Abdullahi Baffa Bichi

Dr
Abdullahi Baffa Bichi
In office
june 2023 – to date
Secretary to the Kano state government
GovernorAbba Kabir Yusuf
Preceded byAlhaji Usman Alhaji
Executive Secretary of TETFund
In office
August 2016 – January 2019
PresidentMuhammadu Buhari
Preceded byMal. Aliyu Na'iya
Succeeded byProf Suleiman Elias Bogoro
Personal details
Born1969
Bichi, Northern Region,
NationalityNigerian
Political partyNNPP
Other political
affiliations		Congress for Progressive Change
(2010 to 2014)
All Progressive Congress
(2014 to 2019)
EducationPhD
Alma materAhmadu Bello University, Zaria
OccupationPolitician, teacher

Abdullahi Baffa Bichi (born 1969) is a Nigerian academician and politician who served as the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund TETFund from 2016 to 2019. He also served as the Secretary to the State Government of Kano State from 2023 to December 2024 under the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

Bichi was born in Bichi Local Government Area of Kano State. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Bayero University Kano in 1991, his master's degree in Mathematics from Bayero University Kano in 1997, and his PhD in Mathematics from University of Birmingham UK in 2005.[4]

Career

He started his academic career as a lecturer at the Federal College of Education Kano in 1992. He later joined the Department of Education at Bayero University Kano in 2000, where he rose to the rank of associate professor in 2012.[5][6] He also served as the Director of the Centre for Research and Documentation at the university from 2014 to 2016.

In 2016, he was appointed as the Executive Secretary of TETFund by President Muhammadu Buhari. He was responsible for overseeing the funding and development of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. He initiated several reforms and interventions to improve the quality and access of education in the country. He was, however, sacked in 2019 by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, over allegations of corruption and insubordination.[7] Bichi denied the allegations and accused the minister of demanding kickbacks from contractors.[8]

In 2023, he contested for the Kano North Senatorial seat under the platform of the NNPP,[9] but lost to the incumbent Senator Barau Jibrin of the APC.[10][11] He was later appointed as the Chairman of the Gubernatorial Transition Committee of the Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who won the election under the NNPP.[12] He was subsequently named as the Secretary to the State Government of Kano State by the governor in May 2023.[13][14][15] But was subsequently sacked in December 2024, a decision he attributed to his health issues.[16]

Personal life

Bichi is married and has four children. He is also a member of several professional and academic associations, such as the Nigerian Psychological Association, the Nigerian Society for Educational Psychologists, and the International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology. He has published several articles and books on education, psychology, and politics. He is also an advocate of good governance, social justice, and human rights.[17]

References

  1. ^ Ramalan, Ibrahim (2023-12-07). "Gov. Yusuf appoints acting SSG, promotes CPS to DG, others". Daily Nigerian. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  2. ^ Hassan, Rabiu Sani (2023-03-31). "Abba Gida-Gida ya nada Baffa Bichi Matsayin Shugaban Kwamitin Karbar Mulki". PRNigeria Hausa. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  3. ^ Kano, Fanen Ihyongo (2024-12-12). "BREAKING: Kano governor sacks SSG, five commissioners". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  4. ^ "Abdullahi Baffa Bichi". IEEE. January 13, 2019. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  5. ^ "University Librarian – Gombe State University". 2008-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  6. ^ "WPS 365". eu.docs.wps.com. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  7. ^ admin (2019-01-24). "Between Adamu Adamu and Abdullahi Baffa Bichi". Intervention. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  8. ^ "Why I was sacked from TETFund – Baffa". Daily Trust. 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  9. ^ Gabriel, John (2022-06-07). "Abdullahi Baffa wins NNPP senatorial ticket for Kano North". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  10. ^ Yakubu (2023-02-26). "Barau Jibril ya lashe zaben Sanatan kano ta Arewa". KADAURA 24. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  11. ^ Maishanu, Abubakar Ahmadu (2023-02-26). "Kano North senator, Barau Jibrin of APC, re-elected". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  12. ^ Malumfashi, Muhammad (2023-03-31). "Abba Gida Gida ya shirya shiga gidan gwamnati, ya nada kwamitin karbar mulki". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. (in Hausa). Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  13. ^ "Why Dr Bichi was honoured". Daily Trust. 2019-03-09. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  14. ^ "'Kin ba da hadin-kai a ci amanar kasa ne dalilin cire ni daga TETFUND'". BBC News Hausa (in Hausa). Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  15. ^ Odogwu, Ted (2023-05-30). "Baffa Bichi emerges Kano SSG". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
  16. ^ Hamza, Sani (2024-12-13). ""Rashin lafiya ta sa Abba ya sauke ni daga sakataren gwamnati," inji Baffa Bichi". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. (in Hausa). Retrieved 2024-12-18.
  17. ^ "dblp: Abdullahi Baffa Bichi". dblp.org. Retrieved 2024-02-04.