Ganiyu Akanbi Bello

Alhaji Ganiyu Akanbi Bello was born in Oyo State, Nigeria on July 10th, 1930 to Abdullahi Yusuf and Sinota Bello. He was a prominent Yoruba community leader in the Northern part of Nigeria and a business tycoon.

Ganiyu Akanbi Bello Age

Ganiyu Akanbi Bello would have been 94 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Ganiyu Akanbi Bello Early Life

Ganiyu lost both parents while he was still very young, causing him to go live with his uncle. He was severely maltreated by his uncle and stopped his education at the secondary school. He later left his Uncle and started cutting wood in the forest and sells it to make money for his school fees. 

Ganiyu Akanbi Bello Career

In 1950, Alhaji Bello joined the Nigeria Police under the British or colonial rule in Nigeria. He resigned around 1958 and started his personal estate business that is, Building and Civil Engineering Contractor.  He was the first to build a storey building in Kano at Number 88 Odutola Street which is a residential estate. He later bought his first private residence along Abedee Street Sabon Gari, Kano.

Bello built his first Hotel known as Criss Cross Hotel which was built along 2A Church Road in 1971. He moved his residence from Abedee Street to Race Course Road around 1972. Still in 1972, he built Tawakalitu House around Odutola Road and built the bungalow flat at Lamido Road Kano. Around 1976, he built his second residence along Race Course Road.

His second Hotel known as Gab Hotel and was built in 1980. Around 1980-1983, the Federal Government gave private individual petroleum station independence and the name Mobil filling station was changed to Criss Cross Petroleum together with his other four petroleum stations along Enugu road, Zaria Road, Hadejia Road, and Kofar Ruwa Road. He later sold the Filling Station at Kofar Ruwa and Hadejia Road. Presently, Criss Cross Petroleum has 4 Petrol Stations along Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Zaria Road, Middle Road, and Enugu Road. Criss Cross Petrol is considered the best filling stations in Kano because it sells petroleum in an honest way without going into Black Market.

In 1982, Bello built the first industry intending to be producing Engine Oil but he later sold the Sharada Industry around 1993 because he anticipated a tribal war as a result of trouble in Nigeria in relation to M. K. O Abiola.  Around 1996, he expanded his residence at IB Race Course Road and turned it into a big and mighty hotel called Centre for Excellence.

The business mogul was the first private individual to build a Jumat Mosque in Kano State. He owns two mosque in Kano. The first Mosque was bought around 1982 at Nomans Land, Kano and it was commissioned by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero. In early 2000, He bought the second Mosque called Ahmadiya Mosque along Emir Road from the Ahmadiya Muslims.

Bello was an advocate of unity in Kano. He encourages the government to foster unity between the different tribes in Kano State. He advised the Government to encourage Nigerians to stop tribalism and love each other. This move encouraged the Yorubas to continue to live in Kano. In January 2006, the Oba of Yoruba in Kano Alhaji Abdullahi Salihu (Olowo) proceeded on, a vacation for six months and G.A. Bello was put in his position as Oba Yoruba of Kano for 60 days.

Ganiyu Akanbi Bello Personal Life

Alhaji Ballo got married to Sakirat Ayoka Ogabi Bello around 1959. They gave birth to their first child called Tawakalitu Bello Sanusi, Followed by Moriliatu Bello Sanusi, then his look alike Basira Bello Oyefeso. The fourth child was his first son, Nurudeen Bello.During the civil War in Nigeria from 1966 to 1967, he sent his wife and four children to Lagos while he stayed behind in Kano. His family came back shortly after to join him and he had his fifth son called Dr. Shamsideen Bello.

Bello was murdered at the age of 84 years in Kano on June 5, 2014 by unknown assailants in Kano. He was found dead at his residence located at Number 1B Race Course General Area of Nasarawa GRA of Kano metropolis after he was allegedly murdered by yet to be identified assailants. He was stabbed on the chest and several times on the neck. His lifeless body was discovered around 11.00am by family members and Police Officers drafted to the house. A strange situation of not seeing Bello at his sitting room since dawn till about 11.00 am made his eldest son, Nurudeed Bello to report to the police. Armed officers were then sent over to the house by the police, who were said to have broken into his apartment on arrival and found him in a pool of his own blood. The incident sent shock wave among Yoruba residents in Kano. Kano State Police have swung into action to ascertain the mystery surrounding his death.

Bello was buried in his residence at Race Course Road, Kano on the same day according to Muslim rights. His closest friend, The Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero died the next day after G. A. Bello died at the same age of 84 Years on the 6th of June 2014.

Ganiyu Akanbi Bello Awards

• Alhaji Bello held many Chieftaincy titles such as: Aarre Egbe Omo Balogun Maiyegun of Ibadanland, Babasaiye of Owu, Abeokuta of Ogun State, and Aarre Basorun Timi Agbale of Ede in Osun State.
• He was also given an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration by Kenton University.
• He also received a Yoruba Ambassador's award for the North from Central Council of Ibaban indigenes CCII inside Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

Ganiyu Akanbi Bello Net Worth

His net worth is not available.

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