Bello Muhammad popularly known as Bello Matawalle (born 12 February 1969) in the old nothern Nigeria is a Nigerian politician and teacher who has served as the minister of state for defence since 2023. He previously served as the Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.
He obtained First School Leaving Certificate from Maradun Township Primary School in 1979. He graduated from VTC Bunza in 1984. He attended Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and later went to Thames Valley University, London.
When His Excellency, Bello, emerged Governor of Zamfara State, the state was on the brink of socioeconomic collapse. Prior to his emergence, Zamfara citizens were marooned between the devil and the deep blue sea: this was literally symbolized by the pillaging administration of the time and the rampaging bandits unleashing terror on another end.
The state was hitherto synonymous with looting, banditry, endemic poverty, hunger, disease, palpable social discontent and all-round retrogression. It boasted of the highest maternal and infant mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa; an incontestable position down the ladder of human development index, and other accompaniments of failed leadership.
However, all this came to halt when His Excellency Dr. Matawalle heeded the divine call of governorship and within one year, the gloomy trends were supplanted by a new era of peace, progress and prosperity for all.
Today, Zamfara is earning accolades as a global model for good governance. Governor Matawalle’s achievements have stunned critics and cynics, restored hope to a fragmented populace and set Zamfara on the pedestal of socioeconomic recovery and growth.
Many of his works includes but is not limited to; He Secured a 1 billion Intervention Fund for Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Talata Mafara and the enlistment of Zamfara State University by NUC; Granted over 200 students educational scholarships to study abroad; Constructed 613 primary school classrooms, equipped them with 14,810 desks and chairs, 962 desks for staff, and modern ICT centres; Established ultramodern Women and Children Hospitals across the 14 Local Governments of Zamfara, at a free cost for pregnant mothers and children under five; Completed Canteen Daji Area road rehabilitation; Ongoing construction of 147 Primary Health Centres across local government wards in the statement and many more projects too numerous to mention.
In appreciation and acknowledgement of his efforts in overturning zamfara state from “Penury to Eldorado”, Governor Matawalle has been honoured with awards stated hereunder;
2021 Media Friendly Governor of the Year conferred by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award (NMNA); 2020 Best Governor of the Year on Security and Humanitarian Services by the Access Weekly Magazine; 2020 The Sun Newspaper “Man of the Year” Award; He has also been conferred with traditional tiles listed below;
- Matawallen Maradun
- Danmadamin Mafara
- Magayakin Zamfara
- Sarkin Kudun Bwari FCT
- Tafidan Kwali FCT
- Sardaunan Gwagwalada FCT
- Garkuwan Matasan Hausa Matawalle is married to four wives and has children.
The Board and Organizing Committee of Humanitarian Service Diamond Awards hereby present Distinguished Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed for Most Humanitarian Public Office Holder 2024.
