Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha is a lawyer, management consultant, politician,
business man and boardroom guru of considerable repute.
Born in Adamawa State, Mr Mustapha attended Hong Secondary School, in
Hong Adamawa state and North East College of Arts and Sciences Maiduguri Borno
state, crowning it with WASC and HSC in 1976. He earned his Bachelor of Law
(LL.B) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 and was called to bar in
1980. From 1980 to 1981, Mr Mustapha did the compulsory National Youth Service
Corps (NYSC) – Directorate of Legal of legal Services at the Army Headquarters
and was in charge of review of Court Marshall Proceedings.
After his National Service, he joined Sotesa Nigeria Limited, an Italian
consultancy firm, as an Executive Director in charge of Administration, leaving
in 1983 to join the prestigious law firm Messrs Onagoruwa & Co in Lagos.
With his law practice fully taken off, he was appointed Principal
Counsel in the firm Messrs Mustapha & Associates, His legal interests and
expertise included privatization commercialization and Liberalization of Public
Companies/Corporate and Government Parastatals. He was also involved in
preparation of varied and miscellaneous banking documents such as Debentures,
Guarantees, Mortgages, Bonds and Loan Syndications.
One of Mr. Mustapha’s career highlights was his appointment as a member
of Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust
Fund (PTF), serving meritoriously from 2000 to 2007. At the PTF, he was
responsible for production of an up-to-date comprehensive project and programme
report, including location, coverage and whether performed, performing or
abandoned production of final report of Assets and Liabilities, examination of
the Administrative structure and cost effectiveness of pf Projects and Services
among other duties.
Mr. Mustapha also played key leadership roles at the Nigeria Bar
Association (NBA) serving as Social Secretary and Chairman at the Yola branch.
After his stint at the PTF in 2007, Mr. Mustapha was appointed Principal
Partner of the law firm, Adroit Lex. His law practice and the burning desire to
serve the larger society conspired to attract the MD into politics, at various
times, he was member Federal Republic of Nigeria Constituent Assembly
(1988-1989), Chairman People’s Solidarity Party-Gongola State (1989-1990),
state chairman, Social Democratic Party-Gongola State (1990-1991); he was even
a gubernatorial candidate for SDP in Adamawa state in 1991. He was the Deputy
National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria from 2010 to 2013.
In 2007, he again played a prominent role, serving as the Deputy Director
General of the party’s Presidential campaign Organization. His services
remained in high demand after the fusing of ACN joined forces with other
parties to form the All Progressive Congress (APC). He was a member of NCC and
Secretary APC Presidential Campaign Organization Mobilization (2015) and
member, APC Transition Committee (2015). He is also a member, APC Board of
Trustees.
In addition to the NBA, he is a member of various professional
bodies including African Bar Association (ABA), Commonwealth Lawyers
Association, International Bar Association (IBA) and Human Rights Institute
(HRI). But Mr. Mustapha’s accomplishments go beyond politics and the Bar; he is
respected boardroom guru, having been appointed into the boards of several
companies in the manufacturing financial services as well as oil and gas
sectors. He is the National Vice President, Full Gospel Business Men’s
Fellowship international Nigeria.
He has travelled extensively visiting no fewer than 30 countries,
and always taken interest in how waterways assets are managed in those
countries. His address to management staff on assuming office set the tone
style and direction of his administration. He stressed teamwork and the need to
focus on the Authority’s vision and mission. He also said: “Just call me
Boss, there is no need calling me Manager; I don’t have nicknames.”
Mr. Mustapha who is married with children, enjoys golf, lawn tennis,
travelling, documentary films, charity work and meeting people.
Source: Daily Trust
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