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Hadiza Bala Usman

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Hadiza Bala Usman
Special Adviser on Policy Coordination to the President
Incumbent
Assumed office
19 June 2023
PresidentBola Tinubu
Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority
In office
11 July 2016 – 6 May 2021
Preceded byHabibu Abdullahi
Succeeded byMohammed Bello-Koko
Personal details
Born (1976-01-02) 2 January 1976 (age 48)
Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Political partyAll Progressives Congress (2013–present)
Other political
affiliations
Relations
Children2
Alma mater

Hadiza Bala Usman (born 2 January 1976) is a Nigerian politician who served as managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 2016 to 2021.[1] She previously served as the chief of staff to the governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2016.[2] She was appointed special adviser on Policy and Coordination Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU) to President Bola Tinubu in June 2023 together with Hannatu Musawa [3] who's currently serving as Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy of Nigeria.

Since 2014, she is one of the co-founders of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, and is also a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.[4]

Early life and education

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Hadiza Bala Usman was born on 2 January 1976 in Zaria to a Fulani ruling class family of the Sullubawa clan. Her father, Yusufu Bala Usman, the grandson of Sarkin Katsina Muhammadu Katsina Dikko, was a prominent academic and historian who founded the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training in Zaria. Her great grandfather, Abdullahi Bayero (father to her paternal grandmother), was the 10th Emir of Kano from 1926 to 1953, her paternal grand father was the Durbin Katsina, her grand uncle was Usman Nagogo the Emir of Katsina and her great grand father was Sarkin Katsina Muhammadu Dikko (father to her paternal grandfather).[5]

Hadiza grew up on the campus of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where her father worked.[6] She started her education at the university staff primary school and went ahead to complete her secondary education. In 1996, she enrolled at the university and received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2000. She later received a master's degree in development studies from the University of Leeds in 2009.[7]

Career

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Career in the private sector

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In 1999, she spent a year at the Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training in Zaria as a research assistant.[8]

She then worked at the Bureau of Public Enterprises from July 2000 to August 2004 as an enterprise officer. From October 2004 to January 2008, she was then hired by the UNDP for the Federal Capital Territory Administration as a special assistant to the Minister on project implementation.

In 2011, Hadiza campaigned and lost for the federal constituency of Musawa/Matazu as a candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change.[9] She then joined the Good Governance Group in Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, as the country director of strategy from 2011 to July 2015.

In 2014, following the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping by Boko Haram,[10] Hadiza Bala co-founded the Bring Back Our Girls campaign group to create awareness and advocate the rescue of the abducted schoolgirls.[11] She chose the colour red for the campaign because it is a sign of "alarm, danger, a warning."[12] Hadiza Bala Usman also helped coordinate meetings with the parents of the kidnapped girls and members of the Nigerian government.[13] She has continued to protest with the group into 2016.[14]

Career in the public sector

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In 2015, following his election Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai appointed her as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kaduna State, thus becoming the first female to hold that position.[15] She was appointed as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.[16] Her appointment generated a lot of controversies as many saw her nomination as ethnically based and questioned her qualification for the specific role.[17] In May 6, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari approved her suspension as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).[18] Hadiza, who was recently re-appointed for second term, was suspended following a public spate with then transport minister Rotimi Amaechi.[19][20] She was the Deputy Director-General Administration of the Tinubu/Shettima APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 presidential election. Her book, Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at Nigerian Ports Authority, was published by TheCable Books in April 2023.[21]

In June 2023, she was appointed Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.[22]

Personal life

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Hadiza Bala Usman was married to an economic analyst Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi who served under the former (Late) President Umaru Musa Yar'adua as economic adviser and together they have two boys.[12]

Recognition

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She has been recognized in various ways for her achievements both in the maritime sector as Queen of the Maritime[23] and Nigeria's public service among Under 50 Leaders in Public Service in 2021 when she received the outstanding female executive in public service (Maritime) award alongside other prominent women in public service.

References

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  1. ^ "Why Buhari suspended NPA boss Hadiza - Presidency". 6 May 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  2. ^ Adi, Femi (29 June 2015). "El-Rufai names Hadiza Bala Usman, First Female Chief of Staff". The NEWS Nigeria. Retrieved 2 February 2016 – via thenewnigeria.com.ng.
  3. ^ Yekeen, Akinwale (19 June 2023). "Tinubu appoints Hadiza Bala Usman, Hannatu Musawa as special advisers". TheCable.
  4. ^ Abdullahi, Musa (18 February 2015). "#BringBackOurGirls Campaign Coordinator Urge Nigerians To Vote In APC & Vote Out PDP Government". NewsWire NGR. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Profile Of The New NPA Boss, Hadiza Bala Usman". NTA.ng. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  6. ^ Wallis, William (12 December 2014). "Women of 2014: Hadiza Bala Usman". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Management Team". Nigerian Ports Authority. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. ^ "Event Speakers". WimBiz. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  9. ^ "I'M NOT INTIMIDATED BY MALE OPPONENTS — HADIZA BALA USMAN". Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Kidnap of Schoolgirls Triggers Worldwide Awareness Drive". The Saturday Star (South Africa). 10 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  11. ^ "WMC Live #114: Sharon Isbin, Rossana D'Antonio, Hadiza Bala Usman". Women's Media Center Live. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  12. ^ a b Oduah, Chika (16 July 2014). "Hadiza Bala Usman: Her Father's Daughter". Metropole. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Nigeria Leader's Meet with Missing Girls' Parents 'Rescheduled'". Anadolu Agency. 16 July 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  14. ^ Ezeamalu, Ben (4 January 2016). "#BringBackOurGirls Movement fumes over Boko Haram defeat claim, to march on Presidential Villa". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  15. ^ Agabi, Chris (19 August 2017). "I go to bed at 9:00pm – Hadiza Bala Usman". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  16. ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "Meet Hadiza Bala Usman, The Incredible Young Woman Running Nigeria's Port Authority". Forbes. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Hadiza Bala-Usman's appointment at NPA sparks controversy". Ripples Nigeria. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Buhari suspends Hadiza Bala Usman as NPA MD". Premium Times. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Presidency suspends NPA MD, Hadiza Bala-Usman". The Nation Newspaper. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Please grow up and stop all these lies: Hadiza Bala Usman replies Amaechi". PM News.
  21. ^ "BOOK REVIEW: Stepping on Toes: Hadiza Bala Usman on navigating stormy waters of public office". Premium Times.
  22. ^ Oduah, Henry (19 June 2023). "Tinubu appoints Hadiza Bala Usman special adviser". QED.NG. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Queen Maritime Award". Trade News Wire. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
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