Governor Ibrahim Shekarau

Governor of Kano State

Date of Birth: 5/11/1955
Place of Birth: Kurmawa

Education: Gidan Makama Primary School; Aminu Kano Commercial College, 1972-76; National Youth Service Corps, Imo State, 1977-78.

Career: Various teaching positions, 1978-92; Deputy Director of Education, Bichi Zonal Education Area, Kano, 1992-93; Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Education Headquarters, 1993-94; Director General, Ministry of Education and Youth Development, Kano, 1994-95; Director General, Ministry of Water Resources, Rural and Community Development, Kano, 1995-97; Director General, Ministry of Education, 1997; Permanent Secretary, Administration and General Services Directorate, 1997-2000; Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Commission Kano, 2000; Chief Lecturer, Mathematics, Kano State College of Art, Science and Remedial Studies, 2000-01; Governor, Kano State, 2003 to date.

Commentary: Shekarau was businessman Aminu Dantata’s secretary before he became governor of Kano State in 2003. He ran under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and received very strong support from ANPP presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari and Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Shekarau was adamantly opposed to polio eradication efforts in his state, saying they were a ploy to render Muslim women infertile. He won re-election in 2007, the first governor of Kano State to do so.