President Bola Tinubu nominated Suwaiba Ahmad, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and five others as ministers on Wednesday, pending Senate confirmation.
The President also reassigned 10 ministers to new portfolios and submitted seven new ministerial nominees for Senate approval.
Among the new nominees is Suwaiba Ahmad, who is expected to take up a portfolio as Minister of State for Education.
Other nominees include Maigari Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Idi Maiha for the newly created Ministry of Livestock Development, Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Nentawe Yilwatda as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, effectively ending the tenure of suspended Minister Betta Edu.
Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad is an accomplished academic and consultant. In this article, Tribune Online presents 10 things you should know about her.
1. Education
Dr. Ahmad holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Science Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She also earned a Master of Education in Curriculum Studies and a Bachelor of Science Education in Chemistry, both from Bayero University, Kano.
2. Current Role at Bayero University
Dr. Ahmad has been an Associate Professor of Education at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), since 2004. She also serves as the Director of the university’s Centre for Gender Studies, promoting research and initiatives focused on gender equity.
3. Promotion to Associate Professor
She was promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Education at Bayero University, Kano, on 1 October 2021.
4. Leadership Positions at Bayero University
At Bayero University, Dr. Ahmad has held various leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Science Education from 2018 to 2020. She has also served as a postgraduate coordinator, examination officer, and Sub-Dean of Academics.
5. Consultancy Experience with Global Organisations
Her consultancy work spans governance and educational reform projects. Notably, she has collaborated with the British Council, PERL (Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn), and The Policy Practice, providing advisory and strategic input on education policies and governance.
6. Research Focused on Girls’ Education and Teacher Development
In her consultancy for the British Council’s Girls’ Education Advocacy Research Network (GEARn), Dr. Ahmad led a study evaluating the impact of education programmes on girls’ education in Jigawa State. She has also contributed to research on teacher quality and professional development in northern Nigeria.
7. Engagement with Policy and Governance Reform
Dr. Ahmad has provided policy advice at the state and national levels. In 2021, she contributed to a flagship report for PERL, assessing the effectiveness of governance reforms and service delivery in response to the COVID-19 crisis, focusing on education.
8. Published Academic Works
She has authored numerous research papers on science education, gender equity, and curriculum development. Her published works include studies on cooperative instructional strategies, teacher effectiveness, and the impact of context-based teaching on student performance in chemistry.
9. Commitment to Promoting STEM Education
A strong advocate for science education, Dr. Ahmad has led initiatives to improve students’ understanding and retention of scientific concepts. She has also championed competency-based training for teachers to enhance science teaching across Nigerian schools.
10. New Role as Minister of State For Education
As the new Minister of State for Education, Dr Ahmad is expected to bring her wealth of experience in education research, gender advocacy, and governance reform to drive policies that foster inclusiveness and quality education for all Nigerians.
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