Abba Kyari facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Abba Kyari CFR OON
Chief of Staff to the President
In office 27 August 2015 – 17 April 2020
President	Muhammadu Buhari
Preceded by	Jones Arogbofa
Succeeded by	Ibrahim Gambari
Personal details
Born	(1952-09-23)23 September 1952 Borno, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Borno State, Nigeria)
Died	17 April 2020(2020-04-17) (aged 67) Lagos, Nigeria
Spouse	Hajiya Kulu Kyari
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Warwick University of Cambridge Nigerian Law School International Institute for Management Development
Profession	Lawyer and banker
Awards	Order of the Niger

Abba Kyari was a Nigerian lawyer and banker. He was born on September 23, 1952. He became very well known for serving as the Chief of Staff for the President of Nigeria. He held this important role from August 2015 until he passed away in April 2020.

Who Was Abba Kyari?

His Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Borno

Abba Kyari was born in Borno, Nigeria. His family was from the Shuwa Arab group. He went to school at St. Paul's College in Wusasa Zaria. When he was younger, he thought about joining the Nigerian Army. This idea came from advice he got from Mamman Daura and Ibrahim Tahir. In 1976, he met General Muhammadu Buhari, who was the Governor of Borno State at that time.

Learning and Studying

Abba Kyari was a very educated person. In 1980, he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Warwick in England. He also got a law degree from the University of Cambridge, another famous university in England.

After his studies abroad, he returned to Nigeria. He was officially allowed to practice law in Nigeria in 1983. This happened after he attended the Nigerian Law School. He continued his education, getting a master's degree in law from the University of Cambridge in 1984. Later, he went to the International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland. He also took part in special leadership programs at Harvard Business School in 1992 and 1994.

His Career Journey

Working in Law and Banking

After finishing his studies, Abba Kyari worked at a law firm called Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo. He also worked in the media industry. From 1988 to 1990, he was an editor for New Africa Holdings Limited in Kaduna.

In the 1990s, he served as a Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in Borno State. This meant he helped manage natural resources in his home state.

He then moved into the banking world. From 1990 to 1995, he was the secretary to the board of the African International Bank Limited. This bank was part of a larger international banking group.

Later, Abba Kyari became an executive director at the United Bank for Africa. He was in charge of management services. He was then promoted to be the chief executive officer of the bank. He also served on the boards of other big companies, including Unilever Nigeria and Exxon Mobil Nigeria.

Becoming Chief of Staff

His Important Role in Government

In August 2015, Abba Kyari was chosen for a very important job. He became the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. This role is like a top assistant and advisor to the president.

As Chief of Staff, he was seen as a very powerful and influential person in the government. He worked hard to help the president achieve his goals. In 2019, when President Buhari was re-elected, he asked all his government ministers to send their requests through Abba Kyari's office. This made Kyari even more important in the government.

During his time in office, there were some disagreements and challenges. For example, there were reports of discussions about national security matters. Abba Kyari played a key role in many government decisions.

His Family Life

Abba Kyari was married to Hajiya Kulu Kyari. She was the sister-in-law of Ibrahim Tahir. Together, they had four children. Their names are Aisha, Nurudeen, Ibrahim, and Zainab.

His Passing Away

On March 24, 2020, it was announced that Abba Kyari had tested positive for COVID-19. He had traveled to Germany nine days before. News reports said he had some health issues before, like diabetes.

On March 29, 2020, Kyari said he was moving from Abuja to Lagos for treatment. Sadly, Abba Kyari passed away on the evening of April 17, 2020. He was 67 years old. His death was a big loss for Nigeria.

Awards and Recognition

Abba Kyari received important honors for his service to Nigeria.

Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)	National honour in Nigeria
Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR)

Images for kids

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  Abba Kyari

See also

In Spanish: Abba Kyari para niños