Hadiza Bala Usman
{{Short description|Nigerian activist and politician (born 1976)}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Hadiza Bala Usman
| image = Hadiza Bala Usman.jpg
| caption =
| office = Special Adviser on Policy Coordination to the President
| term_start = 19 June 2023
| term_end =
| president = Bola Tinubu
| office1 = Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority
| term_start1 = 11 July 2016
| term_end1 = 6 May 2021
| predecessor1 = Habibu Abdullahi
| successor1 = Mohammed Bello-Koko
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|01|02|df=y}}
| birth_place = Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = All Progressives Congress (2013–present)
| otherparty = {{plainlist|
- Peoples Democratic Party (until 2010)
- Congress for Progressive Change (2010–2013)
}}
| spouse =
| children = 2
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
}}
| relations = {{plainlist|
- Bala Usman (father)
- Abdullahi Bayero (great grandfather)
}}
}}
Hadiza Bala Usman (born 2 January 1976) is a Nigerian politician who served as managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority from 2016 to 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-06|title=Why Buhari suspended NPA boss Hadiza - Presidency|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/459956-why-buhari-suspended-npa-boss-hadiza-presidency.html|access-date=2021-06-28|language=en-GB}} She previously served as the chief of staff to the governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2016.{{Cite news|url=http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2015/06/el-rufai-names-hadiza-bala-usman-first-female-chief-of-staff/|title=El-Rufai names Hadiza Bala Usman, First Female Chief of Staff|last=Adi|first=Femi|date=29 June 2015|work=The NEWS Nigeria|access-date=2 February 2016|via=thenewnigeria.com.ng }} She was appointed special adviser on Policy and Coordination [https://www.cdcu.gov.ng/ Central Delivery Coordination Unit (CDCU)] to President Bola Tinubu in June 2023 together with Hannatu Musawa{{Cite web|last1=Yekeen |first1=Akinwale |title=Tinubu appoints Hadiza Bala Usman, Hannatu Musawa as special advisers |url=https://www.thecable.ng/tinubu-appoints-hadiza-bala-usman-hannatu-musawa-as-special-advisers/amp |date=19 June 2023 |website=TheCable }} who's currently serving as Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy of Nigeria.
Since 2014, she is one of the co-founders of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, and is also a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.{{Cite news|url = http://newswirengr.com/2015/02/18/bringbackourgirls-campaign-coordinator-urge-nigerians-to-vote-in-apc-vote-out-pdp-government-on-march-28/#|title = #BringBackOurGirls Campaign Coordinator Urge Nigerians To Vote In APC & Vote Out PDP Government|last = Abdullahi|first = Musa|date = 18 February 2015|work = NewsWire NGR|access-date = 2 February 2016}}
Early life and education
Hadiza Bala Usman was born on 2 January 1976 in Zaria to a Fulani ruling class family of the Sullubawa clan. Her father, Yusufu Bala Usman, the grandson of Sarkin Katsina Muhammadu Katsina Dikko, was a prominent academic and historian who founded the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training in Zaria. Her great grandfather, Abdullahi Bayero (father to her paternal grandmother), was the 10th Emir of Kano from 1926 to 1953, her paternal grand father was the Durbin Katsina, her grand uncle was Usman Nagogo the Emir of Katsina and her great grand father was Sarkin Katsina Muhammadu Dikko (father to her paternal grandfather).{{Cite web|url=https://www.nta.ng/,%20https://www.nta.ng/news/20160713-profile-of-the-new-npa-boss-hadiza-bala-usman/|title=Profile Of The New NPA Boss, Hadiza Bala Usman|website=NTA.ng|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-13}}
Hadiza grew up on the campus of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where her father worked.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/08738682-7fa7-11e4-adff-00144feabdc0.html|title=Women of 2014: Hadiza Bala Usman|last=Wallis|first=William|date=12 December 2014|work=Financial Times|access-date=2 February 2016}} She started her education at the university staff primary school and went ahead to complete her secondary education. In 1996, she enrolled at the university and received a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2000. She later received a master's degree in development studies from the University of Leeds in 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://nigerianports.gov.ng/history/executive-management-team/|title=Management Team|website=Nigerian Ports Authority|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-12}}
Career
= Career in the private sector =
In 1999, she spent a year at the Centre for Democratic Development and Research Training in Zaria as a research assistant.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wimbizannualconference.com/speakers.php|title=Event Speakers|website=WimBiz|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310085142/http://wimbizannualconference.com/speakers.php|archive-date=10 March 2016|access-date=2 February 2016}}
She then worked at the Bureau of Public Enterprises from July 2000 to August 2004 as an enterprise officer. From October 2004 to January 2008, she was then hired by the UNDP for the Federal Capital Territory Administration as a special assistant to the Minister on project implementation.
In 2011, Hadiza campaigned and lost for the federal constituency of Musawa/Matazu as a candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/movie/33450/im-not-intimidated-by-male-opponents-hadiza-bala-usman.html|title=I'M NOT INTIMIDATED BY MALE OPPONENTS — HADIZA BALA USMAN|website=Nigerian Voice|access-date=2020-02-12}} She then joined the Good Governance Group in Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, as the country director of strategy from 2011 to July 2015.
In 2014, following the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping by Boko Haram,{{Cite news |date=10 May 2014 |title=Kidnap of Schoolgirls Triggers Worldwide Awareness Drive |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-367602948.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203005805/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-367602948.html |archive-date=3 February 2018 |access-date=2 February 2016 |work=The Saturday Star (South Africa)}} Hadiza Bala co-founded the Bring Back Our Girls campaign group to create awareness and advocate the rescue of the abducted schoolgirls.{{Cite news |date=14 February 2015 |title=WMC Live #114: Sharon Isbin, Rossana D'Antonio, Hadiza Bala Usman |url=http://wmclive.com/wmc-live-114-sharon-isbin-rossana-dantonio-hadiza-bala-usman-original-airdate-2142015 |access-date=2 February 2016 |work=Women's Media Center Live}} She chose the colour red for the campaign because it is a sign of "alarm, danger, a warning."{{Cite news |last=Oduah |first=Chika |date=16 July 2014 |title=Hadiza Bala Usman: Her Father's Daughter |url=http://metropole.ng/index.php/most-read/item/1923-hadiza-bala-usman-her-father-s-daughter |access-date=2 February 2016 |work=Metropole}} Hadiza Bala Usman also helped coordinate meetings with the parents of the kidnapped girls and members of the Nigerian government.{{Cite news |date=16 July 2014 |title=Nigeria Leader's Meet with Missing Girls' Parents 'Rescheduled' |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-375047978.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203005754/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-375047978.html |archive-date=3 February 2018 |access-date=2 February 2016 |work=Anadolu Agency}} She has continued to protest with the group into 2016.{{Cite news |last=Ezeamalu |first=Ben |date=4 January 2016 |title=#BringBackOurGirls Movement fumes over Boko Haram defeat claim, to march on Presidential Villa |url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/196162-bringbackourgirls-movement-fumes-over-boko-haram-defeat-claim-to-march-on-presidential-villa.html |access-date=2 February 2016 |work=Premium Times}}
= Career in the public sector =
In 2015, following his election Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai appointed her as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kaduna State, thus becoming the first female to hold that position.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-go-to-bed-at-900pm-hadiza-bala-usman.html|title=I go to bed at 9:00pm – Hadiza Bala Usman|last=Agabi|first=Chris|date=2017-08-19|website=Daily Trust|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-02-13|archive-date=13 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213012558/https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/i-go-to-bed-at-900pm-hadiza-bala-usman.html|url-status=dead}} She was appointed as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2017/05/15/meet-the-incredible-young-woman-running-nigerias-port-authority/|title=Meet Hadiza Bala Usman, The Incredible Young Woman Running Nigeria's Port Authority|last=Nsehe|first=Mfonobong|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}} Her appointment generated a lot of controversies as many saw her nomination as ethnically based and questioned her qualification for the specific role.{{cite web|title=Hadiza Bala-Usman's appointment at NPA sparks controversy |url=https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/hadiza-bala-usmans-appointment/ |website=Ripples Nigeria |date=18 July 2016 |access-date=24 January 2019}} In May 6, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari approved her suspension as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).{{Cite web|date=2021-05-06|title=Buhari suspends Hadiza Bala Usman as NPA MD|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/459934-just-in-buhari-suspends-hadiza-usman-as-npa-md.html|access-date=2021-05-08|language=en-GB|website=Premium Times}} Hadiza, who was recently re-appointed for second term, was suspended following a public spate with then transport minister Rotimi Amaechi.{{Cite news|date=2021-05-06|title=Presidency suspends NPA MD, Hadiza Bala-Usman|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/presidency-suspends-npa-md-hadiza-bala-usman/|access-date=2021-05-08|newspaper=The Nation Newspaper|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Please grow up and stop all these lies: Hadiza Bala Usman replies Amaechi |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2023/10/28/please-grow-up-and-stop-all-these-lies-hadiza-bala-usman-replies-amaechi/ |website=PM News}} She was the Deputy Director-General Administration of the Tinubu/Shettima APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 presidential election. Her book, Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at Nigerian Ports Authority, was published by TheCable Books in April 2023.{{Cite web |title=BOOK REVIEW: Stepping on Toes: Hadiza Bala Usman on navigating stormy waters of public office |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/artsbooks/611279-book-review-stepping-on-toes-hadiza-bala-usman-on-navigating-stormy-waters-of-public-office.html?tztc=1 |website=Premium Times}}
In June 2023, she was appointed Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.{{Cite web |last=Oduah |first=Henry |date=2023-06-19 |title=Tinubu appoints Hadiza Bala Usman special adviser |url=https://www.qed.ng/tinubu-appoints-bala-usman-special-adviser/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=QED.NG |language=en-US}}
Personal life
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.
Recognition
She has been recognized in various ways for her achievements both in the maritime sector as Queen of the Maritime{{Cite web|title=Queen Maritime Award|url=http://www.tradenewswire.net/npa-md-queen-hadiza-bala-usman-receives-recognition-award-vivian-fowler-memorial-college-girls-photo/|website=Trade News Wire|access-date=2021-05-05|archive-date=5 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505120310/http://www.tradenewswire.net/npa-md-queen-hadiza-bala-usman-receives-recognition-award-vivian-fowler-memorial-college-girls-photo/|url-status=dead}} and Nigeria's public service among Under 50 Leaders in Public Service in 2021 when she received the outstanding female executive in public service (Maritime) award alongside other prominent women in public service.
References
External links
- [http://wmclive.com/wmc-live-114-sharon-isbin-rossana-dantonio-hadiza-bala-usman-original-airdate-2142015 Interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401075850/http://wmclive.com/wmc-live-114-sharon-isbin-rossana-dantonio-hadiza-bala-usman-original-airdate-2142015 |date=2016-04-01 }} on Women's Media Center Live
- [http://www.nigerianbiography.com/2016/07/biography-of-hadiza-bala-usman.html Hadiza Bala Usman Biography]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bala Usman, Hadiza}}