Abdullahi Yahaya Abubakar

Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (born 10 December 1950) is a Nigerian politician and associate professor. He is the Senator representing Kebbi North Senatorial District of Kebbi State at the 9th National Assembly and served as Senate Majority Leader of the Nigerian 9th National Assembly.

Early life and education: He began his early education at Dankoji Primary School, Argungu, Kebbi State, from 1959 to 1964. After that, he attended Nagarta College, Sokoto, from 1965 to 1969. Yahaya then attended the School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, from 1970 to 1971. He later obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in social sciences and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in rural sociology from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, between 1976 and 1983. Abdullahi also holds a Certificate of Development-Oriented Research in Agriculture from ICRA, Wageningen, The Netherlands, in 1985.

Professional life: Before engaging in politics, Abdullahi was an academic at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the University of Lagos. He held various teaching and research positions, including Honorary Research Fellow in Medical Social Work at the Institute of Child Health, University of Lagos (1974–1975), Graduate Assistant at the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), ABU Zaria (January–September 1976), Assistant Research Fellow (October 1976–September 1978), Research Fellow 2 (October 1978–1981), Research Fellow 1 (October 1981–September 1987), and Senior Research Fellow (October 1987–September 1990). He taught Rural Sociology, Agricultural Institutions, Extension, Rural Community Institutions, and Economic Development at the Faculty of Agriculture, ABU Zaria, from 1976 to 1990. As head of department, he supervised and coordinated doctoral and master’s programmes in Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology at ABU Zaria.