WHO IS TPL HAJIYA RAMATU TIJJANI ALIU?
“I’ve always wanted to fight for people who didn’t have arms. I’ve always wanted to speak up for people who don’t have a voice. I’ve always wanted to protect people who couldn’t protect themselves. It’s my nature. It’s my instinct.” — Sophia Bush
It is said that some are born great, some achieve greatness while others have greatness thrust upon them. Hajia Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu needs no introduction in today’s political circles in Nigeria. She is the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after her appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 21, 2019. Hajiya Dr. Ramatu was previously the National Woman Leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and later the All Progressive Congress (APC) after the party and other political parties merged. She held this position between 2014 – 2018 until her appointment as the junior FCT Minister in 2019.
Hajiya Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, née Sidi Ali, was born on 12 June 1970 in Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria. She is the daughter of late Alhaji Mamman Sidi Ali, who was the Bawan Allah of Lokoja in Kogi State, Nigeria, a royal title he held until his death. Hajiya Ramatu started her early childhood education at Dawaki Primary School, Suleja in 1976 and in 1982 after she finished her primary school she enrolled for her secondary education at Federal government college (FGC) Minna, Niger State and finished in 1988. Two years later after a successful completion of her remedial program, Ramatu got admitted into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for her undergraduate program to study Urban and Regional Planning, She graduated in 1995 with Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc) Urban and Regional Planning, after which she went to Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and completed her Master’s degree in Public Administration. She was conferred with honorary doctorate degree (Ph.D) in Public Administration by the Commonwealth University, London and also earned a certificate in Leadership Skills from the Abbey College, London.
The very intelligent Hajiya Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu’s first taste of what being a worker entails began after she was mobilized to serve the mandatory national service, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. The young and highly focused Hajiya Ramatu later worked at AZAH Intermediaries Nigeria Limited, a civil engineering construction firm, where she worked as the Managing Director for some years. Her thirst for more knowledge led her back to the university where she obtained her Master’s degree and Certificate in Leadership Skills thereafter.
In 2004, Aliyu was appointed Special Adviser on Women Affairs, Youth and Social Development to the chairman of the Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nigeria. In 2007, she ran for political office to represent Kwali/Abaji federal constituency in the Nigeria National Assembly (NASS) but her bid was unsuccessful. A year later in 2008, she was appointed Vice National Chairman of her party, which was the major opposition political party in Nigeria then, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). In that capacity she also served as the overseer North Central Zone. In 2010 she was given the position of the National Woman Leader of the party, and concurrently served as the President of the Council of African Political Parties (CAPP) after she successful contested and won the election which took place in Khartoum, Sudan. Later in 2014, after three opposition political parties in Nigeria merged into one, including the ANPP, she was appointed the Women Leader of the new party All Progressives Congress (APC), a position she held until 2018.
The indefatigable and vibrant Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has received many accolades and honours for her phenomenal track record of exemplary leadership qualities, with regards to her contributions to women empowerment, humanitarian activities and other notable extensions of her charitable exploits over the years. She has consistently been a beacon of hope to the downtrodden in the society and usually takes it upon herself to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in the society.
With Hajiya Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu there is no doubt in her mind that the Youths of every nation are a very vital component of it’s future. This simple fact has led her to consider many policies that seeks to exclusively cater to the unique needs of this particular demographic subset of the population.
Ultimately, the goal of any good leader is to provide a platform that will motivate, mobilize and elevate mentees who will carry on the baton of qualitative leadership in future irrespective of political, religious and tribal leanings. Hajia Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu is definitely among the few leaders who are ready to usher in a vibrant paradigm shift in governance, dividends of democracy and superlative representation from the grassroots upwards. She has exhibited this trait via the provision of excellent empowerment and skills acquisition initiatives, facilitation of entrepreneurship programs and digital training modules designed to make the average youth ICT compliant which will in turn help them become self-reliant in future. This will clearly reduce juvenile delinquency and curb crimes committed by the youths within the FCT and beyond.
A wise man once said “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves!”. The profound truth within that particular statement keeps resonating across time and is even more significant at this peculiar moment in our national history especially as it concerns The Amazon of The Niger, the Jagabania of Nigerian politics who is indeed a Great Leader.
Prior to 2023 Presidential election,she founded a group named NIGERIANS UNITE FOR TINUBU/SHETTIMA MANDATE(NUFTS) which has over 1million members across the 36 state of the Federation and FCT.
NUFTS embark on series of projects ranging from Medical outreach,provision of motorized borehole for communities,Lighting up communities,Free UTME registration and campaigning rigorously for the emergence of our President elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice President elect Senator Kashim Shettima.
Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has displayed capacity,dexterity,Nobility and above all commitment to the advancement of her party and does referred to as THE JAGABANIA because she belives in the saying that WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS
Long live Hajiya Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu!!!
*KUNLE OLA OMO RAMATU*
