According to Channels Television on Monday, June 8th 2026, Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has highlighted the early rise and financial influence of economist and banker Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, describing his career trajectory as one marked by exceptional achievement in both public and private sectors.
Speaking on Hayatu-Deen’s professional background, Lawal recalled his early years in the engineering field compared to Hayatu-Deen’s rapid advancement in corporate leadership. He stated, “While we were struggling to become senior engineers, Hayatu-Deen was already Group Managing Director of the New Nigerian Development Company.”
Lawal emphasized the unusually early age at which Hayatu-Deen assumed such responsibility, noting, “At about 34, he was already a Group Managing Director.”
According to Lawal, Hayatu-Deen’s influence extended beyond a single institution, with a career spanning multiple leadership roles in Nigeria’s banking and financial sectors. He remarked, “He headed many banks and participated in so many other things.”
The former SGF also spoke on Hayatu-Deen’s financial capacity, particularly in relation to political financing and national campaign structures. He suggested that raising funds would not be a challenge for someone with Hayatu-Deen’s business background, stating, “Even money for the campaign would not be a problem because I know he made about 100 billionaires in Lagos.”
Lawal’s comments have drawn attention to ongoing discussions about the role of technocrats and private-sector leaders in Nigerian politics, especially as the country continues to debate economic reform, governance capacity, and leadership credibility ahead of future elections.
Hayatu-Deen, a well-known economist and former Managing Director of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group in other public references, has lon
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