LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – President Bola Tinubu recently sent the names of three additional ministerial nominees to the Senate for approval.
Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Tuesday, 3 October 2023.
The nominees are Dr. Jamila Bio, Balarebe Abbas, and Ayodele Olawale Olawande.
Here’s what you need to know about the nominees:
1. Dr. Jamila Bio
Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim hails from Kwara State.
She is the daughter of Ibrahim Bio, a former Minister of Sports during President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
At 37, she is a medical doctor, politician, and development practitioner.
She is a strong advocate of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Jamila was once the national president of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Young Women Forum (PYW).
She also served as senior special assistant on health matters to the governor of Kwara State.
Dr. Jamila volunteered in various humanitarian capacities, particularly in the North-East region of Nigeria under the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI).
She has a passion for horseback riding with over a decade of experience.
2. Balarebe Abbas
Balarebe Abbas was born on February 5, 1958 in Kachia, Kaduna state.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1978-1981). He also holds an M.Sc in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1984-1986).
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He was Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Education Federal Ministry of Education Abuja. From September 1999 to February 2001.
He was also Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Army, Ministry of Defence, Abuja, from February 2001 to May 2003.
Balarabe then worked as a Special Assistant to the President in the Federal Capital Territory and as the Chief of Staff to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, among other positions held, from July 2003 until July 2007.
Between 2015 and 2023, Balarabe served as Secretary to the State Government of Kaduna under Nasir El-Rufai’s administration.
He is a seasoned educator serving as a lecturer in Port Harcourt and Zaria.
Balarabe is into real estate and property management as he is the current Managing Director of Rightedge Property Nigeria Limited, Abuja (October 2008 to date).
3. Olawale Olawande
Olawale Olawande is a community development expert and youth leader in the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
Born and raised in Lagos, Olawande began as an educator, teaching information and morals in his community’s young minds.
He most recently served in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Innovation from 2019 to 2023.
Olawande was the Youth Coordinator for the APC Lagos State Chapter and also served as the youth leader for the same party in Ondo State.