On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu sent the Senate a list of 28 nominees for ministerial positions for review and confirmation.
Four former governors, seven women, current and past MPs, and technocrats made up the nominees, who were chosen from 25 of Nigeria’s 36 states. Mr. Tinubu is anticipated to submit at least 11 more names to the Senate in the coming days because the constitution requires the president to appoint at least one minister from each state.
The following 28 men and women have been proposed for the Senate’s consideration for nomination to the upcoming Nigerian Federal Executive Council.
1 – Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
Mr. Tuggar, who was born on March 12th, 1967, served as a representative for Gamawa in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011. He also made two unsuccessful runs for governor of Bauchi State. He held many positions in the House, including chairman of the public procurement committee, member of the foreign affairs committee, and vice chairman of the public petitions committee. On the House floor, he was the sponsor of a bill against the cruel transportation of livestock.
The United States International University awarded Mr. Tuggar a bachelor’s degree in international relations.He studied at the University of Bath as well and holds a master’s degree from Cambridge University.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari named him as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany in August 2017. During the 23rd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Mr. Tuggar had a significant impact. Additionally, in August 2018, he helped arrange German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s state visit to Nigeria.
2 – Ahmed Musa Dangiwa
In May 2022, Mr. Dangiwa ran for governor in Katsina State’s APC primary.
Mr. Dangiwa, an architect and the former CEO/MD of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, has 30 years of professional expertise in the banking, real estate, and management fields in both the public and private sectors.
Mr. Dangiwa graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria with an MBA, an architectural bachelor’s degree, and an architectural master’s degree. He also attended the University of Pennsylvania in the United States and the Wharton School of Business.
3- Hannatu Musawa
She currently serves as President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on culture and entertainment. Mrs. Musawa is an attorney, a newspaper columnist, and has worked as the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s (PCC) deputy spokesman.
She graduated from the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom with a law degree, and the University of Cardiff in Wales awarded her a postgraduate master’s degree in the legal aspects of marine affairs.
The University of Aberdeen has also awarded her a postgraduate master’s degree in oil and gas law. She has been working on her doctorate part-time and is currently finishing it.
4- Uche Nnaji
On the APC platform, Mr. Nnaji ran for governor of Enugu State in 2023, but he was defeated by Peter Mbah of the PDP. He held a number of posts while a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He is from Akpugo, a place in the state’s Nkanu West Local Government Area.
He is a businessman who deals in the importation and acquisition of numerous goods, including medicines, medical equipment, automobile components, and other machinery.
When Mr. Nnaji was elected to represent the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the Enugu East District in 1999, he rose to prominence. However, he resigned to make room for Jim Nwobodo, a former governor of the former Anambra State, who went on to win the district’s election for senator.
The former APC governorship candidate is related to Nnoli Nnaji, a member of the House of Representatives for Nkanu East and West Federal Constituency.
5- Betta Edu
Dr. Betta Edu, a former commissioner for health in Cross River, is the APC’s national woman leader. She was born on October 27, 1986.
She served as the health commissioner for Cross River State until she resigned in 2022. She served as the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum’s National Chairman.
6- Doris Uzoka-Anite
She once served as Imo State’s Commissioner for Finance and Coordinating Economy.
Also a former general manager of Zenith Bank Plc, Ms. Uzoka-Anite. She is from Imo State’s Oguta LGA.
7- Dave Umahi
Senator Umahi, who was born on July 25, 1963, currently represents the Ebonyi South Senatorial District. He was the deputy governor from 2011 to 2015 and the governor of Ebonyi State from 2015 to 2023.
8- Nyesom Wike
Mr. Wike, who was born on December 13th, 1967, served as Rivers State’s governor most recently. Lawyer by profession, Mr. Wike held the position of chairman of the Obio Akpor Local Government Area from 1999 to 2007 for two terms.
Before enrolling in law school in 1997, he earned a Bachelor of Laws from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.
9- Mohammed Badaru Abubakar
Mr. Abubakar, who was born on September 19, 1962, presided over Jigawa State from 2015 until 2023.
He served as the chairman of both the presidential committee on non-oil revenue and the presidential committee on fertilizer. Talamiz Group of Industries is owned by him.
Mr. Abubakar received a B.Sc. in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.
10 – Nasir El-Rufai
He was a founding member of the current APC and the recently-resigned governor of Kaduna State.
Mr. El-Rufai served as the director general of the Bureau of Public Enterprises and as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 prior to his election as governor in 2015. He significantly contributed to the restructuring of the federal capital city.
Mr. El-Rufai received a first-class degree in quantity surveying from Ahmadu Bello University.
11 – Ekperipe Ekpo
From 2007 to 2011, he served in the House of Representatives.
Mr. Ekpo is a chieftain of the APC in the state as well as the director general of the Akwa Ibom Democratic Forum (ADF).
12 – Nkiru Onyejeocha
Ms. Onyecheocha, who was born on November 23, 1969, is a ranking member of the House of Representatives and represents Abia State’s Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency.
In 2002, she served as the executive transition chairman for Abia State’s Umunneochi Local Government Area. She was the state’s commissioner for resource management and workforce development in 2003.
13 – Olubunmi Tunji Ojo
Mr. Ojo, a member from Ondo State’s Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency, was born on May 1st, 1982.
In addition to holding certifications in 18 ICT professional credentials, he completed a master’s program in digital communication and networking in 2006. Before he was 24 years old, Mr. Ojo was among the first group of certified ethical hackers from the Royal Britannia IT Training Academy in the United Kingdom.
14 – Stella Okotete
She served as the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee’s (CECPC) National Women Leader.
2017 saw the appointment of Mrs. Okotete to the position of Executive Director, Business Development, Nigeria Export-Import (NEXIM) Bank.
She worked as the Executive Governor of Delta State’s Special Assistant and Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) between 2011 and 2015.
Mrs. Okotete graduated from Benson Idahosa University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Diplomacy. The Rivers State College of Arts and Sciences also awarded her a diploma in law. Additionally, she has a master’s degree in both peace studies and conflict resolution and public administration.
15- Bello Muhammad Goronyo
He served as Sokoto State’s Commissioner for Information under Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
But after switching from the PDP to the APC, he was fired.
Before leaving the PDP, the former commissioner served as chairman of the publicity and media committee of the Sokoto State governorship campaign council.
16- Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye
Mrs. Kennedy-Ohanenye, a married mother of four, is a successful entrepreneur with interests in real estate and higher learning. Although she ran in the APC’s 2022 presidential primary, she withdrew from the campaign during the party’s special convention. Later, she helped President Tinubu gain support.
17- Dele Alake
He currently serves as President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy.
Mr. Alake, who hails from Ekiti State, served as commissioner for information and strategy in Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 under Mr. Tinubu’s administration.
He is a journalist who served as Editor of the National Concord at Concord Press from 1995 until June 1999.
Former vice president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Alake. He is a member of numerous local, national, and international professional organizations, including the West African Union of Journalists (WAUJ) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
18- Lateef Fagbemi, SAN
He was born in Ijagbo, Kwara State, Nigeria, on June 22, 1956.
The advancement of law and justice in Nigeria has been significantly aided by Mr. Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and jurist. In 1984, he received his bar admission.
19- Olawale Edun
He has years of expertise in the banking industry and is a seasoned financial specialist.
During Mr. Tinubu’s two stints as governor of Lagos State (1999–2007), Mr. Edun served as commissioner for finance.
Mr. Edun is the chairman of the Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame, a recognized non-profit youth development organization that oversees amateur boxing in Lagos, as well as an international trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.
In addition, he serves as trustee for Sisters Unite for Children and chairman of the Livewell Initiative, both Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) that support underprivileged children.
20- Adebayo Adelabu
Mr. Adelabu, who was born on September 28, 1970, served as the Central Bank of Nigeria’s former deputy governor for operations. He left his position in 2019 to make an unsuccessful run for governor in Oyo State as an APC candidate.
In February 2014, he was chosen by the late President Goodluck Jonathan to serve as the CBN’s deputy governor for operations.
21 – Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
Although Mrs. Sulaiman-Ibrahim is a native of Keffi, Nasarawa State, she was born in Jos, Plateau.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) previously employed her as its director general. Later, she was transferred to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons as the Federal Commissioner.
22- Ali Pate
Dr. Pate, who was born on September 6th, 1968, is a professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership at Harvard University’s Department of Global Health and Population.
Before joining the World Bank Group, he held the positions of Global Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population as well as Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF). Mr. Pate formerly served as Nigeria’s State Minister of Health.
Mr. Pate graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) medical school in Kaduna State, Nigeria. He was born in the Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
He next relocated to Gambia, where he spent a few years working at small-town hospitals.
23- Joseph Utsev
Civil engineer Mr. Utsev served as rector of the Federal Polytechnic in Wanune, Tarka LGA, Benue State.
At the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, he held the position of associate professor.
Mr. Utsev, from Buruku LGA, served as a commissioner in the Benue State administration under Samuel Ortom.
24- Senator Abubakar Kyari
Born on January 15, 1963, Mr. Kyari served as the senator for the Borno North District from 2015 until his retirement in April 2022, when he was elected as the APC’s deputy national chairman (North).
After Abdullahi Adamu’s departure from the office in July, he was named the acting national chairman of the ruling party.
The late Brigadier Abba Kyari, father of Mr. Kyari, was the military ruler of the former North Central State (now Kaduna and Katsina states) from 1967 to 1975.
Mr. Kyari received his education in both Nigeria and the United States. He began his education in 1974 at Kaduna Capital School and later transferred to Barewa College in Zaria, where he earned his WASSCE in 1979.
He studied in the United States at the University of Tennessee Martin, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1986. After that, in 1989, he pursued his MBA at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States.
25- John Enoh
In the Cross River State community of Agbokim Waterfall, Mr. Enoh was born and nurtured.
Between 1999 and 2003, he served as the state assembly’s representative for the Etung Constituency.
He served as the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency’s representative in the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2011.
At various points throughout his career in the House, Mr. Enoh served as chair of the finance and appropriations committees.
Between 2015 and 2019, he served as the senator for Cross River State’s Central District.
Before switching to the APC in May 2017, Mr. Enoh was a PDP member. He had run for governor of Cross River State as an APC candidate, but he dropped out to back Bassey Otu, who was already in office.
26- Sani Abubakar Danladi
Mr. Danladi served as Taraba State’s deputy governor and acting governor in the past. Before being impeached, he also represented Taraba North as a senator on the PDP platform.
On May 20, 1967, in Taraba State’s Bachama, Karim Lamido Local Government Area, he was born.
In 2019, Mr. Danladi ran for governor after joining the APC, however he was defeated by Darius Ishaku of the PDP.
27- Abubakar Momoh.
Mr. Momoh is a native of Edo State’s Etsako East LGA. Mr. Momoh, a civil engineer, served two terms in the House of Representatives.
In 2019, he defected from the APC to the PDP and ran on the party’s slate in the Edo North senatorial election, which he lost. He then went back to the APC. It indicates that Adams Oshiomhole, a friend of President Tinubu, made the nomination.
28- Muhammed Idris.
Mr Idris is the publisher of Blueprint Newspaper. The media entrepreneur, who was born in Niger, holds a master’s degree in English from Bayero University in Kano.
From 2007 to 2009, he worked as a communications consultant for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on the promotion of nomadic education in Northern Nigeria.
From 2009 to 2011, he served as the chairman of the group that created and administered the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Training Guide throughout Nigeria.
From 2017 to 2021, he served as a communications consultant for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development’s Strategic Communications Guidelines were created and put into effect with the assistance of Mr. Idris from 2019 to 2022.
