President Bola Tinubu has chosen Mariya Mahmud from Kano State as a nominee for a ministerial position. Pending the Senate’s confirmation, Mahmud, a medical doctor, could become the second woman from northern Nigeria’s most populous state to hold a ministerial role since 1999.
The selection comes as Mariya Mahmud replaces her schoolmate, Maryam Shettima, in the list of two nominees from Kano State. This development was conveyed in a letter from President Tinubu, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a plenary session on Friday.
Previously serving as the commissioner for Higher Education under former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, Mrs. Mahmud brings a wealth of experience to the position. The last woman from Kano to hold a ministerial role was Aisha Isma’il, appointed in 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Isma’il’s tenure from 1999 to 2003 was marked by her work on the passage of the 2003 Child Rights Act. Her appointment was a part of a government of national unity after Nigeria’s return to civilian rule, following 16 years of military rule.
This replacement of ministerial nominees is not unprecedented in Kano’s political history. In 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Ibrahim Shekarau as Minister of Education, although a woman, Jamila Salik, was initially considered for the role. Salik’s nomination was eventually overtaken by Shekarau’s appointment due to political considerations.
The newly nominated Mariya Mahmud has an impressive profile. Born in Bunkure Local Government Area of Kano State in 1976, she pursued her education with determination. After attending primary and secondary schools in Kano, she gained admission to Bayero University Kano to study Medicine.
Over the years, she has excelled in her field, becoming a consultant in family medicine at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. With memberships in the National Postgraduate Medical College and the West African College of Physicians, Mrs. Mahmud brings a strong medical background to her potential ministerial role.
In 2020, she took on the role of commissioner for Higher Education in Kano State, overseeing the tertiary education system and advocating for women’s empowerment and education.
Mariya Mahmud’s selection serves as an inspiration to women and girls across Kano State, exemplifying the possibilities achievable through dedication and education.
Source: Premium Times
