 | Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the former chemistry teacher and the former governor of Katsina state, is Nigeria's first university educated leader in 40 years He has a political pedigree that dates back to the 1960s when his father was appointed as a minister in the post-independence administration. His late elder brother who was an army general served as President Olusegun Obasanjo�s deputy when the Obasanjo was Nigeria�s Head of State. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua,was born in Katsina town, Katsina state in 1951 and had his primary school education at Rafukka primary school in 1958 in Kastina, from where he moved to Dutsinma boarding primary school in 1962 and completed his primary education in 1964. |
Between 1965-1969, he was at the government college Keffi (now Nasarawa Stat_e for his secondary school education. From there he moved over to Barewa College Zaria for his higher school certificate in 1970/1971.
He then attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in 1972-1975 for his University education where he obtained B.Sc Education/Chemistry. And in 1978 he did his M.Sc degree in Analytical Chemistry in same University.
In 1975/1976 he did his one year mandatory NYSC service at the Holy Child College, Lagos.
He became a lecturer at the Katsina college of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria between 1976-1979, from where he moved over to the Katsina Polytechnic in 1979 also as a lecturer.
Umaru Musa Yar’adua left the public service in 1983 to private sector where he became the pioneer General Manager of Sambo Farms Ltd in Funtua, in Kastina State between 1983-1989.
He served as a broad member, Kastina State farmer’s supply company between 1984-1985.
He was a member of the governing council of Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria, and Katsina Polytechnic between 1978-1983.
He was the broad chairman of Kastina State Investment and property development company (KIPDECO) between 1994-1996.
He also held the following position as a director in many companies like;
Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd 1995 – 1999
Lodgiani Nigeria Ltd 1987 – 1999
Hamada Holdings 1983 – 1999
Madara Ltd. Vom in Jos 1987- 1999
He was also the chairman of Nation House Press Ltd, Kaduna between 1995-1999.
Yar’adua’s journey into politics began, when he became an active member and mobilizer of the defunct Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP).
He was one of the founding member of the Peoples’ Front, a political association under the leadership of his elder brother, late major-general Shenu Musa Yar’adua, during the Babagida’s transitions programme. That association later fused to form the social Democratic Party (SDP).
Musa Yar’adua, was a member of the 1988 Constituent Assembly. He was a member of the party’s National caucus and the SDP State secretary in Kastina State. He contested in 1991 governorship election in Kastina State, under the SDP party, but lost to the National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate.
1998, Musa Yar’adua founded the k34 political association during General Abdulsalam Abubarkar’s transition, the association which later teemed up to form the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). And he contested and won the governorship election of that State in 1999 and in 2003 he was also re-elected as the governor of Kastina state.
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, can best be remembered as the first governor to publicly declare his assets, and he promised to do same again at the end of his tenure.
During his tenure as the governor of Kastina state, there had been unprecedented development in the state both in the educational and health sector, provision of rural and urban roads in the state, electrification of both rural and urban area, water supply and agriculture in the state.
He had been proven to be prudent, accountability and transparency in his leadership. The state now enjoys a surplus of N6.56 billion from an empty treasury and back lots of debts which he met as a governor in 1999.
He had won the following awards
The National Primary Education Productivity Merit Award in 2004.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) best Governor Award under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) in 2005.
He unwinds by reading and playing lawn tennis and squash in the club.
He is happily married to Hajia Turai Umaru Yar’adua, and they are blessed with children
No comments:
Post a Comment