Muhammad Ahmad Bello: Professional Profile

Summary and Current Role

Muhammad Ahmad Bello is a distinguished Nigerian journalist, editor, and security expert with a career spanning over two decades in media, over fifteen years in high-level counter-insurgency (COIN) consultancy, and public service.
He previously served as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

Mr. Bello has attained the prestigious rank of Fellow of the Security Institute (FSI) from the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Bwari, Abuja, following his attendance in 2023. He also holds a similar distinction, the Fellow of the Serbia Defence University (FSDU), from the University of Defence (Voždovac) in Belgrade, Serbia.

Background and Education

Born on May 8, 1968, in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Muhammad Bello began his academic journey at Central Primary School (1975–1981) before attending Government College, Birnin Kudu (1981–1986).
He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Sociology from Bayero University, Kano (1994). He furthered his postgraduate education by successfully completing a Master’s Degree in Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies from the Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, where he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in the same discipline.

Career Trajectory

Early Career and Public Service (1994)
Following his university education, Mr. Bello completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year, serving as the Forestry Extension Coordinator for the World Bank assisted Forestry II Project in Argungu, Kebbi State.

He also engaged in significant early research projects:
• Research Assistant at the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, in partnership with the Ford Foundation on a Child Rights project (1994).
• Research Assistant on Ph.D. research concerning substance abuse, led by Prof. Salisu Adamu Abdullahi (1994).
Journalism and Editorial Leadership (Pre-2019)
Bello’s media career, which spanned more than twenty years, began at the Kano State Government-owned Triumph Newspapers, where he rose to the position of Assistant Editor of Sunday Triumph.

He gained extensive experience as a correspondent and regional editor for major Nigerian and international outlets:
• District Correspondent: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Funtua, Katsina State (2001–2005).
• Regional Roles: Served as Bureau Chief for DAILY TRUST and Regional Editor for THISDAY newspapers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State (2009–2012). During this time, he also freelanced for the Xinhua News Agency (2010–2011) and The Will online newspaper.
• International Correspondent: For half a decade, he served as the Niger Delta region correspondent for the Hausa Service of the Voice of America (VOA).
• Abuja Roles: After transferring to Abuja, he covered opposition political parties as a Correspondent-at-Large for THISDAY, subsequently moving to State House, Abuja as Bureau Chief, and later covering the House of Representatives (2013).
• Senior Editor: Held senior editorial positions, including Deputy Editor (Daily) of THE AUTHORITY newspaper (2015), and Editor of LEADERSHIP WEEKEND and later LEADERSHIP FRIDAY newspapers.

Counter-Insurgency (COIN) and Security Consulting
Mr. Bello dedicated over fifteen years to specialized consultancy in Boko Haram Counter-Insurgency (COIN) for high-profile domestic and international clients within the security sector.

His roles included high-level program management and advisory:
• Program Manager for the USAID-assisted North-East Regional Initiative (NERI) in Maiduguri, Borno State, focusing on countering violent extremism (CVE).

He also held the following COIN advisory roles:
• Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Abuja: Served as a COIN consultant (2011–2013).
• Office of the Inspector General of Police, Abuja: Served as a COIN consultant (2014).
• Department of State Security (DSS), Abuja (2015): Served as Secretary of a COIN Working Group.
• Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) / Office of the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI): Served as a COIN advisory consultant (2017) and a COIN specialist.
• International and USG-assisted Roles (2017–2019): Served as a COIN expert and consultant for UK-based Intermediate Charity and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Interior / National Coordinator of the USG-assisted Security Governance Initiative (SGI). He was also the National Security/North-East COIN expert for the Office of the Defense Military Attaché at the U.S. Embassy, Abuja.

Awards and Recognitions

Mr. Bello has received several professional recognitions throughout his career:
• Fellow of the Security Institute (FSI) from the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Bwari, Abuja (2023).
• Fellow of the Serbia Defence University (FSDU), Belgrade.
• Member, Society for Peace Studies and Practice (MSPSP).
• Nigeria Union of Journalist, Kano State Award for feature writing (1997).
• Recognized as one of the 1000 VISIONARIES behind THISDAY newspaper (2001-2020).
• Testimonial for ‘Meritorious Service’ to the United States Defense Attaché Office at the U.S. Embassy, Nigeria.
• Patrol Leader for the Boys Scout of Nigeria (1983).