Biography

Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Esq., was born on January 1st, 1966 into the family of Malam Abdulrahman Marafa (Jodi), grandson of Sultan Muhammad Bello, son of Sheikh Usman ibn Fodio. He hails from Goronyo Local Government Area, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Goronyo received his early Islamic education in Sokoto from various scholars, including his Aunt Moddibo Bagidada (wife of the late Waziri of Sokoto, Abdulkadir Maccido). He later combined Islamic and Western education, attending Kofar Marke Primary School (1981) and obtaining his Secondary School Certificate at Government College Sokoto in 1986 (now Nagarta College). He obtained a Diploma in Law from the College of Legal and Islamic Studies Sokoto, and earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree in Sharia and Common Law from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto in 1997. He was called to the Nigeria Bar at the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja in 2001.

Hon. Goronyo continued his academic pursuits, obtaining a Master's Degree in Energy Security Management (2019) and a Master of Philosophy in Leadership and Strategic Studies (2021) at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, where he is currently pursuing a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Leadership and Strategic Studies. He also holds a Master Class Certificate in Business Management & Leadership from the London Graduate School (2019).

Before entering politics, Hon. Goronyo served in the National Population Commission (1991–1992), as Legal Translator at the Sokoto State House of Assembly (1992–1993), as Principal Orientation Officer at the National Orientation Agency (1993–2001), and as a Lecturer at the State College of Legal & Islamic Studies, Sokoto (2001–2006). He also practised actively as a Partner at Adamu Umar & Co. Law Chambers (2001–2006) and Principal Partner of Rafi Law Chambers, Sokoto (2006–2007).

In his political career, Hon. Goronyo joined politics in 2006 and served as a two-term member of the Sokoto State House of Assembly (2007–2015), representing Goronyo Constituency. He held positions of Minority Leader (2007–2011), Deputy House Leader (2011–2015), and Deputy Speaker (January–May 2015). In 2015, he was appointed Commissioner in the Government of Sokoto State, serving in the Ministries of Solid Minerals & Natural Resources Development (2015–2017), Energy Development (2017–2018), and Information (2018–2019).

A committed democrat and party loyalist, Hon. Goronyo served the All Progressives Congress (APC) in various capacities, including Interim Organizing Secretary (Sokoto State, 2014) and Director of Youth Mobilization North-West for the Asiwaju/Shettima Campaign Organization, where he successfully mobilised youth support for the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in 2023.

In August 2023, he was appointed Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, and subsequently appointed Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Works in 2024 — a portfolio he holds to date.

Hon. Goronyo is a member of national and international organisations including the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association, and Global Peace Foundation. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC), Fellow of the Hydrological Society of Nigeria, Honorary Fellow of the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA), and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), among others.

He speaks English, Hausa, and Fulfulde, is widely travelled across all 36 states of Nigeria and over 25 countries, and is happily married with four children.