The current speaker house of representatives in Nigeria as of 2017 is Yakubu Dogara. He became the speaker of the House of Representatives Nigeria on the 9th of June, 2015. He is the 14th person to hold the post in the country. Continue reading to learn more about him.
Early life and education
Mr. Yakubu Dogara was born on the 26th of December, 1967. He attended Gwarangah Primary School in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State from 1976 to 1982. Then he proceeded to Bauchi Teachers’ College where he had his secondary education and also got a Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1987. From 1988 to 1992, he studied law at the University of Jos, Plateau State. He got his Bachelor of Law degree in 1992. He attended the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School from 1992 to 1993. He was called to bar in 1993.
Mr. Dogora, in his bid to further his education also attended Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, where he obtained a Master’s degree in International Commercial Law. He also attended many courses outside Nigeria. They include a Course on Managing and Leading Strategic Change in 2006, Course on Negotiation at the Oxford University in 2013, Harvard Kennedy School course on Leadership in Crisis in 2014 and a course on transformational leadership at the Cambridge University, the United Kingdom in 2016.
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Career before politics
Mr. Yakubu Dogara started his professional career as a teacher at the ATBU Staff School in Bauchi in April 1988. After he graduated the University of Jos, Plateau, he did his National Youth Service Corps programme at NCCF, Akwa Ibom State. Afterwards, he decided to go into private legal practice. He worked in this area until he became the Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Transport in 2005. He later decided to go into politics and contested for the seat in the Federal House of Representatives representing the Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa constituency in Bauchi State in 2006.
Mr. Yakubu Dogara - Speaker House of Reps, Aisha Buhari -wife of the President of Nigeria, and other dignitaries at an event
Political career
Mr. Yakubu Dogara became a Member of the Federal House of Representatives in 2007 after he ran a successful campaign. On the 9th of June, 2015, he was elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is currently a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Mr. Yakubu Dogara, in his position, has served on a number of committees and has sponsored a couple of motions and bills till date. He has achieved a lot since joining the House of Reps:
- He was the Chairman of the House committee on the Nigerian Customs Service Probe Panel.
- He was the Chairman of the House Adhoc Committee on the Composition and Pigmentation of Cement in Nigeria.
- Also, he served as a Chairman of the House Adhoc Committee on the Disbursement of Public Funds by the Bank of Industry.
- Member of the House Committee on Contract Scam Probe Panel.
- Member of the House Committee on ten Hijack of fishing vessels and Maritime Security Probe Panel.
- Member of the House Adhoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft.
- Member of the House Adhoc Committee on the Constitutional Review.
Mr. Yakubu Dogara with the President and Vice President
Mr. Dogara is a registered member of many professional bodies. Some of them include the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Cyber Bar Association, Social Policy Association, the Chartered Institute of Mediators and Conciliators, the International Bar Association and the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is married to Mrs. Gimbiya Yakubu Dogara and they are blessed with two children.
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Source: Naij.com