Binta Masi Garba (born 17 April 1967) is a Nigerian politician, businesswoman and administrator, serving as the
Senator of Adamawa North Senatorial District of
Adamawa State
Adamawa state () is a state in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered by Borno to the northwest, Gombe to the west, and Taraba to the southwest, while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. It tak ...
since 2015. She served as Chairperson,
Adamawa State
Adamawa state () is a state in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered by Borno to the northwest, Gombe to the west, and Taraba to the southwest, while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. It tak ...
chapter of
All Progressives Congress and she is the first female State Chairperson of a registered major political party in
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
.
Binta served the Federal
House of Representatives
House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
three times, from 1999 to 2011.
She is the first politician to represent two different Federal in 2009, she was elected as the first Vice President of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) under
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights.
In 1989 the patron of the CPA was the Head ...
(CPA) in
Cameroon
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
. She is the only female Senator-Elect in all the 19
Northern States of Nigeria in
2015 elections
The following elections were scheduled to occur in the year 2015.
Africa
* 2015 Beninese parliamentary election 26 April 2015
* 2015 Burkinabé general election 29 November 2015
* 2015 Burundian legislative election 29 June 2015
* 2015 Burun ...
. She was also, the only female delegate from Adamawa State to the National Conference in Abuja.
Early life and education
Binta Masi Garba was born in Kaduna Army Barracks to a Muslim parents. Her parents are Higgi from Bazza, Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Her father Mr Garba Tumba was an Army Officer.
[http://nigeria.shafaqna.com/EN/NG/112257 ] She is the second child, thus she was named Masi according to
Higgi traditional naming convention. Between 1975 and 1981, she attended Army Children School, New Cantonment D, Hayin Banki, Kaduna. From there she proceeded for her Secondary School Education and obtained her (GCE/WAEC ‘O’ Level) in Government Day School, Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna South, Kaduna, between 1981 and 1987. She attended
Kaduna Polytechnic
Kaduna Polytechnic is one of the earliest polytechnics in Nigeria, located at Tudun Wada area of Kaduna South local government of Kaduna state, North-Western Nigeria. It was established in 1956 as Kaduna Technical Institute after the British ...
and obtained Ordinary National Diploma (OND Marketing, 1990) and Higher National Diploma (HND Marketing, 1997).
In 2004, she went to Harvard Kennedy School of Government - Harvard University (Public Financial Management). She holds two Diplomas in Theology from the Bible School of Church Growth and Practical Ministry, and Matthew Owujaye's Ministry, Kaduna. She is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Theology from Smith Christian University, Miami, Florida.
Political career
Binta Masi Garba started her political career in the year 1998 in
Kaduna
Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade Centre and a major transportation hub as the gateway to northern Nige ...
, Nigeria. Before that, she worked with the New Nigeria Newspapers as an advert officer, the year she was due for a promotion she was not given due to gender inequality. Binta Masi Garba always advocated for women rights; thus prompting her to take up the mandate to represent them in the Federal House of representative Kaduna South Federal Constituency. Not long from that gender inequality experience, she decides to venture into politics in 1998 in Kaduna South Federal Constituency, a place where the prevailing culture forbid women to be in public domain.
Her first bid in 1998 was not successful. she contested again in 1999 for the office of Federal House of Representatives and won with 5,000 votes. She was the youngest Federal legislator in Nigeria in 1999. After her first successful tenure, she contested again in 2003 and won against her opponent with a margin of not less than 50,000.
In 2006, close to the end of her second term in the Federal House of Representatives, the then Governor of Adamawa State,
Boni Haruna, having heard of her excellent performance as a legislator representing Kaduna South, entreated her to come back to her State of origin, Adamawa State, and contest.
After making consultations, she consented and came down to contest for House of Representatives in Madagali/Michika Federal Constituency under PDP. She eventually won the seat and represented the constituency from 2007 to 2011. After the 2011 election a film, "“Dreams for Nigeria", was made by the
International Republican Institute
The International Republican Institute (IRI) is an American nonprofit organization. Most of its board is drawn from the Republican Party. It is committed to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide by helping political parties to become more iss ...
about leading female Nigerian politicians and Garba was one of the women chosen. The other women were Hon.
Suleiman Oba Nimota, Adamawa State; Hon. Saudatu Sani, Kaduna State; Hon. Titi Akindahunsi, Ekiti State, Hon. Maimuna Adaji, Kwara State, Hon. Florence Akinwale, Ekiti State and Hon.
Beni Lar
Beni Lar born (August 12, 1967) is a politician of the People's Democratic Party from Plateau State, Nigeria. She's a member of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives from Langtang North, Langtang South federal Constituency of Plateau St ...
, Plateau State.
After her third consecutive tenure in the Federal House of Assembly, she re-contested and lost against
Titsi Ganama.
The
People's Democratic Party People's Democratic Party or ''variant thereof'', could refer to:
* People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
*People's Democratic Party (Belize)
*People's Democratic Party (Bhutan)
*People's Democratic Party (Chile)
* People's Democratic Party (Dom ...
(PDP) under the Chairmanship of
Bamanga Tukur
Bamanga Tukur ( CON) (born 15 September 1935) is a Nigerian businessman and politician who served as Minister for Industries in the administration of General Sani Abacha during the 1990s. He is one of the high-profile civil servants and militar ...
had serious leadership crisis and a new faction emerged in 2013. The new faction of the PDP was under the Chairmanship of Abubakar Kawu Baraje. The new faction was called the new PDP (nPDP). Binta Masi Garba was appointed the Woman leader of the nPDP. She later joined
All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside Governor
Murtala Nyako
Murtala Hamman-Yero Nyako, GCON, CFR: rcds, D.Agric. (H.C.) (born 27 August 1942) was elected Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Nigeria, taking office in May 2007.SPPU Adamawa State Government, " ww.adamawastatesppu.org
Prior to then he serve ...
and other Governors. She contested and emerged as the Chairman of the Adamawa State Chapter of APC. The victory at the poll made her the first female State Chairman of a registered major political party in Nigeria.
The controversies surrounding the election of the Adamawa State Chapter of APC Executives election almost wrecked the party. Binta Masi Garba fought hard to unite the party in Adamawa state She oversaw one of the most successful party primaries in Adamawa State as a seating Chairman of the Adamawa State Chapter of APC. She was given a waiver to contest for the Senate seat in the party primaries and she eventually emerged victorious against her male contender. On 28 May 2015, she won the Senate seat of Adamawa North Senatorial District by winning in 3 local government areas of the 5 LGAs in the zone.
There were over 100 senators elected in the
8th National Assembly 8th National Assembly may refer to:
* 8th National Assembly of France
* 8th National Assembly of Laos
* 8th National Assembly of Nigeria
* 8th National Assembly of Pakistan
* 8th National Assembly of Serbia
* 8th National Assembly of Slovenia ...
, but only six of these were women. The others were
Monsurat Sunmonu
Monsurat Sunmonu is a Nigerian politician who served as a Senator from Oyo State. She represented Oyo Central Senatorial District, having won the election held on 28 March 2015. Senator Sunmonu was the Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign ...
from Oyo state,
Stella Oduah and
Uche Ekwunife
Uche Lilian Ekwunife (née Ogudebe born 12 January 1970), is a Nigerian politician, and member of the 9th Nigerian Senate representing the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District of Anambra State and she is known as one of the most active f ...
who both represent
Anambra
Anambra State is a Nigerian state, located in the southeastern region of the country. The state was created on August 27, 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi Stat ...
,
Fatimat Raji Rasaki,
Oluremi Tinubu
Oluremi Tinubu (born 21 September 1960) is a Nigerian politician who served as the first lady of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and is currently a senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District at the Nigerian National Assembly. She is a ...
and
Rose Okoji Oko.
[The 6 female senators in 8th National Assembly]
Naij,com, Retrieved 15 February 2016
Awards
Binta Masi Garba has won several awards, they include:
* Junior Chamber International The Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) in Nigeria Award 2002
* PRS - The Women of Merit Gold Award;
* Prime International - Women in Leadership Merit Award May 2002
* Association of Market Women and Men, Abuja Role Model Award Sept 2002
* Dame Publication - Nigerian Women Award (Role Model) - 2002
* National Women Mobilization Committee Award - our Jewel (NAWOMCO)
* Leadership Distinction Award (Most Distinguished Representatives)
*Valuable Contribution to Development of Parliamentary Democracy in Nigeria Award.
*NCWS; Meritorious Award - 2016
*Northern Youth Advocacy for Peace & Development
*WAELE/ARCELFA Pride of African Woman Award - 2016
*National Lyrics & Singers Union Merit Award
*Christian Association of Nigeria Youth Wing - 2016
*Leadership Legislative Award (LLA) Senator of the year Adamawa State - 2016
*Modibbo Adama University of Technology – Yola Award of Excellence - 2016
*Northeast Star Magazine Media Merit Award Best Female Politician of the Year - 2017
*Sheroes Foundation Outstanding leadership Award - 2017
*Association of Female Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria. Award of Recognition for selfless Service to Humanity - 2017
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garba, Binta Masi
1967 births
Living people
Nigerian Muslims
20th-century Nigerian politicians
20th-century Nigerian women politicians
21st-century Nigerian politicians
21st-century Nigerian women politicians
Adamawa State politicians
Kaduna Polytechnic alumni
Harvard Kennedy School alumni
Members of the House of Representatives (Nigeria)
Members of the Senate (Nigeria)
People from Kaduna
Women members of the House of Representatives (Nigeria)
Women members of the Senate (Nigeria)