Hadiza Bala Usman

Hadiza Bala Usman (born January 2, 1976) is a Nigerian activist and politician. She is currently the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday 11 July 2016.[1] She was formerly the Chief of Staff for the Kaduna State Governor.[2] Bala Usman is an active member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).[3]

Biography

Hadiza Bala Usman was born in Zaria to the historian, Yusufu Bala Usman.[2] Bala Usman grew up close to the campus of Ahmadu Bello University, where her father worked.[4] Hadiza Bala Usman earned her bachelor's degree in 2000 from Ahmadu Bello University and her master's degree from the University of Leeds in 2009.[2] She worked for a non-governmental organization, the Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training (CEDDERT) in Zaria as a research assistant for a year starting in 1999.[5] She has also worked for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and as a Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Project Implementation.[2] In 2011, she worked as Director of Strategy for the Good Governance Group (3G).[2] In 2015, she was appointed Chief of Staff for the Kaduna State Governor.[2]

When Boko Haram kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls in 2014, Hadiza Bala Usman began to protest, leading groups around Nigeria and in the kidnapped girls' hometown of Chibok.[6] She noticed that the Nigerian government was not prioritizing the kidnapping of the schoolgirls.[4] Because of this, Bala Usman joined the campaign started by Obiageli Ezekwesili #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG).[7] Bala Usman chose the color red for the campaign because it is a sign of "alarm, danger, a warning."[8] She has encouraged women "to keep the issue in the public eye."[9] Hadiza Bala Usman has also helped coordinate meetings with the parents of the kidnapped girls and members of the Nigerian government.[10] Bala Usman has continued to protest with the BBOG campaign into 2016.[11]

She was appointed as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari. Her appointment generated a lot of controversies as many saw her nomination as ethnically based and questioned her qualification for the specific role.

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.[8]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/07/13/fg-confirms-hadiza-bala-usmans-appointment/
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Adi, Femi (29 June 2015). "El-Rufai names Hadiza Bala Usman, First Female Chief of Staff". The News Nigeria. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Abdullahi, Musa (18 February 2015). "#BringBackOurGirls Campaign Coordinator Urge Nigerians To Vote In APC & Vote Out PDP Government". NewsWire NGR. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  4. 1 2 Wallis, William (12 December 2014). "Women of 2014: Hadiza Bala Usman". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  5. ↑ "Event Speakers". WimBiz. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Kidnap of Schoolgirls Triggers Worldwide Awareness Drive". The Saturday Star (South Africa). 10 May 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2016 – via HighBeam Research. (Subscription required (help)).
  7. ↑ "WMC Live #114: Sharon Isbin, Rossana D'Antonio, Hadiza Bala Usman". Women's Media Center Live. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  8. 1 2 Oduah, Chika (16 July 2014). "Hadiza Bala Usman: Her Father's Daughter". Metropole. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  9. ↑ "Protesters Seek Release of Abducted Schoolgirls". Cape Times (South Africa). 15 October 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2016 – via HighBeam Research. (Subscription required (help)).
  10. ↑ "Nigeria Leader's Meet with Missing Girls' Parents 'Rescheduled'". Anadolu Agency. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2016 – via HighBeam Research. (Subscription required (help)).
  11. ↑ Ezeamalu, Ben (4 January 2016). "#BringBackOurGirls Movement fumes over Boko Haram defeat claim, to march on Presidential Villa". Premium Times. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
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