Jump to content

Ahmad Rufai Zakari

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ahmad Rufai Zakari
Born25 February 1984
NationalityNigerian/USA
Known for
  • Engineering
  • Oil and Gas
  • Infrastructure Finance
  • SA to presidency
TitleEngineer and Consultant

Ahmad Rufai Zakari (born 25 February 1984), is a Nigerian expert on financial infrastructure on power. Ahmed is the Executive Director of Gas Power Installed Fleet and Services for Nigeria/South Africa General Electric.[citation needed] He served as the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Infrastructure from 2019 to 2023.

Early life and family

[edit]

Ahmad was born on 25 February 1984[1] to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Zakari Kazaure of Jigawa State. His father, Mr. Zakari Kazaure was a banker and an economist before his death in 2000. He is the first child in the family of five (5) children.

Educational background

[edit]

After attending secondary school in Nigeria, Ahmad got admission to study bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering/Economics from State University of New York at Buffalo,[2] and in 2006 at the age of 22 years he graduated. While in University, he developed interest in Oil and gas and financial infrastructure in Power.[3]

Career

[edit]

From 2006 to 2008, he was among the youngest Engineer admitted to build a career at General Electric through a programme known as Edison Engineering Development Programme,[1] USA. He was later employed to work as an Electric Engineer at General Electric.[4]

From September 2012 to January 2014, Ahmad was the executive director and Audit manager of GE Corporate (aligned to Oil and Gas, Sub Saharan Africa & Middle East) and was the first African to be promoted to the position of Executive Audit Manager.

In 2013, he served as the co-chair[4] for the revamp of the Acquisition Integration Framework for GE leading 30 executives.

Between 2015 and 2017, he was the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of General Electric, Nigeria.[5]

Achievements

[edit]

Mr. Ahmad was the first African to be promoted to Executive Audit Manager Position and responsible for global financial/compliance audits and operational consulting for $20B GE Oil and Gas unit.[1]

He was responsible for the company's gas power installation based in Nigeria and South Africa. This amounts to over 150 turbines and up to 8GW of installed capacity.[6]

Awards and honours

[edit]
  • GE Power Services Middle East and Africa Team of the Year Award (SSA)[7]
  • GE Global Chairman's Circle Award
  • GE Corporate Audit Staff Individual Award – Sub Saharan Africa structural review
  • GE Corporate Audit Staff Team Award – Global Growth Organization Shared Service Award

Political appointment

[edit]

In 2019,[8] the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed[9] him as the Special Adviser[10] to the presidency on Infrastructure.[11][12] He was among the few youth appointed as aids to the presidency.


References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Impressive profiles of 6 presidential aides". Oak TV Newstrack. Oak TV. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Ahmad Rufai Zakari is an expert in financial infrastructure". GlobalNoticeHub. GlobalNoticeHub. DIS. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  3. ^ "He has spent over 12 years working with General Electric". GlobalNoticeHub. GlobaNoticeHub. DIS. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  4. ^ a b "He has spent over 12 years working with General Electric". GlobalNoticeHub. Global Notice Hub. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  5. ^ "POWER WEEK AFRICA, 10 - 14 September 2018, Johannesburg | Speakers". www.power-week.com. Power Week Africa. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  6. ^ "POWER WEEK AFRICA, 10 - 14 September 2018, Johannesburg | Speakers". www.power-week.com. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Ahmad Rufai Zakari is an expert in financial infrastructure". GlobalNoticeHub. Global Notice Hub. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Buhari Appoints Son Of Controversial INEC National Commissioner, Amina Zakari As Special Adviser On Infrastructure". ScanNews Nigeria. Scan News Nigeria. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Buhari Appointed Amina Zakari's Brother As Minister, Son As Special Adviser For Helping To Rig Election –Kperogi". Sahara Reporters. Sahara Reporters. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Buhari Re-Appoints Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu As Media Aides". Channels Television. Channels TV News. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  11. ^ "Buhari approves key appointments for Osinbajo's office - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  12. ^ Laolu, Akande. "President Buhari Approves Re-Appointment of Ade Ipaye as Deputy Chief of Staff, Others – The State House, Abuja". Statehouse. State house. Retrieved 3 September 2019.