The Profile of Nigeria’s First Female Governor, Aisha Jummai Alhassan of Taraba State
Excerpt of Aisha’s profile below:
Date of Birth: 16th September, 1959. Place of Birth: Jalingo, Taraba State. Local Govt. Area: Jalingo LGA. State: Taraba State. Father: Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim OON, Sarkin Ayukan Muri.
SCHOOLS ATTENDED AND ACTIVITIES AS A STUDENT
1. Muhammed Nya Primary School, Jalingo
2. L E A Primary School, Tudun Wada, Kaduna
3. Saint Faith College (now GGSS) Kawo Kaduna Jan. 1973 – June 1977
(first set to do 4½ years in Secondary School because of the change of commencement of school year from January to September.
4. School of Basic Studies (SBS) A. B. U. Samaru Zaria from July 1977 to July 1979 (was a prelim Science Student).
5. Joined Students politics in ABU Main Campus in 1977 (end) when I was a little over 18 years.
6. Contested (for the first time by a non-undergraduate) for the post of Vice President of the SUG in 1978 at 18 years plus.
Please Note that the position of Vice President had always gone to women un-opposed until (for the first time) in 1978 when three of us contested for it, one female (Elizabeth (Lizzy) Wambebe then an undergraduate studying Fine Arts and Lead Vocalist of ABU JAZZ Club) and for the first time too, a male undergraduate. I was a prelim student then. I won the election and became the Vice President and the only female in the SUG Exco of that year (1978 – 1979).
The then President was Mal. Abdulhameed Imam, Secretary General was Comrade Isa Bala Lawal while Assistant Secretary General was Comrade AbdulRahman Black of blessed memory. All members of Exco of that year except I were undergraduates.
During our tenure, there was a student crisis as a result of which some of the Exco members including the President were indicted and expelled from the University.
I then became the Acting President and completed the Tenure as such (Acting President of the ABU Main Campus SUG).
7. During my days as an SBS ABU Student and Vice President/Acting President SUG Main Campus, I met my first husband and father of my three children, Professor Ango Abdullahi who was then the Deputy Vice Chancellor, ABU Zaria. He always represented the then Vice Chancellor Prof. O. O. Akinkugbe at meetings with the SUG Exco. I married Prof. Ango Abdullahi in September 1979 after completing my SBS when he was still the Deputy Vice Chancellor. He became Vice Chancellor three months after our marriage, that is, in December 1979.
8. Due to my new status as a wife and mother, I switched over from being a Science Student to Arts (after my first baby (girl) in 1980) when I enrolled to read Diploma in Law (1980) at ABU Zaria. I had to start from Diploma because of my pure science background. I did not have the required Arts subjects to enroll for LLB.
9. I proceeded to read LLB at same ABU from October 1982 to June 1985. I had my second child (son) in 1983.
10. I went to the Nigerian Law School Lagos 1985 – 1986
11. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986.
12. Did my NYSC 1986 – 1987.
13. Had my last child (daughter) in 1988.
WORKING CAREER
14. Started work as a Magistrate Grade II in April 1988 in the Kaduna State Judiciary.
15. Went for the Technical Aid Corps Programme of the Federal Ministry Of Foreign Affairs (on Secondment) to the Republic of Fiji from 1990 – 1992. I was admitted to the Fijian Bar and enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Fiji in 1991.
16. While I was in Fiji, my services were transferred from Kaduna State Judiciary to FCT Judiciary in 1991 as Magistrate Grade I.
17. I assumed duty at FCT Judiciary in 1992 when I returned from Fiji. At the time l assumed duty I was the only female Magistrate in the FCT.
18. I rose through the ranks and became the first female Chief Magistrate in the FCT in 1996.
19. I was then moved to Judicial Administration as the first female Deputy Chief Registrar and Director Litigation, High Court of the FCT Abuja in 1997.
20. Was appointed the first female Attorney General of my State (Taraba) in 1997.
21. Returned to FCT Judiciary after the handing over to a Democratically elected Government in May 1999 and continued in my office as Director Litigation.
22. Was appointed the First female Secretary of the FCT Judicial Service Committee in November, 2002.
23. Was appointed the first female Chief Registrar of the High Court of the FCT in December 2003.
24. I voluntarily retired from the FCT Judiciary as Chief Registrar on the 31st of December, 2009.
POLITICAL CAREER
25. My family has always been a political family even before the time of my birth. My father joined politics (NCNC) when he was a student in Barewa College Zaria. He later joined NPC in the first Republic.
He was one of the conveners of NPC in Muri Division and was the first NPC Secretary of Muri Division. He contested election under NPC in 1959 for the House of Representatives in one of the 3 Muri Division Constituencies. He was re-elected for second term after 4 years but could not finish the term because of the coup in 1966.
He was Chairman of NPN, Gongola State in the Second Republic, also Chairman NRC Taraba State at one time and Chairman of the Convening Committee of PDP in Taraba State in 1998. He retired
from active politics at the age of 80 years as a State Ex-Officio Member of NEC of PDP.
My Elder Brother of the same parents Senator A. A. Ibrahim (Jnr) was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for 8 years (1999 – 2007) representing Taraba Central Zone.
I joined the PDP as a member in the year 2005 while still working in the Judiciary but I was NOT politically active.
26. I started active politics in October 2010 and immediately went to contest for the Senatorial seat of my Zone.
27. By the Grace of God, I won the election and was sworn in as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 6th June, 2011, the day the 7th Senate was inaugurated.
28. My name is now Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Mrs.) after my marriage to Engr. M. S. Alhassan in 2007.
– Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan
Bear in mind, Aisha Jummai Al-Hassan, who is fondly called ‘Mama Taraba’ is a fulani. A lawyer by training, became the first female to be appointed Taraba State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice
She was the first woman to be appointed as Secretary FCT judicial council and later appointed the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
She is an ardent supporter of the Taraba State Football Association
She contested for the Gubernatorial election of Taraba state in April 2015, narrowly defeated by the PDP candidate and later regained her mandate through the election petition tribunal.
She is currently a Minister-designate of President Mohammadu Buhari’s led administration, screened and confirmed by the Senate.
Mrs. Alhassan will be Nigeria’s first female governor if Mr. Ishaku fails to challenge the ruling, or loses the appeal.
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