Things to know about Peter Obi’s likely running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba
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Datti Baba-Ahmed
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party and a Kano-based economist and politician, Datti Baba-Ahmed, might have closed the deal to pair on Labour Party’s presidential ticket.
Baba-Ahmed and Obi, reportedly spent the better part of Tuesday night meeting with some northern elders and other important Nigerians on the possibility of their combination, with indications that the coast was almost clear for the political underdogs.
Inside sources said that discussion is likely to be concluded Wednesday as Baba-Ahmed has already given Obi the green light, but waiting for the final endorsement of certain Northern elders.
Who is Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed?
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is an academician, businessman and Nigerian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007, and was elected Senator for Kaduna North under the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) ticket, with a remarkable record of sponsoring important legislation in a very short time.
Baba-Ahmed has four degrees; a BSc and MSc in Economics from University of Maiduguri, a MBA from University of Wales, Cardiff and in 2006, he successfully completed his PhD studies, earning the title of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Westminster.
After his service year at University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun state, he worked as projects co-ordinator, Baze Research and Data Services Ltd. and as Officer II in the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, Lagos.
He worked as a Banking Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Plc from July 1997 to December 1998 and then came back to become the Managing Director of Baze Research and Data Services Ltd in July 1999 – January 2003, before venturing into politics.
In 2011, Sen. Baba-Ahmed established Baze University, an independent University located in Abuja, Nigeria. Using his studies abroad as a benchmark, he noted that the Nigerian educational system was “appalling”. This inspired the establishment of Baze University, “to contribute towards fixing the system in order for Nigeria to realize its potentials and address various challenges”.
Datti is a well accomplished philanthropist. Among many of his corporate social responsibility projects; he built and donated two junior secondary schools with total capacity of 4,000 students. It is worthy of note that the schools have graduated over 6,000 students to date.
In 2015, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed was appointed as Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Hope Alive Foundation – which campaigns for post-service economic survival of corps members who suffered permanent disability during service.
Baba-Ahmed is currently Pro-Chancellor of Baze University, Managing Director, Baze Research & Data Service Ltd and Chairman of Baze Construction Ltd.
His companies employ a total of over 1000 people including expatriates, and highly skilled professional Nigerians from the Diaspora
Source: Newsband
