Reminiscences with Malam Ibrahim Aliyu
Malam Ibrahim Aliyu was born in August 1948 and he will soon clock 70. The seasoned economist is the Chairman of Urban Shelters Ltd, an Abuja-based real estate development company. In this interview, the former Secretary to the Niger State Government, Fed
MWhat are your memories of childhood?
y earliest memory is of my grandmother: she was an energetic Gwari woman who left her village and came and settled among the Hausa in Minna. I could see her energy because she was going all over the country trading: Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha, and even Accra, in Ghana. So I was certainly influenced by her energy and ability, and it has engendered the respect of women in me.
I was born in Minna and went to the Native Authority Primary School as a day student for four years, which was the practice then, and passed the examinations to proceed to senior primary school for three years. I spent seven years in primary school. I then sat for the Common Entrance Examination; I passed and was admitted to Government College, Kaduna, in 1962. I was there for what was then called Higher School Cambridge.
Were you your grandmother’s pet?
She didn’t see me as a pet because she was a first class disciplinarian and I have no doubt in my mind that my mentality, my outlook and my drive have much to do with the kind of drilling I got from her.
The fact of the matter is that I didn’t get to know my father well until after her death. I had to gravitate back to our main house to meet all my brothers and sisters. I take much of my character from her – honesty, sense of justice and the idea of being fair to all irrespective of tribe or religion.
My father was a positive influence as well. He was an educated man – western and Islamic. By the time I came back to my father’s house I was already a boarding student in Primary 5, and I continued to be a boarding student throughout my school days. Did you play pranks as a child? No, my grandmother would not allow that. It was quite common for young men then to learn how to ride bicycle, but my grandmother wouldn’t allow it primarily because the people who gave the bicycles for hire were anything but honest, and her hope was to buy me a bicycle. She never got to do that until she passed away.
However, at a very early age, I realised the importance of education. I was focused from my primary school days. I was a relatively serious person right from childhood.
How were your secondary school days?
Kaduna Government College was a very interesting place. In those days it was made up of boys from different parts of the country, so it was great. I had no issues. I had a great time throughout my seven years there, from 1962. The teachers were predominantly white. In primary school, I was the best student in English, and when I came to Government College, Kaduna, the teachers were either British or American and I couldn’t understand their English. Therefore, in my first exam, I came either number 21 or 22. It was not until the second term that I improved and was promoted. By the time I finished I was one of the top five before getting into the university.
I finished secondary school in 1968, went to ABU Zaria in September 1969 and graduated in June 1972.
One good thing about ABU is that it is more cosmopolitan than any other university: a mini Nigeria sort of. It was a great place with a lot of friends who continue to be of great benefit to me till today.
I studied Economics at the university, although I also studied Mathematics and Geography. I was the best student in the faculty in 1970. I went to the University of Ife, Ibadan Campus, from September to December 1972 to study Project Analysis and Finance. One of the most useful programmes I ever attended.
Meaning you graduated before the NYSC scheme came into being.
Yes, that’s true. We should have been the first set but we went on strike and Gowon had a law in place already that we were exempted, but it fell on those that graduated in 1973.
I think I missed it because I think of myself as a nationalist. I don’t think I would have had problem working anywhere in this country. The NYSC and Federal Government Colleges are great integrating tools: so it’s good.
From January to April 1976, I was at the University of Branford in the UK for a Diploma in Development Banking and Finance, and later Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School, USA, from 1977 to 78, for an MPA in Development Economics, and again in 1980, I believe for a course in PPP and Privatisation of Public Enterprises.
What happened after your graduation?
I came back to work in Sokoto. Then, the jobs were everywhere but I decided to go back to my state. It was a new state and they needed every hand they could get, and by the time I went, there were only two Economics graduates; Umaru Liman from Kontagora, he’s deceased now, and Shaba Lafiagi, who later became the Governor of Kwara State.
I started work in the finance and economic planning ministry. It was a very important ministry; a powerful ministry. I was secretary of the Planning Council, as well as the Implementation Council. The Governor then was Col. Usman Farouk.
I was quite active and many of the skills that were needed, like working with people, putting your points across, writing good quality minutes, making a point and people listening, were skills I had already learnt in school right from when I was a house captain.
Sokoto was interesting. We were there for about four years before Niger State was created, and I had advanced rapidly in the public service in Sokoto. What I remember vividly is that people had respect for rules which unfortunately are now missing.
Then, only about 30 per cent of the budget was devoted to recurrent expenditure while the rest was for capital expenditure.
Whatever the governor wanted to do in his household would not exceed seven per cent of the budget. Governors did not have personal assistants then.
Were you married then?
No, but I got married before leaving Sokoto. The lady I married then was just a stone’s throw from my house in Minna. I knew her at a much younger age. I didn’t realise that she had blossomed into a beautiful young lady, and I think that did it. I got married in December 1974. The marriage was quite simple. I remember you were supposed to bring materials for the wedding, but because of the nature of my work, I was going to Lagos frequently, so I was buying things from Lagos. People were appreciative of what I brought. A party was organised by my colleague, Mr. Raji. He organised a party for me in a classroom. He gave me advice on running a married home. So I took my wife to Sokoto.
Kaduna Government College was a very interesting place. In those days it was made up of boys from different parts of the country, so it was great. I had no issues. I had a great time throughout my seven years there: from 1962. The teachers were predominantly white