KWALE/Nigeria: Dr. Mabel Magbulu, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani Federal Constituency, has explained that her decision to seek a seat in the House of Representatives was driven by her desire to address development challenges confronting the people and bring her professional experience to public service.
Magbulu, a real estate entrepreneur, said her journey in business, which began with personal savings, had equipped her with resilience, discipline and strategic leadership skills.
She explained that working in a traditionally male-dominated industry shaped her belief that effective leadership should be based on competence, capacity, capability and integrity rather than gender.
“Building a business, managing people, navigating challenges and creating opportunities have also deepened my understanding of public service,” she said.
According to her, her academic background has provided knowledge, while her professional experience has strengthened her abilities in strategic thinking, negotiation, people management, resource mobilisation and problem-solving.
The ADC candidate identified a visit to Kwale as a defining moment in her decision to contest the election.
She recalled learning during the visit that the town had endured inadequate public electricity for nearly two decades, saying the experience made her reflect on the prolonged development challenges affecting the people.
“What struck me was not simply the inconvenience, but the fact that people had lived with such a fundamental deficit in development for so long,” she stated.
Magbulu said the experience deepened her conviction that public leadership must confront challenges that limit the dignity, prosperity and opportunities of citizens.
She explained that, at this stage of her life, she considered public office a responsibility rather than a privilege, adding that she wanted to place her experience and abilities at the service of her people.
“At this stage of my life, I see public office not as a privilege to be pursued, but as a responsibility to be accepted,” she said.
Magbulu said her experience building a business from the ground up had taught her the importance of accountability, prudent management of resources and delivering measurable results.
She said she was seeking election not merely to occupy a seat in the National Assembly, but to bring competence, capacity and purposeful representation to Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani.
According to her, effective representation requires understanding the needs of constituents, asking the right questions, influencing policy and ensuring that the constituency receives its fair share of opportunities and development.
She said her political journey should ultimately be measured by the lives she helps improve, the opportunities she creates and the legacy she leaves for future generations.
Magbulu said her academic and professional journey spans marketing, ministry and real estate.
She obtained a diploma from Valley Mart Computers and Secretarial College, Benin City, in 1998, and completed a National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) programme in 2000.
She later obtained a Diploma in Applied Ministry from the International Bible Academy, New York (Lagos Study Centre), in 2015, alongside professional marketing qualifications from the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria.
Her other academic qualifications, according to her, include a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Real Estate Development and Corporate Governance from European-American University in 2021 and a bachelor’s degree in Real Estate Studies from Atlantic International University, Honolulu.
With her background in entrepreneurship, business development and leadership, Magbulu said she is seeking to translate her professional experience into purposeful legislative representation for the people of the constituency.
