Shettima Mustapha

Shettima Mustapha
Federal Minister of Agriculture
In office
August 1990 – 1992
Federal Minister of Defense
In office
17 Dec 2008 – 14 July 2009
Preceded by Mahmud Yayale Ahmed
Succeeded by Godwin Abbe
Federal Minister of Interior
In office
14 July 2009 – 17 March 2010
Preceded by Godwin Abbe
Succeeded by Emmanuel Iheanacho
Personal details
Born 26 November 1939 (1939-11-26) (age 72)
Nguru, Yobe State, Nigeria

Shettima Mustapha, OFR (born 26 November 1939) is a Nigerian academic and politician who served as Minister of Agriculture (1990-1992), and in 2007 was appointed Minister of Defense in the cabinet of President Umaru Yar'Adua. Later he became Minister of the Interior.[1] He left office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved his cabinet.[2]

Contents

Background

Shettima Mustapha was born on 26 November 1939 at Nguru, now in Yobe State. He attended Borno middle school in Maiduguri (1946-1952). He trained as a Medical Field Assistant in Kano (1955-1956). He worked in the Borno Native Administration (1954-1964) and then with Radio Television Kaduna (1965-1967). In 1967, aged 28, he was admitted into Ahmadu Bello University, graduating in 1972 and then working as a researcher with the university's Institute for Agricultural Research. From 1973 to 1974 he attended the University of Cambridge, where he earned a postgraduate Diploma in Applied Biology. He continued to work towards a PhD, attending Purdue University, Indiana in the United States in 1978, and obtaining his PhD in 1979.[3]

Public career

Shettima Mustapha was appointed a commissioner in the Borno State government under Governor Mohammed Goni.[3] He rose steadily in the political ranks and was Vice Presidential candidate on the Nigerian People's Party platform in the 1983 election. However, the incumbent Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) won the election.[4] After the military coup of December 1983 when Major General Muhammadu Buhari came to power, he was jailed until 1985. On his release he returned to part-time teaching at the University of Maiduguri. He then became a regional head in Jos the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.[3] In August 1990, Shettima Mustafa was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, holding that post until the cabinet dissolved in 1992.[4]

Following this, he became an advisor to various local and international organizations, and became the National Treasurer of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), a position he held between 1998 and 2001. He became a Fellow of the Genetic Society of Nigeria, a member of the American Society of Agronomy and a member of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria,[5] In 2002, Shettima Mustapha was nominated to the board of the Savannah Bank, although he was not a shareholder.[6]

Yar'Adua Cabinet

Shettima Mustapha was appointed Defence Minister of Nigeria by President Umaru Yar'Adua.[7] On 14 July 2008, he traded places with Godwin Abbe, becoming Minister of the Interior.[8]

References

  1. ^ "New Nigerian ministers nominated". Al Jazeera. 18 November 2008. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/11/2008111814718749912.html. Retrieved 2009-12-16. 
  2. ^ Daniel Idonor (17 March 2010). "Jonathan Sacks Ministers". Vanguard. http://allafrica.com/stories/201003171041.html. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
  3. ^ a b c "Our People - Dr. Shettima Mustafa (OFR)". Youth for Technology Foundation. http://www.youthfortechnology.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=164:ytf-our-people-shettima-mustafa&catid=37:ytf-people&Itemid=215. Retrieved 2009-12-16. 
  4. ^ a b "Rigorous Scrutiny for Ministerial Nominees". ThisDay. 17 November 2008. http://allafrica.com/stories/200811180312.html. Retrieved 2009-12-16. 
  5. ^ Madu Onuorah and Alifa Daniel (November 19, 2008). "Budget '09 still hangs, Senate to screen 13 ministers". The Guardian. http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article01/indexn2_html?pdate=191108&ptitle=Budget%20'09%20still%20hangs,%20Senate%20to%20screen%2013%20ministers. Retrieved 2009-12-16. 
  6. ^ Ernest Sofoluwe (2002-05-06). "CBN Vs Savannah Bank: CUI Bono?". ThisDay. http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/05/06/20020506com02.html. Retrieved 2009-12-16. 
  7. ^ "Yar'Adua names cabinet". Africa News. Friday 27 July 2007. http://www.africanews.com/site/Nigeria_YarAdua_names_cabinet/list_messages/10239. Retrieved 2009-12-15. 
  8. ^ Daniel Idonor (Jul 14, 2009). "Cabinet Shake-up : Yar’Adua moves Godwin Abbe to Defence Ministry". Vanguard. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/14/cabinet-shake-up-yar%E2%80%99adua-moves-godwin-abbe-to-defence-ministry/. Retrieved 2009-12-07.