Engr. Kashim Abdul Ali was born on June 10, 1958 to the Ali family of Ofugo, Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, where he had his early education.
After his secondary education, he wanted to be a fighter pilot, but a false blood genotype result however cut short the dream and an opportunity for possible fame for a young man, growing up in a military era.
He therefore proceeded to acquire a Higher National Diploma from Kaduna Polytechnic, then a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri both in Civil Engineering, and several other professional trainings, within and outside Nigeria.
Professional Career
Engr. Ali commenced his professional practice with the Benue State Government in 1982 and was involved in several engineering projects few of which are:
· Direct labour construction of a 54m - length Reinforced Concrete Bridge at Ikpa-Mbatierev, on Wannune - Igbor Road;
· Planning/Progress Engineer responsible for the collation of designs and co-ordination of the annual Traffic Census for Federal Roads with Benue state
· Resident Supervision for internal roads and civil works in the Commissioners’ village and the Benue Hotel Markudi projects.
· Planning, Engineering Design and Direct labour construction of erosion control structures for heavily eroded sections of Anyigba -Idah Road in Kogi State, and part of Katisna - Ala township roads in Benue State.
In 1992, he joined the services of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) as a Principal Engineer, and rose steadily with a trail of legacy projects in Water supply and railway as testimonial.
He was appointed Director/CE of the FCT Water Board in September
2005, where he proved his Midas touch, when under his leadership the Water Board moved from a distressed utility with heavy debts, to a buoyant one with surpluses in the first year! He repeated a similar feat in 2012, on the Abuja Rail Mass Transit project, moving the progress status rapidly, and now running its planned schedule.
Engr. Ali has also served nationally in various capacities at different time:
· Member, Board of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)
· Member, Governing Board of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI)
· Member, Nigeria Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) Committee
· Member, Vision 2020Steering Committee
· Co-Chair, Infrastructure Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)
· Member, Policy Support Group (Technical Advisory Committee of Nigerian Economic Management Team)
· Special Adviser (Utilities) to the FCT Minister
· Member, Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on Additional Potable Water Supply Sources for the Southern Part of the FCT 2004
An avid and consummate professional engineer and recipient of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO)Presidential Gold medal, Engr. Kashim is a Registered Engineer, Fellow and Past President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and current President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
He is also a Member of the National Institute (mni), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and member of the governing board of the International Science, Technology and Innovation Centre (ISTIC) for South-South Cooperation under the auspices of the UNESCO.
He holds the royal title of Olimene-Ataby His Majesty, the Attah Igala and Galadima Ankpa by His Highness, the Eje of Ankpa.
A family man and great respecter of women, Engr. Ali enjoys reading, current affairs, travelling, walking and watching extreme sports. He is happily married to Hajiya Hadiza Ali and they are blessed with children.