AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

Executive Governor of Kwara State

All Progressives Congress North-Central

In office since: 29 May 2019
Term: 2nd term
Term ends: May 2027
Deputy: Kayode Alabi

Biography

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (born 5 February 1960) is a Nigerian businessman and politician who has served as Governor of Kwara State since 29 May 2019. He was educated in Kaduna and Ilorin, completing secondary school at Government College, Kaduna, and later led the oil and gas firm First Fuels Limited.

Running on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in 2019, he won the governorship as part of the 'O to ge' (Enough is enough) movement that ended the long political dominance of the Saraki family in Kwara. He was re-elected on 18 March 2023, defeating Yaman Abdullahi of the PDP; Kayode Alabi has served as his deputy throughout.

On 24 May 2023 he was chosen as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, a position he continues to hold, and in June 2026 he was elected President of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF).

His administration's flagship programmes include the KwaraLEARN basic-education reform, a garment factory, the Ilorin Innovation Hub and the Kwara Visual Arts Centre. He is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term in 2027.

Career before office

Son of the late AGF AbdulRazaq SAN, regarded as the first lawyer from Northern Nigeria, AbdulRazaq built a career in the oil and gas business and was chief executive of First Fuels Limited. He made several unsuccessful bids for elective office, including the Kwara governorship in 2011 on the Congress for Progressive Change platform, before winning the APC governorship ticket in October 2018.

Key initiatives in office

Launched KwaraLEARN, a technology-supported basic education reform programme for public primary schools
Built the Ilorin Innovation Hub to support technology startups and digital skills
Established the Kwara Visual Arts Centre (film and creative-industry studios) in Ilorin
Built a state garment factory intended to create about 2,000 direct jobs
Elected Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (2023) and President of the Forum of Regions of Africa (2026)
Grew the state's IGR to about N95.4 billion in 2025 (NBS), among the highest in Northern Nigeria