Mohammed Badaru Abubakar

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar was born on 29 September 1962 in Babura and is of Hausa ethnicity.

He served as the Nigerian Minister of Defence from August 2023 to December 2025, previously holding the position of Governor of Jigawa State (2015–2023).

Prior to his political career, he was involved in community activism, sports, and business while studying at Ahmadu Bello University, where he earned a BSc in Accounting.

After graduation, Badaru established the Talamiz Group—a conglomerate operating in automobiles, manufacturing, agriculture, animal husbandry, and commodity distribution—while also serving as a Fellow of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

He held roles such as Vice President II of the Federation of West Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industries and was a member of the National Council on Privatisation.

As a gubernatorial candidate in 2015, he won the Jigawa State governorship election with 648,045 votes. In 2019, he secured re-election as governor with 810,933 votes, defeating Aminu Ibrahim Ringim (PDP) and Bashir Adamu Jumbo (SDP).

Badaru was a gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) before switching to APC. He later became the national president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture.

He has received traditional titles such as Sardaunan Ringim in Ringim Emirate and Walin Jahun in Dutse Emirate, alongside national honors like Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) conferred in 2006.