His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ali Modu Sheriff was born in 1956 in the historic town of Ngala, the headquarters of Ngala District of Dikwa Local Government of Borno State. Ngala is a historic settlement on the shores of the Lake Chad, and the people of the area are renowned for their industry, commerce and self reliance. It is not surprising therefore that His Excellency’s father, Galadima Modu Sheriff, is a well-known business tycoon in Borno State. Senator Ali Sheriff’s mother is Ya Aisa Modu. As is a common practice in the Kanuri tradition and being the first born in the family, the little Ali, upon weaning, was brought up by his dotting grandfather, Kaka Sheriff, who was a long distance trader in the mould of the trans-saharan trade merchants of the medieval times, with a very wide exposure to diverse cultures and climes. Indeed, this exposure played a great role in enrolling his grandchild, the little Ali into primary school in Ngala in 1968, when most parents were averse to western education. At his childhood, the little Ali therefore had to combine both Qur’anic and Islamic education.
Upon finishing his primary education in 1974, His Excellency proceeded to Government Secondary School, Bama where he obtained his School Leaving Certificate in 1979. He then proceeded to the famous Borno College of Basic Studies (BOCOBS). He was in BOCOBS when he applied and gained admission into the London School of Business in 1980 and obtained Diploma in Business and Finance in 1982. The knowledge he obtained in the College greatly sharpened his business expertise.
Upon return from abroad, His Excellency worked as a Director of AMS and Sons Ltd where he contributed immensely to the expansion of the company. He rose to the rank of Managing Director before he established, in 1985, his own series of companies, the best known of which are ‘Merolla Organization and Union Chase. However, imbued with the desire to better the lot of the common man, he turned his attention to politics, and in 1990 joined the National Republication Convention (NRC), on the platform of which he was elected, in 1992, to the exalted seat of Senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District. That was a remarkable victory because the State was then dominated by the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Having gained immense popularity and has entrenched a strong relationship with the people at grassroots level, Senator Ali Sheriff formed the UNCP in 1998 and became, for the second time, the Senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District. Upon the formation of the All Peoples Party in 1999, which was renamed All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Senator Dr. Ali Modu Sheriff contested and won, for the third time, the seat of the Senator representing Borno Central Senatorial District. He maintained this post till 2003.
Having played critical roles in the development of the ANNP in Borno State in particular and the entire nation in general, and having demonstrated great potentials for moving Borno to loftier heights, the people prevailed on him to contest for the Seat of Governor in the 2003 gubernatorial election. He won the election with a landslide victory. He also won the 2007 gubernatorial election.
Under Governor Ali’s leadership, Borno has been witnessing unprecedented progress, especially in the fields of housing and road construction. His name has also gone down in history for generously hosting the Kanem-Borno Millennium and Yerwa Centenary, organized by the Kanem-Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation. It was not surprising therefore that this Association awarded the Governor, on 16th November 2008, a Certificate of Merit for promotion of cultural heritage.
Senator Dr. Ali Modu Sheriff is married to Hajja Fatima Ali Sheriff, and the marriage is blessed with four children, namely Hadiza, Mustapha, Halima and Sadiq.


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