ALH. MOHAMMED IDRIS MALAGI (Kakakin Nupe): Empowering Others with Courage

- November 12, 2023

Mohammed Idris Malagi, also known as Kakakin Nupe, is a highly influential figure in Nigeria's media and communications industry. With an impressive track record, he has held several prominent positions and made significant contributions to the field. He is the chairman and CEO of Blueprint Newspaper and Bifocal Communications. Additionally, he has served as chairman of the Kaduna Chapter and fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), secretary of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), and a ranking member of the International Press Institute (IPI). His career spans over three decades and has been marked by success and recognition.

Malagi's journey began in 1996 when he established Bifocal Communications Limited, a leading communications consultancy firm in Northern Nigeria. Over the years, the company has consistently demonstrated profitability and has established itself as a major player in the marketing communications subsector. Due to his extensive network and connections, Malagi is highly regarded and well-connected within Nigerian society, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Born on May 2nd, 1966, Malagi hails from Malagi Village in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. Despite being raised in a middle-class family, he witnessed the hardships of poverty and deprivation in his community. This experience fueled his compassion for the less privileged and motivated him to pursue humanitarian endeavors in business and politics.

Malagi received his early education at Central Primary School in Kontagora, Niger State, from 1972 to 1977. He then attended Government Secondary School Rijau, also in Niger State, from 1977 to 1982 for his secondary education. He furthered his studies at Usman Danfodio University in Sokoto, where he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English Language in 1987. Impressed by his exceptional performance, Malagi secured a position as a graduate assistant and lecturer-in-training at Bayero University, Kano, between 1989 and 1991. During this time, he obtained a Master's degree in English Language in 1995.

After completing his Master's degree, Malagi took a bold step and ventured into private business, leaving academia behind to pursue his passion for media and communications. This decision proved to be one of the best he ever made, setting him on a path to success as a trailblazer in Niger State's political landscape.

Throughout his career, Malagi has actively contributed to community development initiatives in Niger State. With personal involvement and support, he has influenced various projects in areas such as education, youth and women empowerment, community mobilization, and rural electrification. His consultancy roles for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and the National Primary Education Commission demonstrate his commitment to assisting farmers, constructing schools and mosques, and creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.

Inspired by his success and impact in industries such as media, aviation, construction, and logistics, Malagi established the Bifocal Group—an ambitious business conglomerate aimed at capitalizing on the evolving business landscape in both western and Third World countries.

In the realm of politics, Malagi has been a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari's agenda for Nigeria and that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Despite being a quiet but influential political operator, he has offered unwavering support to his friends and compatriots across the country. His participation as a member of the Northern Media Group, which campaigned for the emergence of the Buhari presidency in 2015, led to his appointment as the chairman of the management board of the Abuja Property Development Company Limited in 2017. Under his leadership, the organization has undergone significant transformation and has become a prominent player in the real estate sector of the Nigerian economy. In other words, he's now Minister of Information and National Orientation under President Bola Tinubu, after he performed so excellently as Director Strategy Communications during President Tinubu campaigned, Under PCC presidential Campaign council.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Mohammed Idris's commitment to corporate social responsibility has resulted in the establishment of the Mohammed Idris Malagi Foundation. This foundation has become one of Nigeria's largest humanitarian support systems, particularly in rural areas of Niger State. Through various empowerment programs, cash donations, grants, and access to finance, the foundation has improved the lives of women, youth, and the elderly throughout the state.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mohammed Idris is a devoted family man and a distinguished gentleman known for his courage and determination to uplift others out of poverty and deprivation. His aspirations for public office are driven by a desire to leave behind a lasting legacy of credible leadership, unprecedented life transformation, and infrastructural development, all for the greater benefit of humanity and to the glory of the almighty Allah.