Mohammed Badaru Abubakar

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (born 19 September 1962 ) is a Nigerian politician who has served as the defence minister of Nigeria since 21 August 2023.

He was also conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2006.

He previously served as the governor of Jigawa State from 2015 to 2023.

He was the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fertilizer and also the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Non oil Revenue.

He is the owner of Talamiz group of industries.

Abubakar is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a B.Sc Accounting degree.

While studying at the university, he became involved in community activism, sport and business.

Badaru is also an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru.

After his graduation he established his business, the Talamiz Group, a conglomerate with diverse interest in automobiles, manufacturing, agriculture and animal husbandry, as well as commodity distribution.

Abubakar was Vice President II of the Federation of the West Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industries and a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

Prior to that, he was a member of the National Council on Privatisation.

Badaru is currently the National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

He also was a gubernatorial candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria but lost to Sule Lamido.

Abubakar also contested for governorship under the platform of the All Progressives Congress in 2015 along with PDP contender Mal.

Aminu Ibrahim Ringim.

The Independent National Electoral Commission on 13 April 2015, declared him the winner of that election.

On 9 March 2019 Jigawa State gubernatorial election Badaru was re-elected as governor having polled a total of 810,933 votes, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Aminu Ibrahim Ringim scored 288,356 while the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Bashir Adamu Jumbo scored 32,894 votes, thereby making him the winner of the election.

In recognition of his hard work, philanthropic activities, Abubakar was conferred with the traditional title of Sardaunan Ringim in Ringim emirate and Walin Jahun in Dutse emirate councils respectively.