The road to success is never an easy path. Especially for a person transitioning from one career to another. Anyone who dares to ply the route must pass through and overcome trying obstacles and hurdles, and only the most resilient, hardworking, and fearless, will almost always turn out a success.
You must also maintain strong relationships and connections with people in valuable places that can always ensure you get a mention in places of great importance.
This is the success story of Abubakar Sani Bello, a former military colonel who successfully transitioned after his retirement from the military to build a successful business and gain recognition from Forbes.
Here’s how he did it:
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Early Life And Education Of Sani Bello
Sani Bello was born at Kontagora to Alhaji Bello Mustapha and Hajiya Abu on the 27th of November, 1942. He received an Islamic education and attended Central Primary School, Kotangora from 1950 to 1957.
Bello attended Government College Bida from 1957 until 1962 with the likes of former military general Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Mohammed Sani.
Career In The Military
In December 1962, Col. Sani Bello enrolled in the Nigerian Army and went on for training and graduated in 1965 from Sandhurst, United Kingdom. When he returned to Nigeria, he served in various capacities in the Nigerian Army including as ADC, Supreme Commander of Nigeria, Rear Commander of the former 3 Marine Command and Assistant Quartermaster General of the 3 Marine Command Division the Nigerian Army (1971 – 1975) before he was appointed to the military government position.
From 1971 to 1974, Bello Sani moved on to become the Nigerian Army Deputy Adjutant General and became the 81 Battalion Commanding Officer, Kaduna.
He was appointed military governor of Kano state where he served from 1975 to 1978 under the rule of General Murtala Mohammed and ex-officio member of the Supreme Military Council.
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The Start Of Amni International
After retiring from the military and following his active service as ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bello networked with clients, business associates and friends who extended their business interests in insurance, banking, construction, and telecommunications, while maintaining personal and business relationships with his childhood friends; Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
In 1993, Sani Bello co-founded Amni International, a national oil and gas exploration and production company in the Niger Delta with interests in Ketu and Okoro oilfield. The independent company engages in offshore oil and gas drilling, sub-sea flow line transportation and pipeline systems. It operates two mainstream oil-producing offshore blocks with production averaging 18,200 barrels a day.
Successes
Since its inception, Amni International has grown to become a significant player in the oil and gas industry in West Africa. The company pioneered the participation of independent companies in offshore fields in West Africa with over 20 years of activities, including 15 years as an operator. The company is also listed as an active supporter of local involvement in the oil and gas industry.
Amni International is recognised as a founding member of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum explorers and producers (NAIPEC) as well as a member of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationist (NAPE).
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Sani Bello Today
Sanni Bello is/was the chairman of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Limited and Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited as well as the Proprietor of Mustafa Comprehensive School in Kontagora. Bello also holds a minority stake in the mobile telecom firm, MTN Nigeria.
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Sani Bello’s Impact In Society
The Sani Bello Foundation is a Nigerian non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded by Sani Bello in 2011. It focuses on issues related to youth empowerment and social welfare as well as training programmes in diverse vocational skills, including ICT, fashion design and hospitality management.
The aim is to alleviate poverty through youth empowerment in the areas of education, business development, trade, craftsmanship and skills to enable them to compete favourably anywhere in the world, as relating to their area of expertise. Since its inception, the foundation has produced many notable graduates with useful deplorable skills.
Sanni Bello’s Awards And Recognitions
Sanni Bello is on the list of Forbes 2013’s 40 richest men in Africa. He has also held numerous part-time offices as president of Niger state NYSC, Niger State Green Revolution, Niger State Polytechnic and Niger State Science & Technical College. He was also the Chairman of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation and took his team to both the Commonwealth and World Championships in 1983. From 1984 to 1986, he was the Nigerian High Commissioner for Zimbabwe.
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To Sum It Up
Sani Bello’s success story shows that having valuable connections & relationships while working hard, staying diligent to your work, and persevering no matter what competition is in your way will almost always pay off at the end.
long life with blessing my daddy
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