Abba Kabir Yusuf

  • 18 views
Leader Name:
Abba Kabir Yusuf
Category:
LGA/Municipal:
Kano
State:
Kano
Country:
Nigeria
Educational Profile:

Had early Islamic education under his grandfather, Alhaji Yusuf Bashari, who was then District Head of Gaya. 

Primary school at Sumaila (1968–1975); secondary school at Dawakin Tofa and later Lautai in Gumel. Completed secondary schooling in 1980. 

Studied civil engineering: National Diploma at Federal Polytechnic, Mubi (1985); Higher National Diploma in Civil Engineering (specializing in water resources/environmental engineering) at Kaduna Polytechnic (1989). 

Furthered education with postgraduate studies (PG Diploma + Master’s) in Business Administration at Bayero University Kano. 

Professional Profile:

Early roles include working in the Kano State Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency (WRECA). 

Leadership Profile:

Served as Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport in Kano State from 2011 to 2015 under Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. 

He was also personal assistant to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso when Kwankwaso served both as governor and later as a federal minister. 

Elected Governor of Kano State in March 2023, under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). 

Inaugurated into office on 29 May 2023, with Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo as his deputy. 

His election was challenged by the opposition (APC), which led to tribunal and appellate court rulings that temporarily nullified his election. However, the Supreme Court in January 2024 affirmed him as the duly elected Governor. 

In 2024, he reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano, who had been deposed in 2020. 

ACHIEVEMENTS
Achievements:

1. Education Sector Reforms

He declared a state of emergency in education, pushing the sector as a priority. 

The administration allocated ~31% of the state annual budget to education in 2025, which exceeds the UNESCO benchmark. 

Significant investments: Renovation of schools, building/rehabilitation of classrooms, provision of instructional materials, benches, uniforms; settlement of examination fee backlogs for students whose results had been withheld. 

Teacher welfare: Payment of salaries on time, clearing backlog of promotions (2017-2022), recruiting many new teachers (both permanent and under special programmes). 

2. Infrastructure and Housing

Multiple road construction/rehabilitation efforts: dual carriageways across the 44 local government areas. 

Urban renewal / slum upgrading and affordable housing schemes have been reported as part of his infrastructure agenda. 

3. Fiscal / Administrative Reforms

Pension liabilities: He has cleared a substantial portion of inherited pension debts (over N21 billion of N48.6 billion) from the previous administration. 

Debt repayment: Reports that he has repaid external and domestic debts inherited from former administrations. 

Payment of salaries, pensions, and gratuities has been described as more regular under his administration. 

4. Social/Empowerment Initiatives

Empowerment of women: Monthly support programmes covering thousands of women across all LGAs. 

Rewarding excellence (e.g. in Qur’anic recitation); providing scholarships, land titles, etc. 

5. Political / Institutional Moves

Reinstatement of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, deposed earlier. This was a politically sensitive issue. 

Awards:
  1. Named “Leadership Governor of the Year 2024 for Education.” 
  2. Recognized as "Most Labour-Friendly Governor in Nigeria" by the Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies. 
  3. Won “Infrastructure Governor Award” at Africa International Housing Show 2025.
Media Manager:
CitiMEMO