Abba Sayyadi Ruma
Encyclopedia
Abba Sayyadi Ruma was appointed Federal Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources in Nigeria
by President Umaru Yar'Adua on 26 July 2007.
He left office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
dissolved his cabinet.
He is Chairman of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development
headquartered in Rome
, Italy
, and is a Partner Minister of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
, Zaria
, and a Ph.D in International Relations from the University of Abuja
.
he is also a fellow of the prestigious Harvard University in the USA
, and became Special Adviser to Saidu Barda
, the Governor of Katsina State in 1992.
Between 1999 and 2003, Abba Sayyadi Ruma was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rascom Network Ltd, a company based in Kaduna
that consults on research and development.
Abba Sayyadi Ruma was the Chairman of Batsari
Local Government Area in Katsina State
in 2003, and strongly supported the PDP candidates.
He became Secretary to the Katsina State Government in 2003, when Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
was governor.
He was appointed Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Education in 2005 under Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili
, and in 2007 briefly became Federal Minister of Education when Ezekwesili left to take up a World Bank job.
He is married to Hajiya Rabi and has 8 children.
Abba Sayyadi Ruma is seen as one of Yar'Adua's most esteemed colleagues.
It had been expected that Yar'Adua would appoint Ruma as minister of education, since Ruma had previously served as minister of state for education and was widely believed to be part of the reform process.
In May 2008 Ruma denied reports that Nigeria was suffering from a food crisis, saying the only problem was with the rising cost of rice. He defended his ministry's decision to centralize distribution of fertilizer rather than relying on private enterprise, and noted that the government was taking action to improve access to credit by farmers and to supply more tractors. But the government would import rice if needed to cushion cost increases.
In July 2009, talking to a stakeholders' roundtable of the National Food Security Advocacy Group, he said that in the past middlemen contractors and politicians skimmed off subsidies for fertilizers which did not get to the farmers in time for the planting season, and then were grossly overpriced.
Speaking to journalists in November 2009 on the government’s Public Private Partnership in the area of rice production, Ruma explained the government was looking at linking up large-scale private sector operators with farmer's cooperative groups to achieve economies of scale, and was providing funds for small-scale irrigation with focus on the most productive areas. N200 billion was available for farmer's credit, but release of the funds would be carefully monitored to ensure it went to the intended recipients.
In November 2009, Abba Sayyadi Ruma was considered to be leader of a faction of the People's Democratic Party
(PDP) opposed to the reelection in 2011 of Governor Ibrahim Shema.
His "Abuja Group", which included Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, Senator Garba Yakubu Lado
and businessman Dahiru Mangal, were all said to be acolytes of Yar’Adua.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
by President Umaru Yar'Adua on 26 July 2007.
He left office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
dissolved his cabinet.
He is Chairman of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development
International Fund for Agricultural Development
The International Fund for Agricultural Development , a specialized agency of the United Nations, was established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries...
headquartered in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and is a Partner Minister of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Background
Abba Sayyadi Ruma was born on 13 March 1962. He gained a BA in History from the University of Sokoto, a Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello UniversityAhmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University is the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa, second only to Cairo University, Egypt. It is situated in Zaria. It was founded on October 4, 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria....
, Zaria
Zaria
Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family...
, and a Ph.D in International Relations from the University of Abuja
University of Abuja
The University of Abuja in the Nigerian capital Abuja was established on January 1, 1988 as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and distance learning programmes...
.
he is also a fellow of the prestigious Harvard University in the USA
Early career
Abba Sayyadi Ruma obtained a position as information Officer in Katsina StateKatsina State
Katsina State is a state in northern Nigeria. Its capital is Katsina, and its governor is Ibrahim Shema, a member of the People's Democratic Party...
, and became Special Adviser to Saidu Barda
Saidu Barda
Alhaji Sa'idu Barda is a Nigerian politician who was elected on the National Republican Convention platform as Governor of Katsina State, Nigeria, holding office between January 1992 and November 1983 during the Nigerian Third Republic...
, the Governor of Katsina State in 1992.
Between 1999 and 2003, Abba Sayyadi Ruma was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rascom Network Ltd, a company based in Kaduna
Kaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
that consults on research and development.
Abba Sayyadi Ruma was the Chairman of Batsari
Batsari
Batsari is a Local Government Area in Katsina State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Batsari.It has an area of 1,107 km² and a population of 208,978 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 820....
Local Government Area in Katsina State
Katsina State
Katsina State is a state in northern Nigeria. Its capital is Katsina, and its governor is Ibrahim Shema, a member of the People's Democratic Party...
in 2003, and strongly supported the PDP candidates.
He became Secretary to the Katsina State Government in 2003, when Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was the President of Nigeria and the 13th Head of State. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007. He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May...
was governor.
He was appointed Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Education in 2005 under Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili
Obiageli Ezekwesili
Obiageli Ezekwesili is a Nigerian chartered accountant. She was a co-founder of Transparency International, serving as one of the pioneer Directors of the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany. She served as Federal Minister of Solid Minerals and then as Federal Minister of...
, and in 2007 briefly became Federal Minister of Education when Ezekwesili left to take up a World Bank job.
He is married to Hajiya Rabi and has 8 children.
Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources
In 2007 President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua appointed Dr. Abba Ruma Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources.Abba Sayyadi Ruma is seen as one of Yar'Adua's most esteemed colleagues.
It had been expected that Yar'Adua would appoint Ruma as minister of education, since Ruma had previously served as minister of state for education and was widely believed to be part of the reform process.
In May 2008 Ruma denied reports that Nigeria was suffering from a food crisis, saying the only problem was with the rising cost of rice. He defended his ministry's decision to centralize distribution of fertilizer rather than relying on private enterprise, and noted that the government was taking action to improve access to credit by farmers and to supply more tractors. But the government would import rice if needed to cushion cost increases.
In July 2009, talking to a stakeholders' roundtable of the National Food Security Advocacy Group, he said that in the past middlemen contractors and politicians skimmed off subsidies for fertilizers which did not get to the farmers in time for the planting season, and then were grossly overpriced.
Speaking to journalists in November 2009 on the government’s Public Private Partnership in the area of rice production, Ruma explained the government was looking at linking up large-scale private sector operators with farmer's cooperative groups to achieve economies of scale, and was providing funds for small-scale irrigation with focus on the most productive areas. N200 billion was available for farmer's credit, but release of the funds would be carefully monitored to ensure it went to the intended recipients.
In November 2009, Abba Sayyadi Ruma was considered to be leader of a faction of the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP) opposed to the reelection in 2011 of Governor Ibrahim Shema.
His "Abuja Group", which included Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, Senator Garba Yakubu Lado
Garba Yakubu Lado
Garba Yakubu Lado Danmarke is a Nigerian businessman who became a Member of the House of Representatives and was elected a Federal Senator in April 2007 for Katsina South constituency of Katsina State as a member of the People's Democratic Party .-Background:Garba Yakubu Lado was born in 1961...
and businessman Dahiru Mangal, were all said to be acolytes of Yar’Adua.