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Profile of Tinubu’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari
Profile of Abubakar Kyari CON: Nigerian Politician and Former Senator
Abubakar Kyari CON, born on January 15, 1963, is a prominent Nigerian politician who has made significant contributions to the country’s political landscape. He hails from Borno State and has been actively involved in various political roles throughout his career. Kyari is known for his tenure as a senator representing the Borno North Senatorial District of Borno State at the 9th National Assembly, a role he held from 2015 until his resignation in April 2022. He is also recognized for his leadership within the ruling Party of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Early Life and Education: Abubakar Kyari was born in Borno State. His father, Late Brigadier Abba Kyari, was a distinguished figure who served as the former military administrator to North Central from 1967 to 1975. Kyari grew up in a family of eight siblings. He pursued his education both in Nigeria and the United States. He attended Kaduna Capital School in 1974 and later graduated from Barewa College Zaria in 1979. His pursuit of higher education led him to the University of Tennessee Martin in the USA, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1986. Subsequently, in 1989, he furthered his education by obtaining a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Political Career: Abubakar Kyari’s political journey spans several impactful roles, showcasing his commitment to public service:
- Elected to the House of Representatives under the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in 1998.
- State Treasurer for the All Peoples Party (APP) in Borno State from 1998 to 1999.
- Re-elected to the House of Representatives under the APP from 1999 to 2003.
- Served as the Commissioner for Water Resources in Borno State from 2003 to 2005.
- Held the position of Managing Director at the Rural Water Supply Agency in Borno State from 2005 to 2007.
- Took on the role of Commissioner for Education in Borno State from 2007 to 2008.
- Returned to the position of Commissioner for Water Resources in Borno State from 2008 to 2010.
- Served as Commissioner for Home Affairs and Information from 2010 to 2011.
- Took on the responsibilities of Commissioner for Works in 2011.
- He played a pivotal role as the Chief of Staff at the Government House in Borno State from 2011 to 2014.
- Elected as a Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator under the APC from 2015 to 2019.
- Re-elected for another term as Senator under the APC from 2019 onwards.
- Notably, he was appointed as the Acting Chairman of the APC following the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu.
Award and Recognition: In October 2022, Abubakar Kyari was honored with the prestigious Nigerian national award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Muhammadu Buhari, a testament to his significant contributions to the country’s political and public service sectors.
Abubakar Kyari CON’s dedicated political career has left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political landscape, reflecting his commitment to public service, governance, and leadership.
On August 16th, 2023, he was named Minister of Agriculture and Food Security by President Tinubu.