Nenadi Usman

Senator Nenadi Usman of Nigeria was born in 1966 in Jos, Plateau State. Her formative years were spent living under military rule in Nigeria—a volatile and often violent environment that eventually inspired her todevote her life to civil service. Senator Nenadi Usman received her West African School Certificate from Federal Government College in Jos in 1982 and IJMB (ALevel) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, in 1983. She holds multiple post-graduate degrees, including a post-graduate diploma in management from the University of Jos, a master’s in strategy and security administration from the Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna, and a master’s in geography from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she also received her B.Sc. in geography in 1986 and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in the same area. Viewing education as one of the most effective tools of empowerment, she began hercareer as a geography teacher at the Government Secondary School in Kagoro, Kaduna State.

Following the restoration of democratic rule in 1989, Senator Nenadi Usman joined the political arena as a member of Kaduna State Caucus of the National Republican Convention, earning an appointment as Executive Adviser for Youth and Sports and, shortly thereafter, Information, Home Affairs and Culture.

In 2007, following the end of President Obasanjo’s term, Senator Nenadi Usman helped establish the Education and Empowerment Centre for Women. Her work in this area has made lasting impact on the lives of Nigerian women and established her as a fierce advocate for marginalized groups.

In 2010, Senator Nenadi Usman won her party’s primaries and district-wide general election, becoming the first female senator in the entire North West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

As senator, she continued to put the needs of the underserved at the forefront of her work, attacking critical issues including inadequate drinking water, unemployment and medical challenges. She fought for legislation to address the needs of underprivileged women and children, leading to the development of community projects and empowerment programs and providing training for youth and women in profitable trades like welding, autotronics, interior decoration, fashion design, plumbing and others.