Chief Steven O. Lawani, OFR, Ochagwu K’Idoma was born on December 30th, 1947 into the family of late Pa Lawani of Otukpa in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Chief Lawani had his post-primary education at Mt. St. Michael’s Secondary School, Aliade from 1962 to 1967 and later at the Government College, Kaduna from 1968 to 1969.

In 1971, Chief Lawani obtained a Bachelor of Science Honours (B.Sc. Hons) Degree in Economics of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Between 1975 and 1976, Chief Lawani proceeded abroad for further studies at Manchester Polytechnic, United Kingdom from where he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Hotel Management. He also attended Cambridge University in 1980 and obtained a Diploma in Management Development.

The depth and quality of Chief Lawani’s upbringing, education and philosophy of life is best measured by his continuous rising profile in not only public service and business endeavours but equally in his political life.

Chief Lawani was Chairman of Nigerian Hotels Limited and during his tenure, the operations of the widely networked government-owned hospitality industry all over the country reached its zenith in terms of quality of service, fiscal discipline and purpose-driven management with particular focus on customer satisfaction.

It was the creative and flawless manner that Chief Lawani managed Nigerian Hotels Ltd. which ultimately informed his appointment as Chairman of Savannah Bank Nigeria Ltd. and later Chairman, Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria Limited (ALSCON).

Given his impeccable business acumen, Chief Lawani teamed up with some investors within the country to form the then Manny Bank Limited of which he was Chairman before it merged with other financial institutions in the wake of the recent recapitalization to become Fidelity Bank Plc, one of the twenty-five mega Banks in Nigeria today. He was a director of this Bank until 2007 when he resigned having been elected Deputy Governor of Benue State.

A workaholic to the core who constantly create for himself challenges, Chief Lawani, apart from his tight engagements in the banking sector founded and incorporated a property company, Abuja Land Development (ALD) Limited, of which he is the Chairman/CEO.

We are told that though Chief Lawani had no compelling interest in partisan politics, but that he was dragged into it by his close associates who came across this unique personality who in spite of the hostile pressures of the Nigerian business environment remained himself – composed, cosmopolitan, and a gentleman to the core.

It is the combination of these quality character traits that defined the immediate success of Chief Lawani when he stepped into the political platform in the third Republic. During that Republic Chief Lawani was the Deputy National Chairman of the National Republican Convention (NRC), one of the then two political parties.

Chief Lawani also served as an elected member of the National Constitutional Conference after which he sought and was elected a Senator under the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP).

In the present political era, Chief Lawani was instrumental to the success of the PDP at the local, state and national levels. He has served as Chairman and member of many committees of the party at one time or the other since 1999.

For a long time Chief Lawani was the Treasurer of the Pan-Northern organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

It is in recognition of his pedigree in the business and political spheres that his people bestowed on Chief Lawani the prestigious and distinguished traditional title of Ochagwu K’Idoma which is equivalent of Generalissimo or Field Marshal.

Chief Lawani’s reward for service to humanity and fatherland was further crowned when he was awarded a national honour – Officer of the Federal Republic, OFR, by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2004.

He is both Fellow of Nigeria Hotels and Catering Institute, and the Nigeria Institute of Chartered Economics.

He is someone who has travelled all over the globe and interacted with many cultures both within and outside the country and which has defined his cosmopolitan perspective on issues and shaped his philosophy of life – that of service and sacrifice.

Chief Steven Lawani is happily married with Children.