Ibrahim Shekarau

Ibrahim Shekarau (born November 5, 1955) has been Governor of Kano State in Nigeria since 29 May 2003. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP).

Early life and education

Shekarau was born in the Kurmawa quarters of Kano, the son of a police officer. He was educated at Gidan Makama Primary School (1961-1967), then at Kano Commercial College (1973-1977) and finally at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1973-1977) where he received a Bachelor in Education (B.Ed) in Mathematics/Education.

After finishing his degree, he went into the civil service. Later on, he started his career as a Mathematics teacher at Government Technical College, Wudil in 1978. Two years later he became Principal at Government Day Junior Secondary School, Wudil. In 1980 he was transferred to Government Secondary School, Hadejia, then to Government College Birnin Kudu in 1986, then to Government Secondary School, Gwammaja and then to Rumfa College in March 1988, all as the schools' principal.

Career

Shekarau became Deputy Director of Education in charge of Bichi Zonal Education Area in 1992. One year later, he was promoted to Director Planning, Research and Statistics in Ministry of Education. Two year later, he became Director General (Permanent Secretary), Ministry of Education and Youth Development.

In January 1995, Shekarau was transferred to Ministry of Water Resources, Rural and Community Development, then back to Ministry of Education in January – May 1997 before he was asked to moved to General Service Directorate of the Cabinet Office, all as Permanent Secretary. By February 2000, he was on the move again to Civil Service Commission, where he stayed for only four months before the civil service commission under Ado Gwaram Government sent him to the State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies (CASRS) as Chief lecturer (Mathematics) at the Department of Physcial Sciences,in May 2000. Shekarau remained in this post for 17 months before he voluntarily retired from the services of Kano State Civil Service on 2 October, 2001. Some time after quiting his post as Chief Lecturer, he decided to work as a secretary to businessman Aminu Dantata. He was employed under Dantata until he became a contender in Kano State's 2003 gubernatorial elections.

Ibrahim Shekarau was not considered a serious contender in the gubernatorial elections of 2003 in Kano State. He was overshadowed in his party by Ibrahim Ali Amin, the chairman of the ANPP in Kano State who won the gubnatorial primaries. But being favoured by the National executive of the party including the Presidential candidate of the party, Gen Muhammadu Buhari and other influentials such as Hajia Naja'atu Bala Muhammad, Shekarau was forced in to substitute Amin who later decamped to the Peoples Redemption Party PRP and later into the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

In April 2003 Ibrahim Shekarau won the general gubnatorial polls due to the support of Gen Buhari and anti party activity of the then vice-president Atiku Abubakar who allegedly used his office to rig the polls.

Governorship

As Governor, Shekarau has achieved a lot. During his first tenure he employed over ten thousand youth who filled most of the vacancies within the state civil service. Such employments includes over fifty (50)medical doctors whom mostly are indigines of the state; qualified and to-be qualified teaching staff. To improve primary health care, his government constructed medical centres in various local governments. Due to raising population in the state, their is inadeqaute water supply within the state, so his government embarked on construction of gigantic water treatment plant which cost nearly $50 million. One of his major credit is that he provided conducive atmosphere for political opposition in the state, by allowing freedom of expression, though some politicians are abusing the oprtunity. [cite news |first=Yusuf Sarki |last= Muhammad |title=Nigeria leader's fight against polio drops |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3522691.stm |work=BBC online |publisher=BBC |date=2004-03-02 |accessdate=2007-07-16] (what are your facts? please provide!!)

References