Hannatu Musawa, a peep into the life of Nigeria’s Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Minister

It is not everyday you find women politicians like Hannatu Musawa in the North. From an influential family, having the right education, a bourgeoning law firm, beautiful looks and a ministerial job, everything seems right for this 49-year-old woman.

There are already talks of her taking a shot at becoming governor after two previous failed attempts by other women in the North. The first, Aisha Alhassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba, who came close in the 2015 Taraba governorship poll. The incumbent, Darius Ishaku, was returned as the winner.

The second, Aisha Dahiru, known as Aisha Binani, who also came close, and was even declared winner of the 2023 governorship election of Adamawa State by a rogue official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The incumbent, Ahmadu Finitiri, was eventually returned elected.

Hannatu appears the next strong woman politician in the North to make a run for the office of governor. But she must first weather the current turbulence about her NYSC status.

Recall that immediately she was inaugurated as Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy on August 21, Hannatu’s NYSC status became the biggest story on both the conventional and non-conventional media.

In the last seven days, and among Tinubu’s 45 Ministers, Hannatu is the biggest search queries on Google after Nyesom Wike, who on the day of inauguration, stole the headlines when he promised to demolish buildings, revoke lands, and give the director in-charge of environment in the FCT a high blood pressure.

Who is Hannatu Musawa?

On the day of her screening to become Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hannatu gave a little insight about her background and the political make-up that shaped her upbringing.

Her father, the late Alhaji Musa Musawa was born in the town of Bichi, Kano State and grew up selling Kolanuts. She said by determination, innovation, courage and initiation, he found himself standing beside one of the biggest northern politicians of all time, Mallam Aminu Kano, during the Northern Elements Progressive Union days.

With such privilege family, the stage was set for Hannatu’s future accomplishments in life.

She was educated at the University of Buckingham, University of Aberdeen and the University of Cardiff, all in the United Kingdom, earning degree and masters degree in Law.

Hannatu is a licensed Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with extensive professional experience working in both Nigeria and the UK.

Her grooming into law practice started in the chambers of late Chief Clement Akpamgbo, a former Attorney General of the Federation.

She later established Hanney Musawa & Associates, a law firm where she was the Principal Partner until her appointment as a Federal Cabinet Minister.

Political trajectory

When Muhammadu Buhari first ran in the 2003 presidential election against the incumbent, Olusegun Obasanjo, he protested his defeat at the election tribunal. The 29-year old Hannatu at the time, joined the legal team of Buhari.

In 2007 when Buhari contested again and lost, Hannatu was with him in the court, offering her political ideas and support.

She soon became a political activist, wrote regularly in newspapers to criticize government policies and offer ideas.

In 2011, Hannatu contested the position of the Federal House of Representatives in her home state of Katsina on the platform of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) which she lost.