The practice of using the name of one's hometown as one's surname is very common among northern Nigerians either prominent or less than prominent. We present to you a list 50 prominent northern Nigerians whose surnames were derived from the names of their hometowns.
The practice of using the name of one's hometown as one's surname is very common among northern Nigerians either prominent or less than prominent. We present to you a list 50 prominent northern Nigerians whose surnames were derived from the names of their hometowns.
1. Alhaji Aminu Kano
The socialist politician who was once the chief whip of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, who was once Nigeria’s minister of health, and who was once a presidential candidate during Nigeria’s second republic, was a native of Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.
2. Bashir Tofa
The industrialist-businessman–oil trader, who was once the national finance secretary of the now–defunct National Party of Nigeria, (NPN) and who was the presidential flagbearer of the now defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), is a native of a town named Tofa in Kano State, Nigeria
3. Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai
The trained teacher that later joined the Nigerian Army and is presently Nigeria’s Chief of Army staff, is a native of Buratai town in Biu Local Government, Borno State, Nigeria.
4. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
The United Kingdom-trained schoolteacher that later became Nigeria’s Prime Minister, was a native of a town named Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi State, Nigeria.
5. Major General Mamman Kotangora (rtd)
He was one of the first candidates to be admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy when it opened in 1964 and who was once the military administrator of Abuja FCT, is a native of Kotangora, Niger State, Nigeria.
6. Major General Hassan Usman Katsina (rtd)
The one–time Governor of Northern Nigeria and also Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff from 1968 to 1971, was a native of Katsina, in Katsina state, Nigeria.
7. Alhaji Shehu Shagari
He was Nigeria’s finance minister from 1971 to 1975 and also Nigeria’s executive president from 1979 to 1983, is a native of Shagari town, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
8. Alhaji Ali Yerima Bularafa
The commissioner for information in Yobe state, is a native of Bularafa, a town in Gulani Local Government Area of Yobe State, Nigeria.
9. Barrister Ahmed Goneri
One–time commissioner for justice and attorney general of Yobe State, is a native of Goneri, a town in Gujba Local Government Area, Yobe State, Nigeria.
10. Alhaji Mai Mala Buni
The national secretary of the All Progressives Congress political party, is a native of Buni Yadi town in Yobe State, Nigeria.
11. Alhaji Aliyu Makama Bida
The first minister for education in Northern Nigeria, was a native of Bida, Niger State, Nigeria.
12. Alhaji Abubakar Rimi
The United Kingdom-trained executive governor of Kano State from 1979 to 1983 and also a PDP presidential contender in 1999, was a native of Rimi town, Sumaila Local Government Area, Kano State, Nigeria.
13. Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
He was the speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015, is a native of Tambuwal town in Sokoto State, Nigeria.
14. Alhaji Aliyu Sabo Bakin Zuwo
He was a senator from 1979 to 1983 and also Kano State Governor from October to December 1983, was a native of Zuwo town, Kano state, Nigeria.
15. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi
He is presently a senator, is a native of Makarfi town in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
16. Alhaji Usman Baba Pategi
The northern Nigerian stage and film actor, is a native of Pategi, Kwara State, Nigeria.
17. Governor Aminu Bello Masari
The Katsina State governor who was the speaker of Nigerian House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007, is a native of Masari town in Katsina State, Nigeria.
18. Brigadier Zakariya Maimalari
The well-respected senior Nigerian Army officer who was cold–bloodedly murdered by tribalist coup plotters in 1966, was a native of Maimalari town, Yobe State, Nigeria.
19. Mai Kachalla Gujba
An executive director of First Bank of Nigeria, is a native of Gujba town in Yobe State, Nigeria.
20. General Garba Wushishi (rtd)
He was the minister for information during Shagari Adminstration, is a native of Wushishi town, Niger state, Nigeria.
21. Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau
A former Nigerian minister for agriculture and later a minister for industries in Nigerian Second Republic, was a native of Gusau town in Sokoto State (not to be confused with the Gusau that is the capital of Zamfara State).
22. Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
A former governor of Kano State, is a native of Kwankwaso town in Kano State, Nigeria.
23. Governor Danbaba Suntai
A pharmacist who was once Taraba State commissioner for education, is a native of a town known as Suntai in Taraba State, Nigeria.
24. Alhaji Muhamadu Ribadu
He was minister for mines, minister for lands, minister for Lagos, and minister for defence during Balewa Administration, was a native of a town known as Ribadu in Adamawa State, Nigeria.
25. Alhaji Abdulrahman Okene
He was a prominent politician during Abacha military junta, was a native of Okene town in Kogi State, Nigeria.
26. Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi
The deputy governor of Kaduna State from 1979 to 1981 and governor of Kaduna State from 1981 to 1983, is a native of a town named Ungwan Rimi in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
27. Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
He had his doctorate degree from University of Ibadan, is native of Ganduje town in Kano State, Nigeria.
28. Senator Bala Tafida Yauri
A prominent northern Nigerian senator, is a native of Yauri, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
29. Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi
The former governor of Zamfara State, is a native of Shinkafi town, Zamfara State, Nigeria.
30. Dr. Ahmad Galadima
He once won the Bank of Scotland Prize for writing the best MSc dissertation in United Kingdom in 2008, is a native of Galadima town in Zamfara State, Nigeria.
31. Alhaji Abubuakr Saleh Michika
The first civilian governor of Adamawa State who is reputed to have 96 grandchildren, is a native of Michika town, Adamawa Satte, Nigeria.
Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, who was Sokoto State governor from 1999 to 2007, is a native of Bafarawa town, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
32. Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa
He was Sokoto State governor from 1999 to 2007, is a native of Bafarawa town, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
33. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko
The University of Pittsburgh, USA graduate who was Sokoto State Governor from 2009 to 2015, is a native of Wamakko, a town in Sokoto State, Nigeria.
34. Alhaji Sanni Umar Ganduje
A northern Nigerian traditional ruler that was recently dethroned, is a native of Ganduje town, Kano State, Nigeria.
35. Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Sadiq Zakari Maimalari (rtd)
A former military administrator of Jigawa State, is a native of Maimalari town, Yobe State, Nigeria.
36. Alhaji Inuwa Wada
The former Nigerian minister for works and survey and later a minister for defence, was a native of Tudun Wada, Kano State, Nigeria.
37. Major General Muhammed Shuwa (rtd)
He was the general officer commanding 1st Division of Nigerian Army from 1967 to 1969 and who was Nigeria’s minister for trade from 1975 to 1979, is a native of Shuwa town, Borno State, Nigeria.
38. Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno
He graduated from University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom and who was the president of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries , OPEC from 1972 to 1973, is a native of Monguno town, Borno State, Nigeria.
39. Nuhu Ribadu
The pioneer chairman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, is a native of Ribadu town , Adamawa State, Nigeria.
40. Alhaji Salihu Sagir Takai
Former contender for Kaduna State Governorship seat, is a native of Takai town in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
41. Lieutenant General Inuwa Wushishi (rtd)
The Nigerian Chief of Army Staff from 1981 to 1983, is a native of Wushishi town, Niger State, Nigeria.
42. Colonel Dala Aji Goniri
Former commander of Nigerian Army 241 Recce Batallion, is a native of Goniri town, Yobe State, Nigeria.
43. Tahir Mohammed Monguno
An incumbent member of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives , is a native of Monguno town, Monguno Local Government Area, Borno State, Nigeria.
44. Aliyu Bahago Ahman Pategi
The House of Reps member, is native of Pategi town, Kwara State, Nigeria.
45. Babayo Garba Gamawa
Former speaker Bauchi House of Assembly and also a former Deputy Governor and senator, is a native of Gamawa town, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
46. Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd)
The Nigeria’s incumbent national security adviser who holds master degree in International Relations, is a native of Monguno town, Borno State, Nigeria.
47. Alhaji Usman Dakingari
The incumbent governor of Kebbi State, is a native of Dakingari town, Suru Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
48. Alhaji Adamu Aliero
Former governor of Kebbi State, is a native of a town known as Aliero in Kebbi State, Nigeria.
49. Ali Sa’ad Birnin-Kudu
A veteran lawyer, is a native of Birnin-Kudu town, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
50. Alhaji Audu Sule Katagum
The chief of staff to Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar, is a native of Katagumtown, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
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