The list contains five former Governors, technocrats and professionals. Here are the profiles of the nominees:
· Maryam Shetty (Kano)
Maryam Shettima famously known as Maryam Shetty was national leader of #WeBelieve, an APC support group.
She is a social activist and qualified physiotherapist. Born into the Kano royal family, Ms Shettima started her early education in Kano and went to Federal School of Physiotherapy in Bayero University, where she finished her Bsc with distinction.
She worked briefly with Dala Orthopedic and Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospitals in Kano before she went to London to further her education.
She obtained her Masters Degree from the University of East London, Stratford where she majored in sports physiotherapy.
She was on the medical team of the London Olympics where she worked with top-tier athletes including world record holder, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt.
· Bosun Tijani
He was born on 20 July, 1977. He is an entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), the leading Pan-African innovation and technology centre.
Tijani is widely acknowledged as a pioneer and industry leader in the African technology ecosystem and was named as one of the 100 Most Influential People on the continent by New Africa Magazine.
He initiated the first visit of Mark Zuckerberg to Nigeria in August 2016 as part of efforts to place Africa on the global technology map. He has also hosted other global technology leaders in Nigeria, including former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in 2019[6] and most recently in June, 2023, hosted a fireside chat with Microsoft founder and co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates.
In 2019, under his leadership, CcHUB acquired Kenya’s iHub and launched the CcHUB Design Lab in Kigali, Rwanda in the same year.[9] He has also expanded CcHUB’s Pan-African footprint into Southern Africa by opening CcHUB Namibia, the main tech hub in Windhoek, Namibia in 2023.
· Tunji Alausa, M.D (Lagos)
Alausa is the Executive Chairman & Chief Medical Officer, Dialysis Care Centre in Homer Glen, Illinois, United States
The Epe-born Nephrologist studied Medicine at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and was Assistant Professor & Attending Physician Rush University Medical Center – Cook County Hospital.
He was named America’s Best Physician in 2007 & 2012 and served as Chief Medical Resident Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL.
· Tanko Sununu (Kebbi)
He represents Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency. He was a Member of Board of Management Federal Medical Centre Katsina (2013), Member of Board Management Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto (2018).
The trained Obstetrician and Gynaecologist was born on 02/02/1967.
· Ishak Salako (Ogun)
Dr Ishaq Kunle Salako is a medical practitioner and former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State. He’s the Co-ordinator, Ogun West Stakeholders Forum.
· Adegboyega Oyetola (0sun)
Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola CON was born on 29th of September, 1954. He served as governor of Osun State from 2018 to 2022.
Oyetola was born in Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area. He started his secondary education at Ifeoluwa Grammar School, Osogbo and graduated in 1972.
Oyetola proceeded to the University of Lagos and graduated with a Bachelor of Science honours degree in Insurance in 1978.
He proceeded for his mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Potiskum, Yobe State, where he lectured at the Staff Training Centre between 1978 and 1979. He obtained his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos in 1990.
He contested for the Osun gubernatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 2018 gubernatorial election and won.
Oyetola was the Chief of Staff to Rauf Aregbesola, his predecessor.
· Atiku Bagudu
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu CON, was born on 26th December 1961. He is the immediate past Kebbi Governor. He served as the Senator for Kebbi Central.
He obtained a BSc (Economics), Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Msc (Economics) University of Jos and M.A. (International Affairs). He is married to Zainab Bagudu.
Bagudu succeeded Adamu Aliero when he won the by-election for the Kebbi Central Senatorial seat following Aliero’s appointment to become the Minister for FCT.
· BELLO MATAWALLE (Zamfara)
Bello Muhammad was born on 12th February 1969, known as Bello Matawalle and is the immediate past Zamfara Governor.
He obtained First School Leaving Certificate from Maradun Township Primary School in 1979. He graduated from VTC Bunza in 1984. He attended Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and later went to Thames Valley University, London.
After briefly serving in the Abacha-era House of Assembly and Commissioner from 1999 to 2003 in the Ahmad Sani Yerima administration in the Fourth Republic, he first won an elected office in 2003 as a member of the House of Representatives for Bakura/Maradun and retained the office until 2015 first as a member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) before switching to the People’s Democratic Party in 2011.
Between 1999 and 2003 he served as Zamfara Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Environment, Rural Development and then Commissioner for Youth and Sports.
Matawalle was elected into the House of Representatives by his constituents Bakura/Maradun in May 2003 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
Matawalle was re-elected in 2007 still on the platform of the ANPP only to defect to PDP on which platform he was re-elected for a third term in 2011.
Four years after losing his Bakura/Maradun Constituency seat in 2015, Matawalle became the 2019 PDP gubernatorial nominee and won the office after a Supreme Court ruling disqualified the original winner. In 2021, he defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress after a defection rally in Gusau alongside most Zamfara State elected officials.
· Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe)
Ibrahim Gaidam is a Senator from Yobe East Senatorial District. He handed over to Governor Mai Mala Buni on 29 May 2019.
Gaidam was born on 15 September 1956 in Bukarti village, Yunusari local government area in the old Borno, now Yobe state. He attended the Borno Teachers’ College (BTC), Maiduguri from 1974 to 1979 where he obtained a Teachers’ Certificate. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1981 and 1983, earning a Diploma in Accountancy.
Later he returned to Ahmadu Bello University, earned a BSc in Accountancy Degree in 1990 and became a member of the Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria.
In April 2007, Ibrahim Gaidam was elected Deputy Governor of Yobe State on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform and was sworn in on May 29, 2007. He was sworn in as Governor on January 27, 2009, following the death of Governor Mamman Bello Ali in Florida of a liver problem.
Geidam was elected as senator representing Yobe East in 9th NASS on 23 March 2019.
Simon Bako Lalong (Plateau)
Simon Bako Lalong CON, born on 5th of May 1963, served as governor of Plateau State from 2015 to 2023.
After his elementary and secondary school education in Shendam Local Government Area, he proceeded to the School of Preliminary Studies (S.P.S) Keffi, passing out in 1986.
He then continued to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, graduating in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in Law.
This was immediately followed by the Law School in Lagos, where he was also called to the Bar. He later obtained a master’s degree in Law from the University of Jos, in 1996.
In October 2000, he became Plateau Speaker, occupying that position until 2006, following a political upheaval within the House. The seven years which he served as the speaker made him the longest serving speaker of the House in the history of Plateau State. During that period he was two times (2001–2002) elected as the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of the 36 states of Nigeria.
In the March 9 2019 Plateau gubernatorial election and March 23, 2019 Plateau State supplementary Gubernatorial Election, Lalong won re-election as governor of Plateau State, having polled 595,582 votes against his rival, General Jeremiah Husseini of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 546,813 votes. He was re-elected as the governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2019.
In the 2023 general election, Lalong contested for the seat of the senate to represent Plateau South senatorial zone in the National Assembly but lost the election to Napoleon Bali who won under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.
· Lola Ade John
Lola Ade John is a seasoned Information and Technology expert and a leader in designing, integrating, deploying, and managing core systems for global banking institutions.
She studied Computer Science at the University of Ibadan. She has worked with Access Bank, United Bank of Africa, Ecobank and Novateur Business Technology.
Her experience spans in the areas of leveraging and managing technology to drive strategic business results, structure efficient and effective implementation and support of technology to benefit small, medium and large-scale central and distributed working environments.
She has led the integration and implementation of systems focused on facilitating corporate change management, increasing technology service delivery, and the strategic advantage of businesses while at the same time reducing business operating risks.
· Shuaibu Abubakar (Adamawa)
Abdulrahman Shuaibu Abubakar FCNA, FNIM, FCMA was born on 5th of July 1965. He holds the titles of Talban Mubi and Ebubedike Ndigbo of Mubi. He is an accountant, businessman, philanthropist and lawmaker.
He represents Mubi North/Mubi South/Mahia federal constituency of Adamawa state in the House of Representatives, and is a member of the country’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Abdulrahman was born in Digil, Mubi North Local Government Area of Adamawa State on 5 July 1965, to the family of Alhaji Shuaibu Liman Difil. He is the second of 15 children.
His education began at Demonstration Primary School, Mubi, where he was a pupil from 1972 to 1973. In 1974, he moved on to Digil Primary School, also in Mubi, and obtained a primary school leaving certificate in 1978. His secondary education took place at the Federal Government College, Maiduguri, from 1978 to 1983.
From 1983 to 1984, he attended the School of Basic Studies in the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, then proceeded to study accounting at the Institute of Administration (also in ABU, Zaria), and graduated in 1987. He also obtained a certificate in computer and computer operation.
He has two master’s degrees from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, the first in Business Administration (Banking and Finance; awarded in 1998) and the second in Economics (awarded in 2002). He also attended several additional courses at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, the Lagos Business School and the Manchester Business School.
· Tahir Mamman
Tahir Mamman OON, SAN is a Professor of law, Senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Educational administrator and the Director-general of the Nigeria Law School from 2005 to 2013.
Mamman was born in 1954 at Michika in Adamawa State. He holds a LL.B degree at the Ahmadu Bello University in 1983 and call to the bar in the Nigerian Law School in 1984. He earned his masters from the University of Warwick England in 1987 and his PhD in 1990 University of Warwick, Warwickshire England.
He is the Vice chancellor of Baze University Abuja and member governing board of Niger delta development commission NDDC.
He is a recognised member of the Body of Benchers. In 2010 he became a board member of the International Association of Law Schools based in Washington DC.
In September 2015, he was conferred as a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In recognition of his efforts, the Federal Government of Nigeria bestowed him with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Professor Tahir Mamman joined party politics in 2014 after completing his tenure as Director general of The Nigeria Law School. He ran for Adamawa state Governorship election on the platform of the APC in December 2014 along with three other aspirant.
In June 2020, the All Progressive Congress national executive committee appointed and inaugurated him as a Member representing the northeast geopolitical zone/ acting national vice chairman north east in the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the All progressive congress APC.
· Aliyu Sabi (Niger)
Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi CON, was born on 10th of January 1967, He was a Senator from Niger North Senatorial District of Niger State at the Nigerian 8th National Assembly and 9th National Assembly. He was also the deputy chief whip at the Nigerian 9th National Assembly.
Abdullahi participated in the March 28, 2015, Niger North Senatorial District Election and was announced as the Winner.
In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.
· Alkali Ahmed (Gombe)
Ahmed Alkali, born on the 12th of February, 1969 was elected as Senator for the Gombe North senatorial district of Gombe State, in August 2010 by-elections after the death of Senator Kawu Peto Dukku.
He was re-elected in the 2011 General elections, running on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform, also in the 2015 and the 2019 General elections under the platforms of APC.
Sen. Alkali lost Gombe North Senatorial seat to Former Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo in the 2023 general elections
He holds the honorary title of Sarkin Gabas Dukku. He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics, and became a public servant. Alhaji Alkali was formerly commissioner of information in the administration of Governor Danjuma Goje.
· Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa)
Heineken Lokpobiri, born on 3rd of March 1967, was elected Senator in April 2007 on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform in Bayelsa State, for the Bayelsa West constituency.
He was also the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Lokpobiri received an LL.B (Hons) in 1994 from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, BL February 1995. Expert in Environmental Rights and Environmental Law, holds a Doctorate degree Ph.D. from Leeds Beckett University, UK in 2015.
· Uba Maigari (Taraba)
Alhaji Uba Maigari Ahmadu was a former Deputy Governor of Taraba state.
He was impeached under controversial circumstances shortly after the 2003 elections.
· Zephaniah Jissalo (FCT)
Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo, born on April 3rd, 1970. He is from the Abuja Municipal/Bwari Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.
Hon. Jisalo began his education at Garki Primary School, Abuja and graduated with a First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC).
He proceeded to the Government Secondary School, Karu, Abuja where he obtained a General Certificate of Examination (GCE) and West African Senior Certificate (WASC).
He had his tertiary education at the University of Jos, Plateau State and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education.
