Ministerial nominees profiles

Udoma Udo Udoma

Aged 60, is a senior partner of Udo Udoma & Belo Osagie and hails from Akwa Ibom State. Udoma was a two-term member of the Nigerian Senate from 1999 to 2007, where he was appointed to the committees on public accounts, judiciary, banking & currency, science & technology, privatization, and drugs and narcotics (as vice chairman).

He also served as chief whip, and chairman, committee on national planning, revenue mobilization and poverty alleviation, as well as chairman of the appropriations committee.

Udoma holds a bachelor of arts degree in jurisprudence (1976), a bachelor of civil law degree and a master of arts degree (1977), all from St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University.

He has been chairman of UAC Nigeria, part time chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He has also served as first chairman, Corporate Affairs Commission from (1991-1992).  Between 1993 and 1994, he was special adviser to the minister of petroleum, and chairman of the presidential committee on waivers, incentives and concessions since 2007.

Other positions held are chairman and Director, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, vice chairman and director, Linkage Assurance, Unilever Nigeria, and First Hydrocarbon Nigeria Limited.

Kayode Fayemi

Aged 50, was governor of Ekiti State from 2010 to 2014. He attended Christ’s School Ado Ekiti and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history, politics and international relations from the Universities of Lagos and Ife, and his doctorate in war studies from King’s College, University of London. He was the planning committee chairman for APC’s national convention that produced Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s flagbearer.

Fayemi was Director, Centre for Democracy & Development, a research and training institution dedicated to the study and promotion of democratic development. He also worked as a lecturer at Police College, Sokoto; reporter, The Guardian; strategy development adviser, London’s City Challenge; and as research fellow, African Research and Information Bureau, London.

Fayemi was an opposition leader in exile to Sani Abacha’s military regime, and was responsible for the founding of the opposition radios – Radio Freedom, Radio Democracy International & Radio Kudirat.

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi

Aged 50, was the governor of Rivers State from 2007 to 2015. He received a bachelor of arts degree in English studies and literature from the University of Port Harcourt in 1987, where he was president of the National Association of Rivers State Students (NURSS).

He thereafter worked with Pamo Clinics and Hospitals Limited, owned Peter Odili, the former governor of Rivers State until 1992, when he joined politics.

Amaechi became a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly and was subsequently made Speaker of the House from 1999 to 2007. Amaechi was chairman, Nigeria’s Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies.

He was a member of the People’s Democratic Party before defecting to the All Progressives Congress(APC) and was later appointed as director-general of the APC presidential campaign that preceding the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as president.

Babatunde Raji Fashola

The former governor of Lagos State was born on the 28th day of June 1963. He has a glowing carrier of over one and a half decades in the legal profession.

Before being elected as the 13th governor of Lagos State in 2003,  Fashola had served as the Chief of Staff to his predecessor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also served as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff at the same time an Honourable Commissioner to the Governor’s office.

His enviable records in education and tax reforms were hallmark of Fashola’s eight years tenure as governor of the nation’s commercial capital. His visionary project to transforming Lagos into a mega city was as well lauded. A feat that made political analysts tipped him for the hot job of the FCT ministerial slot.

Fashola’s exemplary achievements in other sector has also made some  analysts recommending him for Works Ministry while others feel his sojourn in the legal profession qualifies him for Anthony General and Ministry of Justice portfolio.

Abubakar Malami

Abubakar Malami, SAN, was born April 17, 1967 in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. He attended Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. Between 1995 and 1996 he worked as Magistrate II, Kebbi State Judiciary. He was a member of the Local Government Election Tribunal for the 2003 Election and National Publicity Secretary, Muslim Lawyers Forum of Nigeria – 2002 – 2004. He  served in various capacities including being a state counsel and magistrate in Kebbi State and teaching law at the Usman Dan Fodio University before going into  private legal practice. He was also the National Legal Adviser to the defunct  Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Senator Sirika Hadi

Sen. Sirika Hadi is a former pilot and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who represented Katsina North Senatorial District in the 7th Senate under the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Sirika is currently holding the position of (Vice-Chairman) of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) Committee set by the Nigerian Senate.He became a senator in 2011. As a former pilot, Sirika was a member of the Senate Committee on Aviation.

Barrister Adebayo Shittu

Barrister Adebayo Shittu, came from the CPC wing of APC. The lawyer was the governorship candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Oyo State during the 2011 elections. He was the youngest legislator (26) in Oyo State House of Assembly in the Second Republic. Shittu also served as the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

Amina J. Mohammed

Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria is the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning.

Ms. Mohammed was previously Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on the Millennium Development Goals after serving three Presidents over a period of six years. In 2005 she was charged with the coordination of the debt relief funds ($1 billion per annum) towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria. From 2002-2005, Ms. Mohammed served as coordinator of the Task Force on Gender and Education for the United Nations Millennium.

Senator (Dr.) Chris Nwabueze Ngige (Anambra), was born on August 8, 1952. A former Governor of Anambra from 29 May 2003 to 17 March 2006 under the People Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator for Anambra Central. He had his tertiary education at University of Nigeria-Nsukka. He obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) with distinction in 1972. Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery (BM.BCH) degree at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN) in 1979, Diploma in Hospital Management in Peshawar in 1990. He became a fellow of the Pakistan Institute of Hospital Service. An ideal medical doctor with vast experience in administration, he has occupied the following positions in Government Service: Medical Officer, National Assembly Clinic, 1980-82; Physician to the Senate Present, 1983; Physician of State House/Federal Government special Guest House, 1985-90; Consultant in-charge of Federal Government State Clinic, The Presidency, Abuja, 1992-93;

Consultant and Assistant Director in-charge of all Federal Medical Centres in Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Health headquarters, Abuja, 1994-97; Deputy Director of Hospital Services Federal Medical Centres/Teaching Hospitals Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, 1997-98 and Member, Ministerial Task Force on Completion of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozala, Enugu, 1996-98.

Abdurrahman Dambazau (Kano), was born on March 14, 1954. He is a retired Nigerian Army Lieutenant General who served as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) between 2008 and 2010. Dambazau’s secondary education took place at Barewa College, Zaria where he graduated from in 1974. He proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna as a member of the 17 Regular Combatant Course. He also studied at Ahmadu Bello University, Kano state. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army in June 1977. In 1979, Dambazau attended the US Army Military Police School, Fort McClellan. Dambazau later obtained a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Kent State University in 1982 and a PhD in Criminology from University of Keele in 1989. Dambazau served as a military police officer, Aide De Camp to the Chief of Army Staff (1979), commanded military police units and served as a Special Investigator (1984-1985). Dambazau was Registrar

of the Nigerian Defence Academy from 1993 to 1999. He also served as Chief Instructor, Support Weapon Wing of the Infantry Centre and School from 1999 to 2001 and later as Directing Staff at the National War College from 2004 to 2006. From 2007-2008 he served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2nd Division, Ibadan. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 2008 by President Umaru Yar’Adua.

Aisha Jummai Al-hassan (Taraba) was a former All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship aspirant during the 2015 general election. Aisha Al-Hassan is a Mumuye. A lawyer by training, Jummai became Taraba State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice. She was appointed the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on 17 December 2003.

Lai Muhammed

Lai Muhammed, one time governorship candidate of the defunct  ACN in Kwara State was before being nominated the National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC). His doggedness in promoting the image of his then opposition party during the run to the 2015 general elections contributed immensely to the party’s success. His achievement has apparently endeared him to the president, who according to some political pundits is considering the seasoned businessman an political the plum job of Information Minister.

Mohammed, a lawyer by profession was born into the family of Alhaji mohammed adekeye in 1952. As a Lawyer, he co-founded the legal firm of Edu & Mohammed as a Senior Partner in 1989.  He also served as the Chairman of Optmedia Limited, a subsidiary of Afromedia Plc since December 18, 2008. He served as a Director of Afromedia PLC since May 2011. He is also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and worked as Public Relations Officer for almost 10 years with the Nigerian Airport Authority, now Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Audu Innocent Ogbeh

Audu Innocent Ogbeh was one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) which ruled the country for 16 years when the military relinquished power. Born on 28th day of June 1948 in Otukpo, Benue, North Central Nigeria. He’s an alumnus of the famous Kings College Lagos.

His political career started  In 1979 when he ran for office in the Benue State House of Assembly on the Platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), becoming deputy speaker of the house. In 1982, Ogbeh  was appointed Federal Minister of Communications, and later became Minister of Steel Development. His term of office ended in December 1983 when a military coup brought Major-General Muhammadu Buhari to power, the man who 32 years later nominated him for a ministerial position. Barring any last minute changes, the APC chieftain might be asked to take over from the President of African Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina as Agric Minister.

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu 

Since the president has informed of his decision to run his office with that of the Petroleum Ministry, The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Ibe Kachikwu has been tipped to serve in the APC government as State Minister of Petroleum. Born some 58 years ago. Kachikwu hails from Onicha Ugbo, in Aniocha North local government area of Delta State.

He is a first class graduate of Law, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Nigerian Law School. The author of the popular Hints and Chanelle magazines before his appointment as GMD of NNPC last worked for Exxon Mobil as Vice Chairman and General Counsel. He has also worked with the Nigerian/American Merchant Bank and Texaco.

Kachikwu holds a Masters and Doctorate in Law from Harvard Law School, USA and graduated with distinctions.

Ogbonnaya Onu (born 1 December 1951) was the first Executive Governor of Abia State, Nigeria from February 1992 to December 1993.[1] He was the National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).,[2] until its amalgamation with other Nigerian opposition parties in February 2013 resulted in the creation of the All Progressives Congress.

Ogbonnaya Onu

Ogbonnaya Onu was born on December 1, 1951 in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria. He obtained grade one with distinction in his West African School Certificate examination at Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Dr Onu also obtained distinctions in Physics and Chemistry at the Higher School Certificate examination at the College of Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu, graduating as the best overall student. By 1976, he graduated with a first class honours degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos. He later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Chemical Engineering (without passing through a Masters degree) at the reputable University of California, Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980, where he did extensive work on coal liquefaction and production of synthetic fuels under mild conditions. He showed that it was possible under relatively mild conditions to produce synthetic fuels comparable with crude oil.

While in the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Onu was the President of the African Students Union; Member, Graduate Assembly of the University of California at Berkeley and also President of the Nigerian Association of Northern California, Inc. Back home, he served as President General of his alma-mater, Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Old Boys Association.

Coming out of higher school, Dr. Onu taught at St. Augustine’s Seminary, Ezzamgbo, Ebonyi State. After completing his doctoral studies in the USA, he returned to Nigeria at the time when many others in his situation preferred to stay back. On coming back from overseas, he taught at the University of Port Harcourt as the pioneer Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. On several occasions, he served as Acting Dean of the University’s Faculty of Engineering and was also elected as a Member of the Governing Council of the university. As a pioneer staff in the Faculty of Engineering and the first Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, he helped nurture the department from scratch to a position of repute. As a member of the Governing Council of the University, he worked with others to provide leadership in its search for excellence. Click here to Reply, Reply to all, or Forward