Babangida Gantsa: Towards viable mortgage banking

Early this year the members of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria, an association of highly professional individuals, converged on the cosmopolitan city of Lagos, to decide on who would lead the association in the next couple of years after the tenure of those administering the association expired, having served for the period they were vote for. Th e event was fantastic and organized in a proper and unique manner with intellectuals in mortgage industry across the thirty six state of the federation in attendance. Th e search was for credible, competent, and honest people to lead the association to a high pedestal. Jigawa State was created in 1991 and has a population of 4.6 million inhabitants, according to 2006 census fi gures. Th e state is blessed with diff erent caliber of intellectuals who have excelled and are still excelling in all fi elds of human endeavour.

The Managing Director, Jigawa Savings and Loans, Alhaji Babangida Umar Gantsa, emerged as the elected Vice President Northwest Zone of the association, having defeated other contestants by a slight margin. Babangida Umar Gantsa was born in Gantsa, the headquarters of Buji Local Government Area of Jigawa state, on April 10,1963. Th e elected vice president is a career banker. He was enrolled at Gantsa Primary School from 1969-1975. On completion of his primary school education, he attended Government Secondary School, Ringim from 1975-1980, and joined the then Kano State Polytechnic from 1987-1989. He gained admission into Bayero University, Kano where he studied from 1993-1994. He continued in his further studies in the same university from 1997-1998 and obtained his Masters Degree in Business Administration with fl ying colours.

His zeal for unwavering pursuit of innovative approach in the banking industry contributed greatly towards the development of the banking sector in Ngeria as one the leading intellectuals in the 21st century in the banking sector.

Th is can be attested to going by the various positions he has held in several banks such as Senior Business Executive Fin, Bank; Regional Manager, Kano First Inland Bank; Branch Manager, First Inland Bank; Branch Manager, I.M.B; International Bank, Kano Branch; Business Development Manager, Savannah Bank Kano; Assistant Manager, Head; Commercial Banking, Eco Bank Plc, and several other positions he held in both fi rst and third generation bank with honesty, trustworthiness, and competency in addition to two professional qualifi cations he obtained such as certified National Accountant and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN). To match verbal pronouncements with concrete actions, the accomplished banker of international distinction did his one year compulsory NYSC at the defunct Tropical Commercial Bank, a distressed bank owned by Kano State Government. He equally worked briefl y with the Kano State Budget and Economic Planning to prepare himself for the future challenges. Babangida Gantsa has attended several seminars, workshops, symposia, and conferences both within and outside the country.

Th ey include managing strategic alliance course, Kellogg, Executive Management Programme, North Western University, Chicago, Illinois, USA (2010), training on presentation Skills-De Veire Associate, Kaduna (2007), succeeding with cost reduction training, Future-Now Training Limited, Kaduna (2007). Others are Performance Management training First Inland Bank Leadership Development Consultant (2006), Pinacle Training for Marketing Expert Edge Training Center Lagos 2006, performance appraisal programme TDM associate Lagos, Second National; conference on ethical issue in accounting with theme “prudence, transparency and accountability Bayero University Kano” (2004), third National conference on ethical issues in Accounting with the theme “honesty and integrity” Bayero University Kano (2004), intermediate credit course-Risk analysis Abidjan (2000), ECO Bank Group Cash management seminar Lagos (2000), seminar on problem loan recognition and recovery strategies risk asset management group (RAMG)ECO bank, (1999) customer relation skills, Business presentation skills Accra Ghana, face to face selling skill EFI 1999 Cotonou, Benin Republic, and several others in Nigeria and overseas. By and large, Alhaji Babangida has travelled extensively through Asia, Europe, Carrabean, America, Middle East, Eastern Block, Pacifi c Island, and Australia, either as a participant, scholar, researcher or visitor. He is a fellow of several national and international associations, and a recipient of both domestic and international awards which are achieved on merit across the globe. Th e Jigawa Savings and Loans, under the charismatic leadership of Babangida Garba, has recorded numerous achievements. He has been able to reposition the company for optimum result through recapitalization to meet the CBN benchmark; construction of houses in the state, monitoring the existing houses through the National Housing Fund contributory pension scheme, creating an enabling environment to add value and attract more customers to patronize the Saving and Loans.

Th e NDIC, CBN and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria have severally commended Jigawa Savings and Loans, describing it as one of the best Savings and Loans organisation in the country. All these are attributed to the giant strides of its managing director, Alhaji Babangida Umar, through innovation and foresight in line with international best practice. Honour is given to who deserves it. Going by the track record and impeccable achievements highlighted above, the election of Banagida Gantsa was based on merit and with his vast experience, contacts and consultations in the sector. He would defi nitely introduce numerous programmes that would uplift the standard of the association for the benefi t of members. Conclusively, we congratulate the newly elected vice president, and wish him Allah’s guidance in the discharge of his legitimate responsibility. Madobi writes from Dutse, Jigawa state

 

 

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