President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mr. Ado Mohammed Yahuza as Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO).

According to a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 by Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant to the President (Media), Office of the Minister of Information and Culture, the appointment takes effect from September 1st, 2020.

With this appointment, Yahuza is now the 5th substantive Executive Secretary/CEO of the Institute since its establishment. His predecessors are: Mrs. Victoria R. Agodo (1992-2000); Dr. Charles K. Gonyok (2000-2004); Mr. J.B Yusuff (2004-2009) and Professor Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma (2009-2017).

Ayakoroma ended his eight (8) year’s tour of service as Executive Secretary of NICO on November 28, 2017 and handed over the baton of leadership to Mr. Louis Eriomala, who was then most senior Director in the Institute. Eriomala however superintended over the Institute in acting capacity till April 17, 2020 when he retired from the service and handed over to Mrs. Bridgette Rupmicit Yerima, the Director, Training School Department being the most senior till Mr. President’s appointment of Ado Yahuza as substantive Executive Secretary.

Before his appointment, Mr. Yahuza was the Director, Human Resource Management at the National Council for arts and Culture (NCAC), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

He started his work career as a Class Room Teacher at Masallachi and Kwalli Primary School, Kano between 1978 and 1980 and proceeded on mandatory National Youth Service Corps at Government Day Secondary School, Sunkani, Gongola State where he served in triple capacity as Class Room Teacher, Debate and Current Affairs Master as well as Library Master between 1986 and 1987. After his National Youth Service, he got employment with the Kano State History and Culture Bureau as Research Officer II in 1987 and rose to a Senior Research Officer in 1990.

Yahuza joined the Federal Civil Service with the National Council for Arts & Culture (NCAC), Iganmu, Lagos in 1991 as Senior Research Officer and was posted to Head the Kaduna Zonal Office of the Council. As Head of the Zonal Office, he rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Director. In 2014, he was promoted and became Director, Human Resource Management with the Council and was transferred to the Headquarters in Abuja, a position he held till his current appointment by Mr. President.

As Director, Human Resource Management, Yahuza was saddled with the responsibilities of coordinating and supervising the activities of the department including manpower skills analysis, formulation and execution of policy matters and advising the Management on proper interpretation of relevant Public Service Rules and Government circulars amongst others.

During this period of service at the NCAC, Ado Yahuza has undertaken and successfully discharged several adhoc duties including being a Member, Governing Board of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR). He has attended many national and international workshops like the National Training Workshop on Cultural Administration in Nigeria at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS); Executive Course I and II Training on Capacity Building Programme for e-Governance and The Project for Capacity Building of e-Governance in Nigeria respectively, all sponsored by the Korea International Corporation Agency (KOICA); Facility Tour of Culture and Tourism Destinations in South Africa; Educational Tour of Dubai with the aim of using Dubai Culture and Tourism Model to “Rebrand Culture and Tourism in Africa” as well as the Seminar on Chinese Culture for Government Officials in Beijing, China. He has several publications and other major research works to his credit as well as many merit awards.

Born on October 2, 1961, Mr. Ado Mohammed Yahuza who hails Kano Municipal Local Government of Kano State attended School of Arabic Studies, Kano from 1977-1980 where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. He proceeded to School of Preliminary Studies (Remedial Section), Kano and obtained his G.C.E ‘O’ Level Certificate between 1980 and 1981. At the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ado Yahuza enrolled for IJMB between 1982 and1983. He got his Bachelor of Arts (HONS) Degree in History at the same ABU, Zaria in 1986 and proceeded to University of Ibadan from 1988 to 1990 for his Masters Degree in History. Presently, his Postgraduate Diploma Certificate in Public Administration at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is in view.

Ado Yahuza is married with children.

Caleb Nor
Media Assistant
Office of the Executive Secretary
NICO, Abuja