State textile sector family. There is a lot of information accessible about his parents and siblings, and anything he discloses will be noted.

Dauda Lawal Dare finished his primary and secondary education while growing up in the same household as his parents. 1987, he graduated from Ahmadu Bello University with a B.Sc. in political science.

In 1992, he received an M.Sc. in Political Science/International Relations from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the same institution.

To improve his education, he also took classes at prestigious universities, including the London School of Economics, Harvard Business School, Oxford University Business School, and Lagos Business School.

Dauda Lawal Dare was a political education officer at the Agency for Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reliance Nigeria.

When he joined Westex Nigeria Limited in 1989, he rose to the position of assistant general manager.

Dauda Lawal was hired as an assistant consular officer (immigration) in 1994 and then promoted to chief protocol officer at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

He started working for First Bank of Nigeria Plc as a relationship manager in 2003 and has held various senior management positions at the Abuja Area office.

After holding various positions, he was promoted to executive vice president, public sector, North of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, in 2011. 2012, he was named First Bank of Nigeria Plc’s North public sector executive director.

Dauda Lawal later entered politics, running against Idris Shehu Mukhtar in the APC primary election for governor of Zamfara in 2018.

He ran for and won the position of governor of Zamfara state under the People Democratic Party in the 2023 Zamfara state gubernatorial election.

Personal Life

Dare wed Hajiya Rakiya, and they have a child together. We will update it once there is new information regarding his marriage to his wife.

There is no information available concerning the couple’s offspring.

Social Media

• Instagram: @gamjingusau_23
• Twitter: @DaudaLawalD

The estimated net worth of Dauda Lawal Dare is $1.5 million.

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Bello Matawalle Biography, Age, Wives, Family, Tribe, Net Worth

Bello Matawalle is a Nigerian politician, academician and the current Executive Governor of Zamfara State. He is one of the strongest politicians in the state, having been in the political space for at least 20 years, serving in different capacities, including the House of Assembly and House of Representatives. He had also served as the Zamfara State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Environment, Rural Development and then Commissioner for Youth and Sports.

Bello Matawalle Wikipedia/Profile

Bello Matawalle Biography

Bello Muhammad Matawalle (born February 12, 1969) is the current Governor of Zamfara State, Nigeria. He contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later defected to the APC.

Bello Matawalle Age

How old is Bello Matawalle? Bello Matawalle is 52 years old, born on the 12th February, 1969 in Maradun, Zamfara State, Nigeria.

Bello Matawalle Education

Matawalle attended Maradun Township Primary School finishing in 1979. He attended to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and later went to Thames Valley University, London.

Bello Matawalle Career

Bello Matawalle started his professional career as a teacher at Government Girls College Moriki and Kwatarkoshi. He left the teaching job to join the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Abuja.

Matawalle started his political career in 1998 when he contested and won a seat in the House of Assembly after leaving the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

He was a member of the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) which consisted of politicians such as Ambassador Isa Aliyu Mohammed Argungu (Sarkin Yakin Kabbi) former Minister of Water Resources and National Chairman of the party, Ibrahim Gusau former protem National Chairman of the party, Atiku Abubakar, Adamu Aliero, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, Suleiman Takuma Ibrahim Kura Mohammed, Attahiru Bafarawa and Ibrahim Saminu Turaki.

After the death of General Sani Abacha, the party was dissolved alongside all other political parties by Abdulsalami Abubakar, who also announced that elections would hold in 1999.

In 1999, Ahmad Sani Yarima, the first civilian governor of Zamfara State appointed Bello Matawalle as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Environment, Rural Development and then Commissioner for Youth and Sports. He held the position until 2003.

In May 2003, he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Bakura/Maradun constituents on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He was re-elected in 2007 under the same party, but he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on which he got re-elected for a third term in 2011.

Bello Matawalle contested for governor in the 2019 elections in the state but lost to APC’s Muktar Idris. This was coming after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permitted the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field a candidate barely 24 hours to the day of the election.

Mr Matawalle rejected the result and vowed to “reclaim his stolen mandate” at the elections petitions tribunal. The court finally withdrew the certificate of return that was issued to Mr Idris and re-issued it to Matawalle.

APC lost it finally on heading to the Supreme Court as the court pronounced that the votes cast for the APC in the election as wasted and ordered that the candidate with the second-highest votes be sworn. This was because of the APC’s inability to conduct a primary election for all the candidates in Zamfara State.

Bello Matawalle APC : In 2021, Matawalle reportedly decamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Congress (APC).

Bello Matawalle Family/Personal Life

Bello Matawalle is married to four wives; Hajiya Sadiya, Hajiya Fatimatu, Hajiya Balkisu and Hajiya Fadimatu and happily blessed with children.

Bello Matawalle Wives

Bello made mentioned that he got married to four wives and blessed with many children. But the greatest surprise here is that only his two wives Aisha bello matawalle and Balkisu bello matawalle are the ones very well known to the media.

Fatima bello matawalle and Sadiya Bello matawalle are not actively on social media platforms. These are the four Faces behind the happiness to his Excellency the governor of zamfara state.

Her Execellency Aishat Bello Matawalle, Hajiya Balkisu Bello matawalle, Hajiya Sadiya bello matawalle and Malama Fatima Bello matawalle

Bello Matawalle Social Network

Bello Matawalle Net Worth

Bello Matawalle is one of the richest Celebrity. is listed on Richest Celebrity. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Bello Matawalle net worth is approximately $1.5 Million

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Thank you al for reading, Ngnews247.com hope to see you read our other posts, before you go it might interest you to know about Valentine  Ozigbo Biography And Net Worth .

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Nigeria From banker to governor: Who helped Dauda Lawal take Zamfara?

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Dauda Lawal

Dauda Lawal is a Nigerian banker and politician who currently serves as the Governor of Zamfara State. He was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 Nigerian gubernatorial elections, defeating the incumbent Governor Bello Matawalle of the APC.

Dauda Lawal was born on September 2, 1965, in Wukari, Taraba State (formerly Gongola State), Nigeria, to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Kefas. He comes from a humble background with a family renowned for their contributions to the textile industry in Gusau, Northern Nigeria. He received his education from reputable institutions in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Defense Studies in 1994. He furthered his studies at the University of Ibadan in Oyo State, where he earned a Master's Degree in Legal Criminology & Security Psychology in 2005. He also holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Delta State University, Abraka. He has pursued additional executive education programs at prestigious universities such as the London School of Economics, Harvard Business School, Oxford University Business School, Wharton Business School, and Lagos Business School.

Lawal has a distinguished career in the Nigerian banking industry, having served as the Executive Director, Public Sector North, of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. He retired from the Nigerian Army after 21 years of service and subsequently joined the banking sector. He played a significant role in leading reforms in Islamic banking as a special adviser on Islamic banking to former Central Bank Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. Lawal has also made notable contributions to the development of the banking industry in Nigeria through his work at First Bank of Nigeria Plc and as a founding partner of Credent Capital and Advisory Limited.

In addition to his professional achievements, Lawal has been involved in partisan politics since the run-up to the 2019 general elections. He aspired to be the flagbearer of the APC for the Governorship ticket of Zamfara State and was a key member of the G8, a coalition of gubernatorial aspirants who opposed the incumbent governor at the time. In 2022, Lawal contested and won the PDP primary election in Zamfara State, positioning him as the party's flagbearer for the governorship election in March 2023. In a surprising turn of events, Lawal defeated incumbent Governor Bello Matawalle of the APC in the election, marking a significant political upset.

Dauda Lawal has received recognition for his outstanding performance and contributions to the banking industry. He has been honored with the FirstBank CEO Merit Award for Outstanding Performance as the "Best Business Development Manager" in 2006 and "The Most Enterprising Staff" in 2009.

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100 days in office: highlights of key achievements of zamfara state governor, dauda lawal.

Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration has exceeded expectations and achieved an impressive record in the last 100 days.

The previous government’s irresponsible and incompetent actions have left Governor Lawal with minimal resources, yet he successfully achieved a lot.

Below are some of the Zamfara State Government’s achievements under Governor Dauda Lawal’s leadership.

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1. RESTORATION OF WATER IN ZAMFARA CAPITAL For the past three years, the capital of Zamfara State, Gusau, has been severely afflicted by a dire water shortage. With no access to a portable water source, people had no choice but to use nearby rivers for all their essential requirements, including cooking and drinking.

Under the able leadership and stewardship of Governor Dauda Lawal, the rescue mission has accomplished the remarkable feat of resolving the issue of water scarcity in the State Capital in just 14 days of assumption in office.

2. PAYMENT OF WITHHELD WORKERS’ SALARIES The past administration had intentionally neglected to pay workers for four months, leaving them in bad shape. As a passionate leader, Governor Dauda Lawal quickly sourced funds with which he paid off the backlog of four months’ salaries. These include the withheld salaries of local government workers and primary school teachers.

3. RESTRUCTURING Immediately after taking office, Governor Dauda Lawal took decisive action to restructure the State’s Civil Service.

– He reduced the number of Ministries from 28 to 16.

– He reduced the number of Permanent Secretaries from 48 to 23.

– He reduced the Directorates from 35, to 1.

– He reduced the number of Boards from 17 to 13.

– He reduced the number of Commissions from 14 to 10.

4. URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT On the 18th of August, 2023, Governor Dauda Lawal flagged off phase one of the road construction that marks the commencement of the Urban Renewal Project in the Zamfara State Capital.

The Urban Renewal project’s first phase involves reconstructing and improving 3.5km of township roads in Gusau, the State capital, and enhancing the drainage system.

The construction awarded to a construction giant, Ronchess Nigeria Limited, has covered Bello Barau Roundabout – Old Market Road, Bello Barau Roundabout – Central Police Station Road, Bello Barau Roundabout – Government House Road, and Kwanar Yan Keke – Emir’s Palace – Tankin Ruwa Road.

The project has made significant progress in just 20 days. The drainages have been completed, along with essential earthworks, including the laying of laterite. The box culvert has been levelled, and the stone base course has been installed. It is worth noting that this project is the first of its kind in the history of Zamfara.

The construction firm, Ronchess Nigeria Limited, has provided 200 Zamfara artisans with jobs, as requested by the Governor.

– Last month, Governor Lawal inaugurated the Zamfara Youth Sanitation Programme (ZAYOSAP), which provided jobs for 1,500 youths in the capital. ZAYOSAP is an integral part of the urban renewal project to maintain a hygienic, clean, and safer State Capital, Gusau and its environs. The initiative is gaining momentum and has already been successfully taken to other local governments.

– At the last council meeting, Governor Dauda Lawal approved the renovation of the JB Yakubu Secretariat. The Secretariat, which houses the office of the Secretary to Government and over ten Ministries, has been dilapidated for years.

5. SECURITY In his commitment to curb the lingering insecurity, Governor Dauda Lawal has approved the recruitment of civilian JTF in all local government areas of the State.

300 civilian JTF would be recruited in each local government area of the State. The recruits would undergo rigorous physical training that would prepare them to assist the security agencies with actionable intelligence to combat insecurity.

– There is also regular ongoing patrol across the volatile roads across the State.

– Governor Lawal took the initiative to repair dilapidated patrol vehicles to improve the security presence throughout the state.

6. EDUCATION – WAEC And NECO

It is on record that for the past three years, students in Zamfara State have been unable to sit for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) due to unpaid fees. Governor Lawal intervened and held talks with the management of WAEC and NECO, which allowed secondary school students to take the last NECO examination in Zamfara State. The government and the examination bodies have concluded how to settle the debt amounting to 1.6 billion Naira for NECO and 1.8 billion Naira for WAEC.

– School Of Health Technology, Tsafe

Governor Dauda Lawal constructed additional classrooms and renovated the Exams Hall in the School of Health Technology, Tsafe.

– Construction Of Classrooms

At the Zamfara State Executive Council Meeting held on the 4th of September 2023, Governor Dauda Lawal approved the construction, renovation and furnishing of classrooms in over 200 schools across the 14 local government areas of Zamfara.

The Governor has approved the construction, renovation and furnishing of 49 schools in Gusau, 11 in Anka, 15 in Bakura, 8 in Bukkuyum, 14 in Birnin Magaji, 8 in Bungudu, 8 in Gummi, 19 in Kaura, 8 in Maru, 11 in Maradun, 42 in Shinkafi, 8 Talata Mafara, 27 in Tsafe, and 11 in Zurmi local government.

– School Feeding

Governor Dauda Lawal has revived school feeding in 10 Senior boarding schools across Zamfara State to commence from the 2023/2024 Academic Session.

– Zamfara State Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment Additional Financing (AGILE AF)

Zamfara State Government, under the leadership of His Excellently Dauda Lawal, had collaborated with the World Bank to empower Young Girls in and out of Primary and Junior Secondary Schools.

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in collaboration with other ministries, has since commenced implementing the AGILE program.

His Excellently, the Executive Governor has approved and released 150 billion for the project as State counterpart funding.

Some of the key achievements of the projects are:

· 150 billion counterpart funding approved and released for the project.

· The state government had provided office accommodation and funds for furnishing.

· State implementation committee has conducted NEEDS ASSESSMENT in 123 selected schools in phase 1.

* Advocacy visits to critical stakeholders have been conducted

* State steering committee has been inaugurated

* An additional 40 Islamiyyah (IQS) schools have been assessed

* Many out-of-school girls will be reached and enrolled, and stipends will be given through conditional cash transfers to retain them in schools.

6. HEALTH In 100 days in office, Governor Dauda Lawal has organised a Special Modified Medical Outreach Programme to address critical healthcare needs and improve people’s quality of life.

The organised Medical Outreach provided free medical services to people with cases of cataract extraction, groin swellings (hernias, hydroceles), vesicovaginal fistula repairs (VVF), and health education.

This is the first time such a thing has happened in the history of Zamfara that the State Government is engaging in a free medical outreach that covers such critical areas; the ongoing modified outreach utilizes tele-screening for patients from rural and semi-urban areas to provide specialist care to people in need.

Out of compassion, Governor Dauda Lawal widened the programme’s scope to cover all the 14 local government areas of the State.

Governor Dauda Lawal has also commenced renovating and furnishing hospitals across the State.

In most of the hospitals, unlike before, there is an ongoing massive supply of drugs and medicines.

Governor Dauda Lawal constructed a solar borehole with an overhead tank in General Hospital Bakura.

8. OTHER INTERVENTIONS – Key landmark achievements of the Dauda Lawal government in 100 days in the ACReSAL programme and Ministry of Environment Ecosystem include awarding the contract to build five solar-powered boreholes to five different communities in the most needed areas in the State.

– Governor Lawal also approved building five Earth Dams across five local government areas. The primary aim of these dams is to provide portable drinking water for people and animals and irrigation services to create job opportunities for young people.

– Government provided standard office accommodation to the ACReSAL office in Zamfara State. They were in rented accommodation before the arrival of the present administration.

– Governor Dauda Lawal negotiated with the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO) to restore electricity supply to all Government agencies. The previous administration’s over 1.2 billion Naira debt resulted in a supply cut-off for months.

– Governor Dauda Lawal signed an agreement with several development partners, including UNICEF, the World Bank, and Melinda Gates Foundation. As a result of the previous administration’s recklessness, these partners have severed ties with the State.

– Governor Dauda Lawal settled the ground rent for the Governors’ Lodge in Abuja and Kaduna. The debt for the Abuja lodge was cleared, while half of the debt for the Kaduna lodge was paid and will be fully settled within two months in staggered payments.

– Governor Dauda Lawal has constructed a borehole in the orphanage situated in Gusau.

– His Excellency also constructed additional blocks of room in the Gusau orphanage.

These are just a few achievements of His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, in his 100 days in office.

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History of Zamfara State: LGAs And Past Governors from 1996 Till Date

Last updated on October 30th, 2021 at 02:55 pm

Zamfara is one of the 36 States in Nigeria and is located in the northwestern part of the country. It was created on the 1st of October 1996. Until that time, the area was part of Sokoto State. Zamfara was nicknamed “Farming is Our Pride”

• Date of creation : October 1, 1996 by the regime of late Gen. Sani Abacha
• State capital: Gusau.
• Slogan: Farming is our pride.
• Geopolitical zone: North West

The current Governor of Zamfara State is Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside his deputy Ibrahim Wakkala.

Although there are various ethnic groups in the State, the Hausa and Fulani groups are predominant.

Over the years, the people have struggled for autonomy – which they eventually got during the tenure of the Late General Sani Abacha who carved the State from Sokoto State.

Zamfara State is close to the likes of Niger republic (to the North),  Kaduna State (to the South), Katsina State (to the east) and Sokoto with Niger States (to the West).

The place known as Zamfara State today was one of the old Hausa city-states like Kano, Katsina, Gobir, Kabi and Zazzau.

According to history, the earliest inhabitants of the State were hunters and giants. They first settled at Dutsi – the State’s first capital.

At the wake of British colonialism, the emerging town of Gusau became a vital commercial and administrative center with road and rail networks passing through it.

With the creation of states during the Gowon Administration, Zamfara Kingdom became part of the then North West state and later the Sokoto State.

Local Government Areas in Zamfara State

There are 14 Local Government Areas in Zamfara, and they are:

• Birnin Magaji/Kiyaw
• Kaura Namoda
• Talata Mafara

Demographics

The State is majorly populated by Hausa and Fulani people. Other ethnic groups that can be found there are:

Zamfara is an important commercial center and is home to people from various parts of the country.

Agriculture is the principal occupation of the inhabitants of Zamfara.

Irrigation is required for cereals and legumes in the State, and it’s no a mystery why their nickname is “farming is our pride”.

In 2009, gold mining became a greater source of income in the State as worldwide gold prices skyrocketed.

Islam is the predominant religion in Zamfara and was even the first state in the country to introduce Sharia law. Another popular religion in the State is Christianity.

Just as in other States in the country, English is the official language being spoken in Zamfara.

Other popular languages spoken in the State are Hausa, French, Fulfulde and Arabic.

Past Governors Of Zamfara State from 1996 till date

Here is a list of past governors of Zamfara State (both military and civilian)

• Jibril Yakubu : Yakubu was the first military Administrator to rule Zamfara State (7 October 1996to May 1999)
• Ahmad Sani Yarima: He was the First Civilian Executive Governor of the state(29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007)
• Mahmud Shinkafi : He succeeded Yarimaandbecame the first Deputy Governor to be selected in the history of the country by his mentor to serve after him (29 May 2007 to May 2011)
• Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yar i
• Bello Mohammad Matawalle : He is the current Governor of the State (PDP)

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Farminig is our pride

Deputy Governor

Early Life and Education

His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Mani Malam Mummuni was born in Masamar Mudi, Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State on 14 th April, 1961. As a Muslim offspring, He was enrolled into Qur’anic School of His Father Naíbi Malam Mummuni at an early age of 4 years in his home town Masama that is why he grew up with proven integrity and good morale.

Following his graduation from the Qur’anic School, Matawallen Bukkuyum was enrolled into Masama Primary School in the year 1972 and finished in 1978. On successful completion of his primary education His Excellency was proceeded to Government Teachers College (GTC) Maru, in 1979 where he successfully obtained his Grade II Teachers Certificate in 1984.

Notwithstanding, Matawallen Bukkuyum enrolled into a prestigious School of training Teachers in Hausa Land (Federal College of Education Kontagora) in 1987 and obtained his Nigeria Certificate on Education in 1990.

After broad enlightenment on educational position, His Excellency the Deputy Governor began his professional and Working experience as Agricultural expert were posted as T.H.U Supervisor in 1992 by the Ministry of Agriculture in the defunct Sokoto State.

Subsequently His Excellency was appointed by the same Ministry as Officer in charge of Agricultural Loan attached to Zuru, Sakaba and Danko Wasagu Local Governments.

During the transition to Civil Rule in 1996, His Excellency retired but not tired with a view to contributing His quota for the development of His Local Government and stand as a contestant under the system of open ballot box and He was successfully voted massively by the People of Bukkuyum in 1996 to 1997.

Malam Mani made his colleagues at the Honorable House to choose him as their Majority Leader. The position he held between 2007 to 2011.

The 2011 election general election exposed the versatility, Proficiency, respectfulness, compassionate and political reputation of His Excellency  Mani Malam because he is the only person won his seat at the State Assembly Election from the Western Zone of Zamfara State under the Political Party of PDP. He won the State Assembly seat for the Third Term under the situation considered to be tricky, complicated with full of political intimidation against his party (PDP). In that regard, His Excellency Mani Malam was endorsed to serve as Minority Leader of the House.

God in His limitlessness power, Wisdom and Reward highlighted the mind of Dr. Dauda Lawal to choose Hon. Mani as his running mate under the People Democratic Party (PDP).

5 things to know about Lawal, winner of Zamfara election

In what can be considered the biggest upset of the 2023 General Elections, Lawal Dare, a banker, unseated Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State. According…

In what can be considered the biggest upset of the 2023 General Elections, Lawal Dare, a banker, unseated Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State.

According to Prof Kassimu Shehu, the Returning Officer for the election, Dare of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 377,726 votes to defeat Matwalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 311,976 votes.

Dare faced a series of challenges in the buildup to the elections.

Below are five things to know about him:

Your celebration will be shortlived, PDP’s Dare tells Zamfara APC

Kidnappers of Dauda Lawal Dare’s brother yet to contact family

BORN IN GUSAU

Born on the 2nd of September 1965 in Gusau, the capital city of Zamfara State, Lawal graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1987 with B.Sc. in political science. He obtained an M.Sc. in political science/international relations from the same university in 1992, and holds a PhD in business administration from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, before going further to develop himself by taking courses at prestigious universities, including the London School of Economics, Harvard Business School, Oxford University Business School and Lagos Business School among others.

STARTED EDUCATION IN MOTHER’S VILLAGE

Lawal’s mother hails from Guga village in Katsina State and where he obtained his primary education. Lawal built a standard Primary Healthcare for the town; renovated schools; built a computer lab. He provides portable water for the whole community using motorized borehole through solar.

He started his working career in 1989 as a political education officer with the Agency for Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reliance Nigeria. In 1989, he joined Westex Nigeria Limited as an assistant general manager. In 1994 he was appointed as an assistant consular officer (immigration), and later chief protocol officer, Embassy of Nigeria, Washington, D.C., US. Dauda Lawal joined First Bank of Nigeria Plc in May 2003; as relationship manager, commercial banking, and was at various times senior manager, Abuja Area office, business development manager, Abuja, principal manager, group head PSG II, assistant general manager (business development manager), Maitama, deputy general manager (business development manager), Maitama/group head public sector, Abuja.  Lawal is a fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration of Nigeria, Fellow of the Civilian Institute of Democratic Administration of Ghana, Member of the Institute of Directors, Nigeria, African Business Roundtable, and Member of the Institute of Corporate Administration, Nigeria.

BUSINESS CHAIN

To create jobs and reduce the high level of unemployment in Zamfara State, Lawal established Zam blocks, the largest block industry in the state. He established the Zam rice mills, Azuma water, and Zam agrochemical (the biggest fertilizer blending company in Northern Nigeria).

DEFEATED EFCC AT SUPREME COURT

In the buildup to the 2023 General Elections, Lawal faced a lot of hurdles, especially litigation on his nomination as Governorship candidate. The supreme court annulled the primaries that produced him and a new one was conducted. But that was not the first time he would be at the Supreme court for a case. In 2021, the apex court ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the N9 billion it seized from Dauda Lawal.

In a unanimous judgement, the five-man panel, led by Justice Muhammad Lawal Garba, dismissed the appeal filed by the EFCC against the judgement of the Court of Appeal which, among other things, ordered that:

“The decisions of the Federal High Court, Coram Judice: Hassan, J. delivered in Suit No: FHC/L/CS/13/2017 on 16th February 2017 are hereby set aside. The order of final forfeiture of the sum of N9,080,000,000.00 (Nine Billion and Eighty Million Naira) to the Federal Government of Nigeria is hereby set aside. It is hereby ordered that the said sum of N9,080,000,000.00 (Nine Billion and Eighty Million Naira) be returned to the Appellant forthwith.”

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History of zamfara state.

Published by Temiloluwa oyeniyi on 29th August, 2022

Zamfara State , also known as Jihar Zamfara in the Hausa language , is one of the northwestern states in Nigeria that was extracted from Sokoto State . After many years of advocating for independence, Zamfara State was finally given autonomy during the Sanni Abacha – led military administration .

The capital city of Zamfara is Gusau , and its inhabitants are mainly Hausa and Fulani , with a population of over 9,278,873 . Its borders are Katsina State to the east , the Republic of Niger to the north , Kaduna State to the south , and the states of Sokoto , Kebbi , and Niger to the west .

Other inhabitants of Zamfara State include Gwari, Kamuku, Kambari, Dukawa, Bussawa, and Zabarma , as well as the Igbo , Yoruba , Kanuri , Nupe , and Tiv ethnic groups.

In this piece, Naijabiography narrates the history and culture of Zamfara State, including its economic and political structure.

According to history, it was said that over the years, the Zamfara people have fought for autonomy- a chance to govern and manage their affairs and people, but it wasn’t until 1996 that the 38,418 square kilometres of Zamfara State were separated from Sokoto State by the then military regime of the late General Sani Abacha , under which Jibril Yakubu served as the first governor.

Therefore, the region that is now known as Zamfara State was once a state, together with Kano , Katsina , Gobir , Kabi , and Zazzau . Research reveals that giants and hunters were reported to have been Zamfara’s first residents. History also has it that they built their first village at Dutsi , the first capital of Zamfara .

However, the state also reaches the northwestern and southern bends of the rivers Rima and Ka , respectively. The Zamfara Kingdom was founded in the 11th century and thrived as a city-state until the 16th century. The kingdom’s fortunes have caused its capital to move around from place to place, including Dutsi and Birnin Zamfara.

The Gobir Kingdom demolished its previous capital, Birnin Zamfara , in the first part of the 18th century , and by the second half of the 19th century, Anka had become the new capital. Like the Yandoto metropolis, Zamfara had numerous commercial and academic hubs that drew a lot of scholars.

Thus, Zamfara joined the Sokoto Caliphate during Usman Dan Fodio’s jihad in 1804 . In fact, Usman Danfodiyo made his home in Sabon Gari, where Sarkin Zamfara Abarshi had already built a garrison headquarters to serve as a base from which to fight Gobir and Kabi in the early days of his Jihad.

At the height of Usman Dan Fodio’s struggle in 1804, it merged with the Sokoto Caliphate. In reality, Usman Danfodiyo set up residence at Sabon Gari, where Sarkin Zamfara Abarshi had already erected a garrison headquarters to provide a base from which to combat Gobir and Kabi in the early stages of his Jihad.

Following British colonialism, the growing town of Gusau developed into a significant administrative and commercial hub with access to both road and rail networks. The Zamfara Kingdom joined the North West State at the time of the Gowon Administration’s state establishment and, afterwards, the Sokoto State.

People and Culture

According to the 2006 population census in Zamfara State, the inhabitants of the state are estimated at about 9,278,873, comprising mainly of Hausa and Fulani people. Also, the Anka, Gummi, Bukkuyum, and Talata Mafara local governments are primarily where the Zamfarawa live. 

Meanwhile, Shinkafi Local Government is inhabited by Gobirawa . Actually, Gobirawa originated in the Gobir Kingdom. Burmawa is located in Bakura , and Fulanis live sporadically throughout the state in Bungudu, Maradun, and Gusau.

The state capital is a significant commercial hub with a diverse population from all regions of Nigeria. Like all major towns in Nigeria, Zamfara is home to a sizable population of individuals from other regions of the country.

It is noteworthy to state that the official language of the Zamfara people is Hausa. However, English, French, Fulfulde, and Arabic are also widely used in Zamfara, while minority groups also speak Igbo and Yoruba.

Just like in every other state in the northern parts of the country, Islam is the major religion of the Zamfara people. However, Christianity also exists, but there are not many Christians in the state. There are also some people who practice the native religion of their ancestors. 

Meanwhile, history has it that Zamfara was the first state in Nigeria to introduce Sharia law during the tenure of Ahmad Sani Yerima, the former Governor of the state.

The main industries and economic drivers in the state are agriculture and gold mining. Because cereals and legumes need irrigation, the phrase “farming is our pride ” was coined, and since then, the agricultural produce of the Zamfara people has been contributing to the economic growth of the state.

According to research, the majority of people ( about 80% ) work in the agricultural sector and are mostly subsistence farmers. Thus, millet, Guinea corn, maize, rice, groundnuts, cotton, tobacco, and beans are among the main products. Because agriculture gives young people in the state access to food, raw materials, and work possibilities, the state is noted for its farming industry.

Political Structure

The current governor of Zamfara State is Bello Muhammad Matawalle , who has been in office since 2019 under the banner of the All Progressives Congress.

Furthermore, Zamfara State has fourteen local government areas . The local governments include Anka, Bakura, Birnin Magaji/Kiyaw, Bukkuyum, Bungudu, Chafe (Tsafe), Gummi, Gusau, and Kaura Namoda, among others.

Modern-Day Zamfara State

Due to the sharp increase in global gold prices in 2009 , gold mining became a more significant source of income for Zamfara State. A lead poisoning outbreak in the state was caused by high lead concentrations in the ore from which gold was being extracted, necessitating national and international involvement to clean up impacted areas and treat children who had severe lead poisoning.

The Zamfara State is home to a variety of historical or religiously significant tourist destinations. These include Jata , a historic Zamfara town built around a hill with a sizable cave where local customs were carried out.

Zamfara State is also one of the northern states that invest in education. There are some tertiary institutions in the state such as Federal Polytechnic, Kaura-Namoda, Zamfara State University, Federal University Gusau, and Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau, among others.

Furthermore, there are some prominent personalities in the society that were born and bred in the state. Some of these notable people include Aishatu Madawaki, Bello Matawalle, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, and Ahmad Sani Yerima , among others.

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Lawal sworn in as zamfara gov .

Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare

By Onuminya Innocent

Dr Dauda Lawal was on Monday sworn in as a new Governor of Zamfara State amidst jubilation from the party faithful and the  people of the state .

The chief judge of the state Justice Kulu Aliyu administered the oath of allegiance on Dauda and his deputy Mallam Mani Mumuni  Mudi, and urged them to abide by the oath they took 

Speaking shortly after the swearing in, Lawal said he had vision for new Zamfara,  stressing he threw his hat into the ring to rescue Zamfara from maladministration of previous administrations.

He maintained that his governments would give top priority to insecurity bedeviling the state as a result of bandits activities.

He noted that he would collaborate with federal government and security agencies to contain the banditry .

He further reiterated that education sector would also be given attention saying teacher’s salary and allowances would be promptly paid to motivate them to enable them perform better.

On economy, he said his government will improve on internally generated revenue and also attract investors to invest where the state has comparative advantage.

He stated that all the money that will accrue to the state would be judiciously used for the benefits of the citizenry.

On youth and women empowerment, he said he will create wealth and jobs for teeming youth and also provide social intervention to assist women and vulnerable in the state.

He explained that Agriculture which is the main stay of the people of the state will be given attention , saying fertilizer and  farm inputs will be provided for farmers in a subsidize rate 

The Governor promised to equip and rehabilitate primary and secondary health care to enable them provide quality heath service delivery.

He also promised to provide free medical services for children and pregnant women to reduce infant mortality.

He sought the cooperation of all stakeholders in the state, saying the problem facing the state are surmountable.

Those who graced the event include the former Governor of Sokoto state Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, former Minister of Defence Maj Gen Aliyu Gusau, heads of military, paramilitary and  party supporters.

Lawal Sworn in as Zamfara Gov 

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List of governors of Zamfara State

This is a list of administrators and governors of Zamfara State , Nigeria . Until 1996 the area was part of Sokoto State .

External links

• States of Nigeria
• List of state governors of Nigeria

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Zamfara is a state in northwestern Nigeria. The capital of Zamfara state is Gusau and its current Governor is Dauda Lawal. Until 1996, the area was part of Sokoto State.

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The 2019 Zamfara State gubernatorial election occurred on 9 March 2019. APC's Mukhtar Shehu Idris polled 67.41% of the total popular votes, defeating PDP's Bello Matawalle who got 23.89% of the total votes and trailed behind by a margin of 345,089 votes, and several minor party candidates. APC swept the entire 14 LGAs of the state, winning in all. It was, however, Matawalle, who was later declared winner by the INEC and sworn in as governor after the verdict of the Supreme Court, which declared Idris' votes as 'wasted'.

The 2015 Zamfara State gubernatorial election was the 5th gubernatorial election of Zamfara State. Held on April 11, 2015, the All Progressives Congress nominee Abdul'aziz Abubakar Yari won the election, defeating Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi of the People's Democratic Party.

The 2023 Zamfara State gubernatorial election will take place on 18 March 2023, to elect the Governor of Zamfara State, concurrent with elections to the Zamfara State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—was held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Bello Matawalle has been renominated by his party and was defeated by Dauda Lawal of PDP on 18th of March 2023.

The 2019 Nigerian Senate election in Zamfara State was held on February 23, 2019, to elect members of the Nigerian Senate to represent Zamfara State. Abdul'aziz Abubakar Yari representing Zamfara West, Aliyu Ikra Bilbis representing Zamfara Central and Tijjani Yahaya Kaura representing Zamfara North all won on the platform of All Progressives Congress. But the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 24 May 2019 sacked all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress that won elections in Zamfara State and said that candidates of parties with the highest number of valid votes cast with the required spread stands elected. Lawali Hassan Anka representing Zamfara West, Hassan Muhammed Gusau representing Zamfara Central and Sahabi Alhaji Yaú representing Zamfara North all on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party replaced the sacked senators.

From 4 to 6 January 2022, over 200 people were killed by bandits in Zamfara State, Nigeria. This was the deadliest terrorist attack in recent Nigerian history.

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Nationwide Protest: Report Fingers 2 State Governors Behind End Bad Governance Demonstration

• Recent findings have exposed some elements in the country allegedly working against President Tinubu's government
• The report conducted by the Independent Coalition for Democratic Governance in Nigeria, indicates that the Kano state government and its Zamfara counterpart were the masterminds of the just concluded nationwide protests
• Following its findings, the coalition urged President Tinubu to see to the demands of the protesters to avert future occurrence

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Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements

A recent independent report has indicted Governors Dauda Lawal and Abba Kabir Yusuf of Zamfara and Kano state s as major sponsors of the recently held nationwide protests .

The report condemned the roles played by the two governors in escalating the protests into violent and destructive actions.

2027: "Southwest isn't afraid": Yoruba council dares North's move to woo ex-president against Tinubu

The report, released by the Independent Coalition for Democratic Governance in Nigeria led by its convener, Dr Ben Omale Amodu, reveals a disturbing pattern of political thuggery and exploitation of public unrest for personal gain.

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According to the report, the governors of Zamfara and Kano states, both from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) and New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), mobilised hoodlums to target political rivals, wreak havoc on public and private property, and loot valuables.

The report specifically highlights the destruction of the APC secretariat in Zamfara state, the vandalism and arson of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Industrial Park in Kano State, and the attempted arson of the residence of the immediate past governor of Zamfara state.

The report's findings suggest that the protests, which began as a peaceful expression of discontent with the government's economic policies, were hijacked by anti-democratic forces and opposition elements seeking to destabilize the government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu .

Just In: Fubara opens up on why he delays minimum wage implementation

The actions of the Zamfara and Kano state governors have been widely condemned as a blatant attempt to exploit public unrest for personal and political gain.

The Independent Coalition for Democratic Governance in Nigeria thereby called on the federal government to take decisive action to address the demands of the protesters, to prevent future occurrences of such destructive protests, and hold accountable those responsible for the violence and destruction.

"It was noted that a significant number of the states with high incidences of hijacked protests were under the governance of opposition parties, notably the PDP and NNPP. Conversely, states with APC governors exhibited minimal to no records of violence, instead witnessing peaceful protest demonstrations as compared to the former," the report said.

"There exists compelling evidence to unequivocally suggest that the ongoing protest has been commandeered by nefarious elements, who have exploited the situation to perpetrate attacks on political opposition, engage in rampant looting, and wreak havoc on both private and public property," the report said.

Coalition reacts as Rivers police arrest notorious dynamite expert, details emerge

"This bad turn of events serves as a stark testament to the fact that nationwide protests are often hijacked by anti-democratic forces and opposition elements, whose ultimate goal is to destabilize and destroy the very fabric of a united nation."

Read more about nationwide protest here:

• Court freezes 32 accounts linked to #EndBadGovernance protests
• EndbadGovernance group plans protest against Tinubu
• NNPC: Drama as protesters engage in physical fight over money from sponsors

Zamfara governor Lawal told to resign

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Arewa Progressives Youth Forum (APYF) threatened the governor of Zamfara state, Dauda Lawal, and also issued an ultimatum for him to apologise and resign from office.

This follows the alleged appointment of a suspected gunrunner, Bashir Hadejia, as Governor Lawal's aide.

The group's threat, caution and demand come after Governor Lawal distanced himself from Hajejia's appointment and noted that the “forged” appointment letter was widely circulated for political reasons.

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Source: Legit.ng

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from NIJ, where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Email: [email protected].

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Tim Walz is still introducing himself to voters. Here are things to know about Harris’ VP pick

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris decided on Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in her bid for the White House.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz laughs as he arrives at the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kamala Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will face a national audience that’s still getting to know him when he headlines the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night.

Walz wasn’t widely known outside of Minnesota before Harris chose him to join her on the Democratic presidential ticket. But they clicked when Harris interviewed him, and she was impressed by his record as a governor and congressman — and the splash he made on TV. His attack line against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance — “These guys are just weird” — spread like a prairie fire.

Since Harris announced her pick, the campaign has raced to introduce the country to the 60-year-old governor and self-described “Midwest dad.” At the same time, Republicans have tried to deflate Walz by poking holes in his biography, and some of his past uses of imprecise language and misstatements of facts by him or staffers are resurfacing.

Here’s a look at Walz as he prepares for his biggest speech of the campaign so far:

From teacher to VP pick

The Nebraska native was a geography teacher and assistant football coach at Mankato West High School in southern Minnesota before he ran for Congress and upset Republican Rep. Gil Gutknecht in 2006. He was seen as a centrist, known for his work on veterans issues. Walz was elected governor in 2018, and was reelected in 2022 in an election that gave Democrats full control of state government.

Walz and legislative leaders seized the moment to enact broad protections for abortion and trans rights. And they raised aid to families, including free school meals for all students, new tax credits for families with children, and paid family and medical leave.

Republicans say Walz took a sharp turn to the left. They say the governor should have returned a massive $17.6 billion budget surplus to taxpayers instead of enacting a record $72 billion two-year state budget that was 40% higher than the previous budget.

They also say Walz moved too slowly to deploy the National Guard amid rioting after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020, although Trump praised his response at the time. And they say lax oversight on his watch cost pandemic-related programs hundreds of millions of dollars in fraud losses.

Military service

Walz’s elevation has revived conservative criticism of his departure from the Minnesota National Guard. He retired in 2005 with 24 total years of service to run for Congress, knowing his unit could get deployed to Iraq, but three months before it got the official order. Walz legally had the right to retire, but it doesn’t sit well with some of his critics that he left when he did. The Harris campaign counters that Walz continued to serve by being a “tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform” while in Congress.

Another controversy over Walz’s service is over how he has described his rank. His rose as high as command sergeant major — one of the top enlisted ranks in the military. But he held the rank for less than a year and retired before completing coursework and other requirements associated with his promotion, so he was reduced in rank for benefits purposes to master sergeant.

The Harris campaign initially referred to Walz as a “retired Command Sergeant Major.” Walz has described himself that way, too, over the years. The campaign has corrected its official biography for him to say just that he “served” at that rank.

It’s Day 3 of the DNC, and there are 75 days until Election Day. Here’s what to know:

• The parents of a 23-year-old American taken hostage by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel gave a speech Wednesday, pleading for the release of the dozens of people who continue to be held captive in Gaza .
• Takeaways: The Democratic National Convention barreled into its third day with a lineup featuring former President Bill Clinton and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the closer .
• In photos: Delegates descended on Chicago after a topsy-turvy few weeks for their party. A visual look at the 2024 DNC .
• Live updates: Follow The AP’s live coverage and analysis from the 2024 Democratic National Convention .

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Yet another dispute has involved a tweet by the Harris campaign of a snippet from a 2018 speech in which he spoke out against gun violence by saying, “We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” Critics said Walz was portraying himself as someone who served in a combat zone, when he hadn’t. The campaign later acknowledged that Walz misspoke back then.

Walz’s family

Tim and Gwen Walz got married in 1994. They met when they were both teachers in Nebraska and later moved to her native Minnesota, where they both worked at Mankato West High School. Former pupils remember them as allies and advocates for LGBTQ+ students. As Minnesota’s first lady, she has championed gun safety legislation, education and criminal justice reform.

They have a 23-year-old daughter, Hope, and a 17-year-old son, Gus.

A viral video that now has nearly 7 million views showed Walz and Hope jousting at the Minnesota State Fair about what to eat.

Hope rejected his proposal for a corn dog, saying, “I’m vegetarian.”

“Turkey then,” the governor responded.

“Turkey’s meat,” she fired back.

“Not in Minnesota,” he said. “Turkey’s special.”

The video closes with them screaming and laughing on the “Slingshot” thrill ride. He said she tricked him into it. “It was so worth it,” he conceded.

Gus is a high school senior. His parents recently disclosed to People magazine he has a non-verbal learning disorder, ADHD and an anxiety disorder. But they called his condition “his secret power” and said he’s “brilliant” and poised for success. He got his driver’s license last fall.

When Walz was elected governor, Gus cheered because it meant he could get a dog. They adopted a black lab named Scout a few months later.

Fertility struggles

Hope was born in 2001 and graduated from college last year. Tim and Gwen Walz chose her name after seven years of fertility struggles.

Walz strongly opposes restrictions on in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which is opposed by some anti-abortion groups because it can require the destruction of embryos, because of his family’s experience. He criticized Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, saying “If it was up to him, I wouldn’t have a family because of IVF,” and his team earlier this year referenced his family’s “IVF journey” in a fundraising email.

However, Walz and his wife used a different procedure known as intrauterine insemination (IUI), and Republicans accused him of misconstruing his personal story to make a political point.

On the campaign trail

Walz has drawn large crowds on the campaign trail, from his first appearance with Harris in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, to a solo appearance at a union convention in Los Angeles, to a Nebraska homecoming in Omaha on Saturday. Harris and Walz reunited in Pennsylvania Sunday for a bus tour through towns where the ex-coach gave pep talks to fire up local volunteers.

“Politics isn’t that much different than this,” Walz told a high school football team on Sunday. “It’s about something bigger than themselves. It’s about setting a future goal and trying to reach it.”

Poll numbers show that voters feel more positively toward Walz than Vance, and Republicans are scrambling for ways to dampen Democrats’ momentum. Some have pointed to his 1995 arrest for drunken driving and subsequent distortions about it.

When the arrest surfaced after Walz entered politics, his campaign team gave misleading information about it, falsely claiming that the charge was dropped and that Walz failed a field sobriety test because of deafness.

For his part, Walz said he quit drinking after the arrest.

Associated Press reporter Chris Megerian contributed from Washington.

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2024 Election

5 things to know about tim walz, democratic vice presidential nominee.

Clay Masters

Walz takes the spotlight

Minnesota governor and 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz poses for pictures with an attendee on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Monday. Walz is addressing the convention on Wednesday to accept the party's nomination. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The NPR Network will be reporting live from Chicago throughout the week bringing you  the latest on the Democratic National Convention .

CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has gone from a relatively unknown Midwestern politician to accepting the nomination for the second-highest elected post in the United States in just two weeks. The campaign has little time to introduce him to voters.

Walz's speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday in Chicago will play a large role in that effort. Here are five facts to know about him:

1. The Walz-Harris campaign is leaning hard into his days of teaching and coaching

Walz routinely points back to his time in the classroom in speeches and public appearances. He has a long teaching history in Minnesota and Nebraska ahead of his time in elected office. Twenty-two of his former high school students from southern Minnesota turned out to the Minnesota Capitol last week to show their support for their former teacher.

One of the former students, Dan Clement, told reporters Walz being on the ticket changed how he was planning to vote in November.

“A lot of the other stuff that I may not agree with, gets thrown out the window when it comes to Coach Walz,” said Clement, a self-identified third-party voter. “That man did a lot for me in my life, and I owe him the support that he’s going to get from me.”

Year of Global Elections

Tim walz made an impression in china, students and teachers say.

Walz credits some of his former students for encouraging him to first run for Congress in 2006.

Democrats hope these kinds of stories resonate with voters who might see a teacher or coach in Tim Walz that they had in school — especially in the crucial “Blue Wall” states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan.

2. Walz is not a native Minnesotan; he’s from Nebraska

Walz spent his formative years in rural Nebraska. He was born in West Point and moved to Valentine before graduating high school in Butte. After graduating from Chadron State College, he taught in Alliance. All these towns are far from the population centers of Lincoln and Omaha.

Walz’s stump speech focuses on the “values” he says he picked up from growing up in Valentine and Butte.

“Strength comes from our values, values of working together, seeing past differences, and always being willing to be a neighbor to lend a helping hand,” Walz said during his first solo campaign stop in Omaha over the weekend. “Now it's time for Vice President Harris and I, as we're running on these values, let's take them to the White House.”

How Tim Walz went from 'Blue Dog Democrat' to progressive champion

The lone electoral vote in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District can split off from the rest of the reliably Republican state. The electoral vote went to Democratic Presidents Joe Biden in 2020 and Barack Obama in 2008.

Walz moved to his wife Gwen’s home state of Minnesota in 1996, where the two taught in Mankato before he ran for Congress.

His Midwestern family man persona has become a key part of his image for the campaign, and part of how Harris hopes to appeal to voters in the region.

3. Walz served in the National Guard, and his record has been part of the campaign

Walz joined the National Guard at age 17 and served 24 years, first in Nebraska then Minnesota. During that time, he got called up to national disasters and a deployment to the Arctic Circle in Norway. He completed his 20 years required for retirement in 2001, but then reenlisted after the attacks on Sept. 11. His only wartime deployment was to Italy in 2003, backfilling troops that were deploying to Afghanistan. So Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance, and many veterans on social media, took issue with Walz saying he’d carried weapons “in war” when talking about gun control in a video shared by the Harris-Walz campaign .

What Mr. Walz’s former students have to say about the Democratic VP nominee

The Harris campaign said in a statement: “In his 24 years of service, the Governor carried, fired and trained others to use weapons of war innumerable times. Governor Walz would never insult or undermine any American's service to this country -- in fact, he thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It's the American way."

Vance, himself a veteran who did not see combat, has gone as far as to accuse Walz of “stolen valor.” Read more about Walz’ military record here .

4. Walz had a moderate voting record while serving in Congress, but became more progressive as governor

Walz defeated a longtime Republican in a mostly rural district in southern Minnesota and was seen as a moderate vote in Congress.

When he was first elected governor in 2018, Walz had to regularly find compromise between the state’s Republican-controlled Senate and the Democratic-controlled House.

In 2022 when he was reelected, Democrats won full control of state government in Minnesota, giving Walz the opportunity to sign many progressive priorities into law, including providing paid family leave, legalizing recreational marijuana and enacting several gun restrictions. Walz signed a law enshrining abortion access into Minnesota statutes following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2023.

5. His critics point to his handling of 2020 riots, how he navigated the pandemic, and fraud in state government under his watch

Walz faced criticism over how he responded in the days following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. The criticism centers on whether Walz deployed the Minnesota National Guard quickly enough to quell the unrest that erupted after Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. Walz has defended his actions, including reforms taken up after the protests .

Republicans in the Minnesota legislature also blame Walz for recent legislative audits that have shown millions of dollars in fraud in state government, including what federal prosecutors call the biggest pandemic fraud case in the nation. The audits have highlighted gaps in administrative oversight.

“This falls squarely on the shoulders of our governor,” Demuth said. “He has got to take responsibility, if those in his administration and the commissioners that he has hand selected are not willing to take responsibility then he needs to.”

Walz has said he accepts responsibility for the failures but said there wasn’t any malfeasance by the state.

NPR's Quil Lawrence contributed to this report.