Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State yesterday nominated 13 persons as members of the State Executive Council.

In a letter to Hon. Aminu Shagali, Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, El-Rufai requested the legislators to consider and approve his nominees. The governor also attached the indicative portfolios of the nominees in the interest of a transparent screening process.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Samuel Aruwan, in his statement, gave the names and portfolios of the nominees as follows:

1. Professor Jonathan Andrew Nok, Health and Human Services

2. Hajiya Rabi M.G. Abdulsalam, Women Affairs and Social Development

3. Engr. Suleiman Aliyu Lere, Water Resources

4. Muhammed Sani Abdullahi, Budget and Planning

5. Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari, Agriculture and Forestry

6. Muhammad Bashir Saidu, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs

7. Hon. Suleiman Abdu Kwari, Finance

8. Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, Education, Science and Technology

9. Dr. Ya’u Usman Idris, Environment and Natural Resources

10. Hon. Daniel Auta, Youth, Sport and Culture

11. Shehu Balarabe, Commerce, Industry and Tourism

12. Amina Ruth Dyeris-Sijuwade, Justice

13. Usman Mahmud Hassan, Works, Housing and Transport

Jonathan Andrew Nok, the nominee for the Health and Human Services portfolio, is a professor of Biochemistry at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Born in 1962, he won the Nigerian National Merit Award in 2010 and is the author of several highly-rated publications. He is from Jaba local government area.

Hajiya Rabi M.G. Abdulsalam, the nominee for the Women Affairs and Social Development portfolio, was born in 1969. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration. She has previously served as special assistant to two governors of the state. She is from Kaduna North.

Engineer Suleiman Aliyu Lere is nominated for the Water Resources ministry. Born in 1968, he holds a Master’s in Civil Engineering. He has worked in the business and banking sectors. He is from Lere.

Muhammed Sani Abdullahi, nominated for the Budget and Planning ministry, was born in 1979. He holds two master’s degrees, one in Development Economics and Policy, the other in International Affairs and Diplomacy. Widely known as Dattijo, he was most recently working at the United Nations where he was an adviser to the Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon on designing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will be replacing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) later this year.

Dattijo has worked as an Economic Adviser to the Nigeria Governors Forum and as an adviser to Hajia Amina Mohammed while she was Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs. He is from Kaduna North.

Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari, the nominee for the Agriculture and Forestry ministry, was born in 1969. He is a doctor of veterinary medicine. He has served in various NGOs and is a member of various professional bodies. He is from Kachia.

Muhammad Bashir Saidu, the nominee for the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs ministry, was born in 1957. He holds an MBA and a post-graduate diploma in Shipping and Transport Management. He is from Zaria.

Hon. Suleiman Abdu Kwari, the nominee for the Finance ministry, was born in 1962 and holds an MBA. He is a financial consultant and has served as a commissioner in the Securities and Exchange Commission. He is a former member of the House of Representatives. He was chairman of Sabon-Gari local government council between 1991 and 1993.

Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, nominated for the Education, Science and Technology, was born in 1968. This former lecturer holds a Ph.D in Applied Parasitology. He was a member representing Maigana in the state House of Assembly. He is from Soba.

Dr. Ya’u Usman Idris, the Environment and Natural Resources nominee, was born in 1964. He holds a Ph.D in Applied Nuclear Physics. He has worked at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority. He is from Kauru.

Hon. Daniel Amuze Auta, the Youth, Sports and Culture nominee, is from Chikun. Born in 1956, he holds a diploma in Production Management. He is a former member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

Shehu Balarabe, nominated for the Commerce, Industry and Tourism ministry, was born in 1967. He holds an MBA, has worked in NEPA and in the private sector. He is from Giwa.

Amina Ruth Dyeris-Sijuwade, nominated for the Justice ministry, was born in 1968. She holds degrees in English and Law. She has been a legal practitioner, NGO worker and consultant. She is from Jema’a.

Usman Mahmud Hassan, nominated for the Works, Housing and Transport portfolio, was born in 1962. He is an electrical engineer, with experience working in the public and private sectors. He is from Kudan.

•Photo shows Governor El-Rufai.

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