Mohammed Babangida at 54, the Chairman Who Needs No Noise

The birthday photographs were modest, showing neither champagne pyramids nor designer theatrics. Just Mohammed Babangida at 54, looking exactly as Nigerians expect him to look: calm, contained, uninterested in spectacle. The day was February 2, 2026.

Since July 2025, Babangida has served as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), appointed by President Bola Tinubu. The role places him quietly at the centre of Nigeria’s food security conversation.

Expectations were low. A famous surname tends to invite doubts about seriousness. Yet within months, Babangida moved BOA beyond its long ceremonial drift, constituting a full board with executive leadership spread across all six geopolitical zones.

Meanwhile, the work stayed mostly off camera. The Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Program rolled out tractors and implements to young farmers. There were no roadshows, no choreographed tours; the bank simply began to move, steadily and with intent.

Expectedly, there was an early test. A fake letter went viral, claiming Babangida had rejected the appointment. Others might have sparred online. Babangida responded once, through formal channels, then returned to work. It was a telling moment of probity under pressure.

The man’s philanthropy follows the same pattern. Through the El-Amin Foundation, he supports education and sports, especially in the North. Polo, youth programs, and school access. The focus is continuity, not applause. Niger State’s governor called him impactful. Few disagreed.

There is also the family role. As the first son, he increasingly speaks for the Babangida name. At the launch of IBB’s autobiography and presidential library, he acted as custodian rather than celebrity.

Critics still circle, nepotism remaining an easy charge. But the dynamic is notable for its restraint. At BOA, because governance has trumped grandstanding and execution has outpaced rhetoric, the institution feels more legible than it has in years.

At 54, Babangida is not trying to be rediscovered. He is easier to locate than that: inside institutions that are finally doing their jobs.