By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator (Dr.) Uba Sani, has appointed Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo as the Commissioner for Education in Kaduna State.
He also redeployed the outgoing Commissioner for Education, Prof. Sani Bello (Mainan Zazzau), to the newly re-established Ministry of Information—abolished under the immediate past administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
In addition, the Governor appointed Barrister Gloria Ibrahim as the Commissioner for Youth Development, according to a statement signed on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibraheem Musa.
The appointments and redeployments take immediate effect.
Governor Uba Sani expects Prof. Abubakar Sambo to rejuvenate the Ministry of Education in line with his administration’s agenda to improve access to education, rehabilitate infrastructure, enhance teacher capacity, harness ICT potential, prioritize girl-child education, and strengthen school security.
In line with his youth-centered development agenda, the Governor also expects Barrister Gloria Ibrahim to develop innovative, creative, and practical programmes and projects that will position the Ministry of Youth Development as a hub for impactful solutions to youth-related issues.
While congratulating Prof. Abubakar Sambo and Barrister Gloria Ibrahim on their well-deserved appointments, Governor Uba Sani prayed for God’s guidance and protection as they take on their new roles.
Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, the new Commissioner for Education, is an accomplished academic, administrator, and recipient of the National Productivity Order of Merit (1997) and Officer of the Order of the Niger (2000).
A Professor of Energy Studies, he previously served as Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University (2004), Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (1995–2004), and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (1990–1994). From 2005 to 2012, he was the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. In 2011, he was appointed Special Adviser to the President on Energy.
He has served on several high-level national and international panels and committees. These include Chair of the Nigerian Committee for Partnership with Brazil on Energy (2007–2008), Member of the TETFUND Standing Committee on Research and Development, Coordinator of the Energy Thematic Group (2020), Member of the ECOWAS Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) Consultation Committee (2021), and Member of the African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (2022).
Barrister Gloria Ibrahim, the new Commissioner for Youth Development, is a seasoned legal practitioner and mediator. Prior to her appointment, she served as Principal Legal Practitioner at Glownom Legal Consult, Kaduna.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Certificate in Negotiation and Mediation from DICON Consulting, Kaduna. She is a member of the Association of Professional Negotiators and Mediators (APNM), Child Protection Network (CPN), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
