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Tahir Mamman: Meet Nigeria’s new Education Minister

Tahir Mamman stands out as a distinguished legal luminary and educational administrator in Nigeria. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a member of the esteemed Body of Benchers, his contributions to the Nigerian legal fraternity are immense.

Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, stands out as a distinguished legal luminary and educational administrator in Nigeria. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a member of the esteemed Body of Benchers, his contributions to the Nigerian legal fraternity are immense. His dedication to the field of law is showcased through his roles, from serving as the Director-General of the Nigeria Law School between 2005 and 2013 to his involvement in the International Association of Law Schools based in Washington, DC.

Prof. Mamman was, until recently, the Vice-Chancellor of Baze University Abuja and also a significant part of the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In 2015, he was conferred with the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in recognition of his significant contributions. The Federal Government further acknowledged his efforts by awarding him the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).

Born in 1954 in Michika, Adamawa State, Mamman pursued an LL.B degree at Ahmadu Bello University, graduating in 1983. Subsequently, he was called to the Nigerian Law School bar in 1984. His pursuit of academic excellence took him to the University of Warwick, England, where he secured his Master’s in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1990.

His academic journey leaped as he started lecturing at the University of Maiduguri’s Faculty of Law. Over the years, he rose to become the Dean. Notably, he has served the judiciary in Adamawa State, been an adviser to the State House of Assembly of Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno States, and contributed significantly to the establishment of Adamawa State University.

As for his affiliations, Prof. Mamman is a respected member of various prestigious associations, including the Nigerian Bar Association, Commonwealth Legal Education Association, African Network of Constitutional Lawyers, and International Bar Association, to name a few.

Professor Tahir Mamman’s venture into politics saw him run for the Adamawa state Governorship under the APC banner in December 2014. By June 2020, he was appointed by the All Progressive Congress National Executive Committee to represent the northeast geopolitical zone.

Adding another feather to his cap, on August 16, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him as the Minister of Education for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

To conclude, Professor Tahir Mamman’s journey is the epitome of dedication and commitment to law, education, and governance in Nigeria.