When Michelle Obama, the ex-First Lady of the United States popularised the “glass ceiling” metaphor in July 2016 while campaigning for Hilary Clinton in the 2016 US presidential election, shattering this barrier seemed to be a myth in many parts of the world, including Nigeria. Seven years down the line, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, simply known as Aishatu Binani seems to be the first female politician to break that impenetrable, invisible barrier in Africa’s most populous country.
The Adamawa-born politician is a woman of many firsts; rising from one power step to another and stepping up to take the mantle of leadership. So, who is Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, who is leaving footprints in the sand of time and how did she achieve so much?
Aishatu Binani biography
Aishatu Binani was born on August 11, 1971, in Adamawa State into a very politically active family. Her father was a local government chairman, and her mother was a teacher.
She began her primary school education in Kaduna State and finished it at Gwadabawa Primary school, Yola, Adamawa State. She attended a government secondary school in Yola. Binani then proceeded to the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State. She also obtained a diploma in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southampton, England.
Binani is currently a politician and engineer working in Nigeria.
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Aishatu Binani career
Long before Aishatu Binani ventured into politics, she was an entrepreneur and a talented businesswoman. Binani is the founder of the Binani Group of Companies. The company is a diversified business conglomerate that includes pharmaceuticals, property, oil and gas, construction, publishing, telecommunications, and banking.
The Binani company is a successful conglomerate that is climbing the success ladder very fast. In July 2020, the Binani Group of Companies launched the first airline to be owned by a woman in Nigeria – Binani Air. The Adamawa State-based airline runs through Yola-Lagos, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, Kano, Gombe, and Bauchi routes, among others.
Having succeeded in establishing her legacy in the private sector, Binani decided to leap into the Nigerian political space and she has been doing well. She has had a long and successful career in politics. She took her first political steps in 2011 as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). She later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Binani was elected as a member of the House of Assembly; firstly as a member of the House of Representatives in 2011 and a Senator in 2019. She is taking giant political steps as she is the Adamawa State governorship candidate for the APC in the 2023 general election.
Aishatu Binani senator
Under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Binani was elected as a House of Representatives member to represent Yola North/Yola South/Girei federal constituency in 2015. With her election, she became a member of the seventh National Assembly and served in office till 2015.
In 2015, Binani left the PDP and defected to the APC, which became the ruling party following its victory in the 2015 general election. In the 2019 general elections, she clinched the ticket of the APC for the Adamawa Central Senatorial zone. She subsequently emerged as the winner of the election and was sworn in as the senator representing Adamawa Central Senatorial zone in the ninth National Assembly. She is currently the Chairperson Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals.
Aishatu Binani’s governorship ambition
On March 16, 2022, at Muna Hotel Jimeta in Yola, Binani declared her intention to contest in the 2023 Adamawa gubernatorial election. At the announcement of her governorship bid, she said:
Despite all abundant human and natural resources, our state sadly ranks 25th out of 36 states in the human capital development index.
Binani promised to address and work on increasing the rank of her state for it to get better. She became the female governorship candidate of the APC for Adamawa state after polling 430 votes, defeating her closest contender, pioneer Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu who got 280 votes during the APC Adamawa gubernatorial primary election.
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As a senate member, she made her impact felt and now she is aiming for the office of governor.
Aishatu Binani’s net worth
Aishatu’s net worth is estimated to be in the millions of Naira. She is reported to have an extensive portfolio of investments, including real estate, stocks, bonds, and businesses.
Aisha Binani family
Aisha Binani was born into the home of Alhaji Dahiru and Hajiya Aishatu Utiya Dahiru, who were both practising Muslims. Her mother died on December 10, 2020.
Binani is married to Professor Ahmed Modibbo, who is an educator, historian, and seasoned intellectual. The couple is blessed with five lovely children.
Aishatu Binani father
Aishatu Binani’s father, Alhaji Dahiru, was a local government chairman. Seeing how well his daughter turned out, especially when it comes to leading and creating a legacy, one can say that her father was a huge inspiration for her.
Aishatu Binani’s age
Aishatu Binani was born on August 11, 1971. She is currently 51 years old and will be 52 years old by August 2023.
With how fast she has climbed the political ladder, she can be said to be one of the most experienced politicians in Nigeria. She has a long and successful political career and is focused on taking Adamawa State to a better place. She is an example of what women can achieve when they are allowed to do so.
Just Aishatu Binani, what would you love to pioneer?
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