Labaran Maku

Labaran Maku, born on January 1, 1962 in Wakama District of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, is a prominent Nigerian politician with extensive experience in governance and journalism.

He began his academic journey at St. Michael's Primary School, Aloce, from 1970 to 1976, followed by Zawan Teacher’s College, Bukuru-Jos, between 1976 and 1981. His higher education included the University of Jos, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and education.

Early in his career, Maku held leadership roles within student organizations such as the University of Jos Students Union and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), demonstrating an early commitment to public service and activism.

His professional journey includes teaching and journalism. He worked as a schoolteacher and headmaster from 1981 to 1983 before transitioning into media, serving in roles like reporter, political editor, member of the editorial board, and deputy editor-in-chief for national newspapers.

Maku’s administrative experience spans state-level positions: he was Commissioner for Information, Youth, and Sports (1999–2002) and Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs (2002–2003), acting as Nasarawa State’s key policy formulator.

From 2003 to 2007, he served as deputy governor of Nasarawa State, overseeing governance of state agencies. His political trajectory continued with a role as Minister of State for Information and Communications (June 2010) before becoming substantive Minister of Information and Communications in December 2010.

Resigning on October 20, 2014, he shifted focus to contesting the 2015 Nasarawa State gubernatorial election as an APGA candidate, ultimately losing with 178,983 votes. His academic and professional contributions extend beyond politics, including international conferences, training programs, and scholarly work on Nigerian education, social inequality, and political/economic challenges.

Collaborations like his tenure with USAID (1997–1999) reflect his engagement with development initiatives alongside his public service roles.