Ever since President Buhari appointed his cabinet for his second term, there are only a few of them that usually make the news headlines, despite the fact that these new executives are working within their allotted space of responsibilities. President Buhari, in August 2019 appointed 43 Ministers, some are new and some worked with his during his first term.
Aside from a few of the ministers who have held powerful positions before they become Buhari’s powerhouse, most of the ministers prefer to operate behind the media clout. They are only acknowledged by the projects and programs executed by their office.
It is also worthy of note that those whose name remained on tabloids and newspapers among the ministers are already media-friendly before they take up the job. Some of them include Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, Festus Keyamo, Rotimi Amaechi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to mention a few.
City People brings you a list of the ministers whose name don’t regularly pop up in the daily newspapers but are working towards making the country habitable for the citizens
UCHECHUKWU SAMSON OGAH
Uchechukwu S. Ogah is the current Nigerian Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development. An oil magnate, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, Ogah is the President of Master Energy Group, a conglomerate with over 15 subsidiaries and interests across a variety of industries. Ogah holds the Nigerian national honor, the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He was nominated for a ministerial appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari and was later appointed as Minister of State, Mines, and Steel Development in August 21, 2019.
Ogah attended Ishiagu High School, after which he worked at West African Examination Council (WAEC) from 1986–89, before he proceeded to the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu State where he obtained Upper Credit at Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in 1992 and Distinction at the Higher National Diploma (HND) Level in 1995 in Accounting. He also attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in 2005. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree (Banking and Finance) from Ogun State University and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos. Ogah obtained his ACA in 2007. He is a Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN)
MOHAMMED MUSA BELLO
Mohammed Musa Bello is the Minister for FCT. He is a Banker who is the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, in office since 2015.
Mohammed Musa Bello was born into a Fulani family in Yola; his father, Alhaji Musa Bello, was the Managing Director of Northern Nigeria Development Company from 1970 to 1976, and a trusted friend of President Muhammadu Buhari. He started his primary education in Yola before graduating from Our Lady’s High School in Kaduna in 1971.
He attended Barewa College in Zaria from 1971 to 1976, where he received a Higher School Certificate. He then proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria from 1977 to 1980, where he received a bachelors degree in business administration, and then returned in 1985 to pursue a masters degree in business administration.
In 1984, Bello was hired by Icon Limited (a subsidiary of Barings Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust). He then spent six months undergoing training at J.P Morgan & Co., in commercial banking and risk management. He later became head of credit and marketing before later leaving to join the private sector.
He spent over twenty years in the corporate sector in various capacities, and was a Director of Habib Bank Plc, and other companies. Bello worked at the Bakabure Industrial Complex in Yola, as a General Manager in 1992. He served as a Member of the Technical Committee on Privatization (TPC). He was also a Member of the Adamawa State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture. In 2006, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria where he served from 2007 to 2015.
SHARON IKEAZOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT
Sharon Ikeazor is a Nigerian lawyer, politician and management consultant. She is the former executive secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate. On August 2019, Sharon was appointed the Minister of State for Environment.
Ikeazor’s early legal experience spans counsel positions at a variety of national and international banks; the Nigerian Merchant Bank, Nerderlansce Middenstandbank and Midas Merchant Bank, respectively. She then worked at Shell Petroleum as a company lawyer before establishing her own legal practice in 1994. By 1999, she was the legal secretary and project coordinator for Fluor Daniel Nigeria Ltd, a subsidiary of the also-named US Engineering Firm.She was actively involved in the execution of the Atlas Cove Tank Farm Project which was a technical partnership between Fluor Daniel and the National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), as regulated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Ikeazor became the Vice President for Business Development and Government Relations for the United States Consulting firm, Good Works International (GWI) Consulting, from 2003 to 2008. Whilst there, she provided consulting and advisory services to the Oil and Gas / Energy Sector stakeholders in Nigeria. In particular, she was the principal consultant for General Electric (GE) on the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) with the Federal Government of Nigeria. She also oversaw the development of other emergent business opportunities in Africa in her time at GWI.
With the merger of three political parties in Nigeria in 2013, Sharon emerged the Interim National Women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – until her appointment to the APC Board of Trustees in 2014, a position she holds till date. During her tenure as the Women Leader, she established the APC Young Women’s Forum to mentor and sponsor young female politicians. In 2016, she emerged APC Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central Zone. On Wednesday, August 21, 2019, she was appointed by President Buhari as the Minister of State Environment.
CLEMENT AGBA
Prince Clem Agba is the Minister of State for Budget & National Planning born to the family of His Royal Highness, Pius Kadiri Ikanade Agba; the Oliola of Uzanu. Clem started his primary education in St Vincent Primary School, Auchi after which he proceeded to St. John’s Grammar School, Fugar and had his higher school certificate from Advanced College Igueben in 1982. Clement Anade Clement Agba thereafter attended the then Bendel State University, now Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and graduated with a B.Sc Economics degree in 1985.
He also possesses two Masters Degrees in Business Administration, one from the University of Benin, Benin-City with specialization in Management and the other from Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, the USA with a specialization in Supply Chain Management. A
After working for Pegasus Industries and Super Engineering respectively from the mid-1980s to late in 1990, Clem joined the then Gulf Oil Company that transformed into the present-day Chevron Nigeria Limited. Like a golden fish that can not hide, Clem’s penchant for excellence was easily noticed and this blossomed such that in 1996 he was seconded to the Chevron Oil Corporation in Houston to deliver his expertise in Shipping.
In the year 2006, Clement Agba was again called upon to deliver another top-class performance in Kazakhstan, where he was seconded again in 2006 to Chevroil Tengiz to run a massive logistic chain with him as head over 1600 people. Clem’s brilliance, inventiveness, charisma, humaneness, generosity, discipline and sound work, and professional ethos have endeared him to many in the different spheres of every human endeavour.
In recognition of his immense talents and unwavering commitment to service and development of society, he responded to the clarion call of our Comrade Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole to join the rescue team that is fully charged and prepared to take Edo State to the highest possible height in political governance and development.
EMEKA NWAJIUBA:
Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba (born 20 August 1967) is a politician and lawyer. He is the current Minister of State for Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has previously served as the Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees.
Nwajiuba was born on 20 August 1967 at Umuezeala Nsu in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria. He completed a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Imo State University. He then joined the University of Lagos and completed Master of Laws(LLM) degree followed by a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law from the University of Jos. He was called to Nigerian bar in 1989.
He contested for Imo governorship on the platform of All People’s Party in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1999 – 2003 where he served as House of Representatives committee chairman on Land, Housing and works.
He was a founding member of All Progressives Congress and Secretary of the Constitution drafting committee that produced the Constitution that gave birth to All Progressives Congress in 2013.
He was the Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund from 2017 to 2019.
Nwajiuba was re-elected member of the Okigwe North Federal House of Representatives in 2019 under Accord Party. He was nominated for a ministerial role and became a Minister of State for Education of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019.
ENGINEER SULEIMAN HUSSEIN ADAMU
The current Minister of Water Resources is Engineer Suleiman Hussein Adamu and the permanent secretary is Dr Musa Wen Ibrahim At various times the ministry has been amalgamated with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. In April 2010 when Goodluck Jonathan appointed Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah as Minister of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Resources became separate from the Ministry of Agriculture.
MOHAMMED MAHMUD
Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar is the Minister for Environment. He was born on 30th December 1958 in Tudun Wada, Kaduna South of Kaduna State. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in (Biology Major, Chemistry Minor) specializing in Microbiology and Master’s Degree in Resources Management with specialization in Natural Resources Management from Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Wa., and a Ph.D in Watersheds Management from the University of Arizona, Tucson all in USA. He was during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days a Microbiologist at NNPC Kaduna Refinery, Kaduna.
He has worked for over 10 years in various organizations starting from Kittitas Country (Health Dept.) as Environmental Health Inspector, the University of Arizona as Research and Teaching Assistance, E&A Environmental Services Los Angeles, California as an Environmental professional (Industrial Hygienist), Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle as Industrial Waste Investigator. He also worked in Nigeria as a Director Planning, Research and Evaluation with the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Agency and have lectured at Water Resources Research Institute, Kaduna as well as a volunteer Environmental consultant for the United Nations Association, Seattle Washington DC.
He was awarded in the University of Arizona 1989 Departmental Scholarship of academic excellence- Doctoral Research Scholarship, his area of expertise includes among others: Natural Resource Management (Land, soil, forest and water posture), Biological and chemical water quality assessment, Watershed/River Basin Management, Environmental protection programme design and implementation as well as Air Quality, Domestic Solid waste, Rural Water Supply Management Design and Implementation.
ALHAJI MUHAMMAD SABO NANONO
Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono is the Minister of Agric & Rural Development was born in Gabasawa Local government area of Kano State on 11th April 1946. He attended Zakirai and Gwarzo Primary Schools, Birnin Kudu Secondary School, Government College, Kano from there he proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained Bachelor Degree in Business Administration in the year 1972. Also in 1977, he obtained his Master’s Degree in public policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison USA.
Similarly, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono attended an Advanced Management Course at Harvard Business School, Boston Massachusetts In 1994. He was a University lecturer, civil servant, a banker who rose to the position of Managing Director of African International Bank (AIB), (village Head of Tofai in Gabasawa, a farmer and politician as well. He also attended several courses, conferences, workshops and seminars within and outside Nigeria. A fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria became the Chairman and board member of numerous organizations in Nigeria
RAMATU TIJANI
Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu (born 12 June 1970) is the Minister of State for FCT. She is a politician from Kogi State, Nigeria. She is the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 21, 2019. Ramatu was previously the National Woman Leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) later All Progressive Congress (APC) after the party and other political parties merged (2014 – 2018).
She has supported the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari during his presidential campaigns, where she criticised the opposition candidate in 2019 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of not bringing anything important to the development of the country while he was the vice president of Nigeria, and called on Nigerians not to expect anything from him as he has nothing to offer again. She was previously elected the president of the Council of African Political Parties.
GBEMISOLA SARAKI
Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki is currently the Minister of State for Transportation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 21 August 2019 and former senator who was elected to represent the Kwara Central Senatorial District in the year 2003 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1999 representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Kwara State. She’s a sister to former Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (8th Assembly), Bukola Saraki.
Saraki was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1999 under the umbrella of the All People’s Party (APP). She ran under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) for the senate in 2003 and won the seat, representing the Central Senatorial District of Kwara State. She re-contested in 2007 and won again, serving as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for eight years (2003-2011). In 2011, she contested in the gubernatorial election of Kwara State under the ACPN party, losing an election to PDP’s Abdul Fatah Ahmed. As a legislator 2003-2011, she was a member of several committees. At the Senate in 2007-2011, Saraki chaired the Senate Committee on National Planning, Poverty Alleviation and Economic Affairs. She also acted as Vice-Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affair
AMBASSADOR ZUBAIRU DADA
Zubairu Dada, the Honourable Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, resumed duty on Wednesday 21st August 2019 following his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
Zubairu Dada was born on 28th March 1952 in Minna, Niger State. He is a graduate of English/French; double honors from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1974 and also holds a Master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos in 1990.
He started his working career as an Information Officer in 1975 in North-West State and rose to the rank of a Permanent Secretary in 1986. He was also Director of MAMSER (Mass Mobilization for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery) from 1992-1993 and Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) from 1993-1999. Until his Ministerial appointment, his last political appointment was Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission, Abuja from 2011 – 2016.
Olamilekun Adegbite
Olamilekan Adegbite is the Minister of Mines and Steel Development. Adegbite was formerly the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Ogun State under the Ibikunle Amosun regime
Maigarai Dingyadi
Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi is the Minister for Police Affairs. He was born in 1953 in Dingyadi, Sokoto State. He had his Secondary Education at Government College, Sokoto. After his secondary education, he went to the School of Basic Studies for a 2-year course. He later gained admission to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and graduated in 1978. He represented Bodinga Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives.
He was one time, the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government and Chairman National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) Abuja. He is married with 7 children. His hobbies including reading and engaging in associations.
ABUBAKAR ALIYU
Abubakar the Minister of State for Works & Housing and his late brother, former governor of Yobe State, Senator Mamman Ali were born and raised in Jimeta-Yola. Many people in Jimeta pay attention to their affairs, as they are seen as role models. In his current position, Abubakar has gone through the mills to contribute to the ministry’s policies and programs on highway construction and rehabilitation; infrastructural planning and design; and the monitoring and maintenance of federal roads and bridges, nationwide.
Aliyu has been actively involved in driving initiatives aimed at improving the country’s infrastructure. The Jimeta-raised technocrat was integral to the plans by the federal government to build 500 houses for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Zamfara, Borno, Adamawa and Katsina States, including the construction of affordable housing nationwide.
With the bureaucracy of the Nigerian administrative system, which often delays achieving monumental projects like the Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway, the country needs the expertise of technocrats like Aliyu to take its infrastructure development to the next level.
