Biography Nigeria Reporting the full Biography of Abba Kyari (23 September 1952 – 17 April 2020) was a Nigerian lawyer who served as Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria from August 2015 to April 2020.
Abba Kyari Early life
Kyari was born on 23 September 1952, to a Kanuri-Shuwa Arab family from Borno. He was educated in St. Paul’s College in Wusasa Zaria, and later considered joining the Nigerian Army following advice from Mamman Daura and Ibrahim Tahir. In 1976, he met General Muhammadu Buhari who was then Governor of Borno State.
Abba Kyari Real Data
- Full name: Abba Alhaji Kyari
- Date of Birth: March 17, 1975
- Place of Birth: Borno State
- Nationality: Nigerian
Education
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Warwick in 1980, and also obtained a law degree from the University of Cambridge. Kyari was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983 after attending the Nigerian Law School. In 1984, he obtained a master’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge. He later attended the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and in 1992 and 1994 participated in the Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development.
Abba Kyari Career
In 1959 he enlisted in the Nigerian Army as an Officer Cadet. He attended the 12th Regular Officers? Training School, Teshia, Ghana from March 1959 – September 1959 and he proceeded to the Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, England from October 1959 to March 1960. He held various appointments in the army, including Platoon Commander and then Transport Offices in the 1 Brigade Transport Company, Second-in-Command and then Commander in the Nigerian Army Artillery, commander of 1 Brigade, Kaduna and Commanding Officer 5th Battalion, Nigerian Army, Kano.
It is worthy to note that during the outbreak of violence against the Igbos in Northern and Central Nigeria in 1966, Abba Kyari assisted Igbo soldiers in escaping from Kaduna, including Major Samuel Ogbemudia.
In July 1967, General Yakubu Gowon appointed Abba Kyari Governor of North-Central State after it was formed from the Northern region during the military regime of Yakubu Gowon. As a Governor, he mapped out a master plan for the Kaduna metropolis, but in practice the plan was not followed by his successors. His regime was however not tolerant to the press, however, Towards the end of Gowon’s administration, Abba Kyari subtly advocated for a return to civilian rule.
Abba Kyari led the Northern delegates to the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, and was appointed Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the conference. After retiring, he was appointed to the board of directors of First Bank of Nigeria, Standard Alliance Insurance and Merchant Bank of Commerce. He became Chairman of Gamah Flour Mills and of Alif Engineering and Construction.
He has also worked with the New Nigeria Development Company, New Africa Holdings, African International Bank, United Bank for Africa, Unilever, and Mobil in various capacities over the years.
Abba Kyari, was appointed the new Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari on August 27, 2015.
