Martins Kuye

Martins Kuye was a Nigerian politician who served as a senator in the Third Republic and as a minister of state for finance and later commerce and industry in the Fourth Republic. He was born on 16 August 1942 in Ago Iwoye, Ijebu constituency of Ogun State. He studied sociology at the University of Ibadan and economics at the Harvard University Business School. He qualified as a chartered accountant and worked as an industrialist before entering politics. He was a member of the Social Democratic Party and the United Nigeria Congress Party during the military regime of Sani Abacha. He contested for the governorship of Ogun State in 1999 under the People's Democratic Party but lost to Olusegun Osoba. He was appointed as the minister of state for finance by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 and served until 2003. He was known for his role in the closure of Savannah Bank and the announcement of the 4% GDP growth rate in 2002. He later became an opponent of Governor Gbenga Daniel and described himself as a godfather of Ogun politics. He was nominated as the minister of commerce and industry by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and held the position until 2011. He was involved in the implementation of the budget and the promotion of trade and investment. He died on 17 January 2021 at the age of 78 in his hometown of Ago Iwoye. He was praised by many political leaders and stakeholders for his contributions to the nation's development.