Senator George Akume, CON
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
Senator George Akume, CON, is an accomplished administrator, politician and statesman whose career spans public service, governance, legislative leadership and national administration.
Senator Akume began his professional career in the Benue State Civil Service after completing his National Youth Service. He rose through several administrative positions, including Assistant Secretary, Principal Secretary, Under Secretary and Director of Personnel Management, before serving as Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Education and later Director-General and Permanent Secretary in the Benue State public service.
His transition into politics produced an equally distinguished career. In 1999, Senator Akume became the fourth Executive Governor of Benue State, serving two terms and establishing himself as a prominent figure in Nigerian politics. He subsequently represented Benue North-West in the Senate and served as Senate Minority Leader before becoming Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs from 2019 to 2023.
In June 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Senator Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, placing him at the centre of the coordination and implementation of the Federal Government's policy agenda.
In this role, he has served as a key coordinating figure within the administration, providing institutional leadership across government and contributing to the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda. His decades of experience across the civil service, state administration, legislature and federal executive have positioned him to bring extensive institutional knowledge to the role.
Beyond government, Senator Akume's career has earned him numerous recognitions, including the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Fellow of the Sociological Association of Nigeria and other awards recognising his contributions to public service, leadership and human development.
His journey from a career civil servant to Governor, Senator, Minister and ultimately Secretary to the Government of the Federation represents more than four decades of sustained public service.
The Times Heroes Awards recognises Senator George Akume, CON, as Public Impact Person of the Decade for his decades of service to Nigeria, distinguished leadership across multiple levels of government and enduring contribution to public administration and national development.