Pix; Dr. Ramatu Tjani Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory
By Isiaka Mustapha
Hers is a life of inspiration. And that reflects in virtually all she does within the public and private sectors. She concedes a great deal of premium to ethical standards and hard work.
Within her womenfolk and beyond, Dr. Ramatu Tjani Aliyu, the efficient Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory has proved her worth as a result-oriented character worth of emulation. She is classified as one of the loyal political figures and public office holders who is passionately interested in advancement of the common good and positive changes of the society to the best of her capacity.
Within the nation’s political circles, Ramatu has been a source of pride, joy and immense value to women representation in public administration.
Consistently, she has by her impressive conduct raised the public confidence and positive opinions about the capability and efficiency of the Nigerian women in public administration. Little wonder when on her 51st birthday, President Muhammadu Buhari in his congratulatory message to her specifically noted that Ramatu’s antecedent as former Women Leader of APC and President of Council of Africa Political Parties had continue to inspire and attract more women into governance.
Similarly, in appreciation of her immense contributions Dr. Ramatu was conferred with the prestigious traditional chieftaincy title of Onyize Ebira land in Kogi state (mother of wealth) by Dr. Ado Ibrahim, the Ohinloyi of Ebira land last June.
Not a few of Ramatu’s close friends and political associates would readily attest to her sterling attributes of loyalty to leadership and acute transparency, commitment and dedication to duties, so much that this sterling attribute has earned her the sobriquet of ’’Queen of Public administration’’
Ramatu was born on 12 June, 1970 in Wuse area Abuja, Nigeria. She is the daughter of late Alhaji Mamman Sidi Ali, who was the Bawan Allah of Lokoja in Kogi State.
Ramatu started her early childhood education at Dawaki Primary school Suleja, Niger State in 1976 and in 1982 after she finished her primary school she enrolled for her secondary education at Federal Government College (FGC) Minna, Niger state and finished in 1988.
Two years later after a successful completion of her remedial program, Ramatu got admitted into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for her undergraduate program to study Urban and Regional Planning.
She graduated in 1995 with Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc) Urban and Regional Planning, after which Ramatu went to Nasarawa State University, Keffi for her Masters Degree in Public Administration.
She was conferred with honorary doctorate degree in Public Administration by the Commonwealth University, London and has also earned a certificate in Leadership Skills from the Abbey College, London.
The happily married Hajia Ramatu who is a banker and philanthropist also runs an NGO she founded; the Global Women and Youth Empowerment Strategy (GLOWYES).
She first started her work life after she was mobilized to observe the compulsory national service, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. Young Ramatu later joint AZAH Intermediaries Nigeria Limited, a civil engineering construction firm, where she worked as Managing Director for some years, but she later went back to university where she bagged her Masters degree and Certificate in Leadership Skills and currently undergoing a PH.D program.
In 2004, Ramotu was appointed Special Adviser on Women Affairs, Youth and Social Development to the chairman of the Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
In 2007, she contested for political office to represent Kwali/Abaji federal constituency in the National Assembly but her bid was unsuccessful, a year later in 2008, she was appointed vice national chairman of her party, which was the major opposition political party in Nigeria at the time, All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP) which she served as the overseer North Central Zone.
In 2010 she was given the National Women Leader of the party, and concurrently served as the President of the Council of African Political Parties (CAPP) after she successful contested and won the election which took place in Khartoum, Sudan.
In 2014, after three opposition political parties in Nigeria merged into one, including her own party ANPP, she was appointed the Women Leader of the new All progressive Party (APC), which she served until current position