Simon Lalong Religion, Biography, Age, Net Worth, Wife, Children, Tribe, Pictures, Wiki.

At the twilight of return to democratic governance in 1998, and as a youth activist/Lawyer, his early political career was active participation in the formation of the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the grassroots in Shendam L.G.A. In 1999, contested and won election into the Plateau State House of Assembly (Served 2 terms). Within one year in the House, had served as Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary; Member, House Committee on Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Public Accounts/Petition and Agriculture.

By October 2000, in recognition of his leadership traits he was unanimously elected Honourable Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and by divine intervention earned the record of the longest serving Speaker in the history of Plateau state legislature for seven years of unbroken leadership (2000 – 2006). As a Member and a Speaker, he is proud to be associated with the following landmark achievements, which led to the establishment of the following tertiary institutions: Plateau State University, Bokkos; College of Agriculture Garkawa; College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Kurgwi. Similarly, he sponsored Bills on Creation of additional/new Chiefdoms, Districts and State Electoral Wards as well as Private Bill on establishment of structures in Local Government Councils. As Speaker, he endeared myself to fellow Speakers across the 36 states in Nigeria and was elected twice as Chairman, Nigerian Conference of Speakers (i.e. forum of all the 36 Speakers of the Federation) from 2001-2002. This led to laying a solid foundation of the forum. He is the National Chairman, Forum of All Former Speakers of Nigeria (COFSSHA) and Chairman of Former State Legislators, Plateau State Chapter.

Governor Lalong was voted and sworn in as 5th Executive Governor of Plateau State on 29th May 2015. The stunningly beautiful Plateau State is the Home of Peace, Tourism and Hospitality; a national asset endowed with great human and material resources; a wealth of resources and a wealth of opportunities for present and future development. Assertive without unnecessarily being too uncompromising, Governor Lalong is a patriot who has offered himself to serve with loyalty, humility, diligence, without prejudice to religion and ethnicity. His underlying philosophical approach is being ‘people oriented and people-centered’ for a peaceful, united and prosperous State where all youths and elders are free to express their talents. His Vision and Mission for the state is fundamentally about Service and fairness in distribution of scarce resources and developmental projects across the geo-political zones of the state. Above all, his cognate experience and exposure as the longest serving speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and a witness to workings of the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and crisis management genuinely prepared him from the early years in sustainable integration and governance.

He is a member of the National Council of States, National Economic Council, Nigerian Governors Forum, Progressive Governors Forum. He also holds several positions of responsibility, namely, Committee on Review of Minimum Wage, Presidential Food Security Council. Just recently, this great personality was unanimously elected and inaugurated as Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, where in the coming years (2019 – 2023), he will diligently lead the 19 Northern States Governors, given the believe and trust in uncommon capacity for exhibiting duty of care to all and sundry.

Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club (July 21st 2006).

International Peace Awardee Center For African Peace and Conflict Resolution (CAPCR), California State University, Sacramento, USA (April 28th 2018).

The Nation’s Maiden Special Summit and Award in recognition of giant strides in the area of “Food and Agricultural Development in Plateau State and Nigeria” (April 26th 2018).

The Blueprint’s Maiden Annual Impact Series Award in recognition of giant strides in the area of “Tolerance, Unity and Security as legacy for National Development” (July 16th 2018).

Honourary Fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Education.

Honourary Fellow of the College of Animal 

Health and Production Technology (FCAHT), Vom, amongst others.

Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) in Law Achievers University (AU), Owo, Ondo State.

Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) in Political Science and Social Development, Institute Superieur de Management (ISM) Adonai University, (Affiliate of The American University of Leadership, Florida, USA), Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Rt. Hon. (Dr) Simon Bako Lalong has received several traditional titles within and outside the State. They include:

• Gwat Goemai (Defender of Goemai Land)

• Ganuwan Keffi (By Keffi Emirate)

• Kurgwi of Ajikamai

• Ikpaat of Ibaas Chiefdom (Shield of Ibaas Nation)

• Ngu Epe Yil Jipal (The man who opens Jipal Land for good things)

• Jarumin Gboggom (Gboggom Chief Chiefdom)

• Miskaham Wangyil Chakfemland (Emancipator of Chakfem Land)

Since obtaining the people’s mandate as Governor, His Excellency has maintained a solemn pledge to truthfully serve with Integrity, Accountability and Transparency as Hallmarks of good governance to ensure justice and equity. In fact, he has made giant strides in virtually all facets of governance, Peace and Security. He has also engendered the Change Mantra to Rescue Plateau, anchored on the principle of Justice, Equity, Unity, Social Services delivery particularly infrastructure development, Education, and Agricultural production that are panacea for Sustainable Peace and Development.

He has ensured transparent, prudent and accountable use of public resources through the establishment of institutional structures and other measures such as the establishment of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), Efficiency Unit, Liquidity Committee, and Project Monitoring and Result Delivery Unit all in a bid to ensure that public resources are managed well.

Little wonder, the 2nd Corruption Survey Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2019 ranked Plateau State as the second least corrupt State in Nigeria.

Generally, in the area of education and Human Capital Development his phenomenal achievements are numerous. First, as a Member and longest serving Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, he is proud to be associated with the following landmark achievements, which led to the establishment of the following tertiary institutions: Plateau State University, Bokkos; College of Agriculture Garkawa; College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Kurgwi. Very auspicious too, he has ensured that from the formative stage of primary and secondary to tertiary levels the sector received substantial boosts. His efforts of sustainable funding for renovation and construction works, complimented with funding support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) have led to remarkable improvements in renovation and construction works, manpower recruitment as well as procurements in order to ensure standards are maintained and fast-tract their accreditation processes. The Plateau State University Bokkos

In the area of Agriculture and Agricultural Education that he is being honoured, the College of Agriculture Garkawa have just had a dose of Accreditation exercise of their several programmes with very positive results for virtually all courses being offered. In fact, the College of Agriculture Garkawa will commence offering courses at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level for various courses since its over twenty years of establishment.

In addition to institutional support, Governor Lalong recognized that the Agricultural Sector is one of the critical components in the new diversification agenda. He has therefore repositioned it through deliberate and strategic initiatives of promoting agricultural mechanization in many ways. Thus, he has reactivated the hitherto moribund fertilizer Blending Plant at Bokkos and also recently purchased and distributed 400 Tractors farmers through their cooperatives at subsidized rates. Furthermore, the Lalong administration approved and employed over four hundred Agricultural Extension Workers who have been graduates of many of our national Colleges of Agriculture. Not relenting in ensuring agricultural activities get considerable boosts, Lalong’s administration has in the past three and half years ensured inputs support through fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and seeds, which have been provided at subsidized rates. The Panyam Fish farm has been witnessing remarkable improvements in fish fingerlings production and cropping or harvest. All these initiatives in agricultural activities have led to yearly bumper harvest, food security and poverty alleviation.

Above all, with greater commitment and Government support, the College with other six tertiary institutions have enjoyed funding support that adequately enhanced their statuses for both Human and Capital Development. Similar attention has been paid to the critical foundation levels. Thus, over four thousand five hundred Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) qualified teachers that include graduates of Double Major in Agricultural Sciences have been recruited and posted to the primary schools, while over Eight hundred graduate teachers in Education, including Agricultural Education have been recruited and posted to secondary schools and still determined to improve in provision of manpower and facilities.

All these efforts have further boosted the image and integrity of the government within the context of its 3-E- Dimensional Strategies of Employment, Empowerment and Engagement in the 17 LGAs.

On succinct note of personal integrity, in all his services to humanity, Governor Lalong has been religiously guided by fear of God, without discrimination of religious sects. He has the Vincentian spirit as a committed member of St. Vincent de Paul; National Patron of Pious Union of St. Rita of Cascia, Nigeria, amongst others, which are embodiment of humility, patience, and kindness and indeed essential ingredients in service to humanity. He is a recipient of many national and international awards, including Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club; Doctorate Degree in Law (Honoris Causa) from Achievers University (AU), Owo, Ondo State and Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) in Political Science and Social Development, Institute Superieur de Management (ISM) Adonai University, (Affiliate of The American University of Leadership, Florida, USA), Cotonou, Republic of Benin; Honourary Fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Education; Honourary Fellow of the College of Animal Health and Production Technology (FCAHT), Vom, amongst others.

Hobbies: His Excellency, Governor Lalong is a passionate Golfer (Two-time Captain of Rayfield Golf Club; Footballer and Active Rotarian.