The success of any government is dependent on the credibility, skills, and altruism of its leaders across levels of society. Without altruistic leadership, there cannot be sustainable growth because society depends on leaders to define the path to progress and if leaders are not honest and committed, they will not be able to provide the visionary direction that is required to steer the ship of economic growth.
Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar a Ministerial nominee by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exemplifies the new progressive leadership that Nigeria needs in these dire times of economic depression and numerous developmental challenges bedeviling the country. More than ever before Nigeria needs the intervention of its finest brains to reposition itself for the long overdue development. Even if the President is a fine leader, without competent deputies to oversee the effective implementation of policies and actions there can be no meaningful outcomes as growth will be derailed. Thus, it is important that those who assume leadership positions are those with track records of excellence and passion to serve society and not their pockets. Ambassador Tuggar is a unique leader fit for the disruptive times that we are in as a nation. Only disruptive leadership can salvage Nigerian and bring it out of the muddy waters of despair that it has found itself in.
While at the Federal House of Representatives, he chaired the House Committee on Public Procurement, where he was responsible for regulating government spending in the oil and gas industry, education, health, and water resources. His leadership led to the establishment of the National Council on Public Procurement and was a member of the House Committee that worked on the Local Content Bill with a focus on the oil and gas sector. He was also a member of the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Public Petition. He ran for the governorship position of Bauchi State in 2015 and was also a member of the All Progress Congress’ campaign Council in 2015. Consequently, he was appointed in 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany where he distinguished himself as a diplomat. He led strategic initiatives that fostered the ties between Nigeria and Germany during this time.
Ambassador Tuggar’s proactive leadership as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany opened a new vista for the socioeconomic development of Nigeria. He facilitated collaboration between a Nigerian company Esoterra Investment Ltd of Kaduna and GeoScan GmbH of Berlin, German, which will bring about sustainable exploration of Lithium and other important minerals in Niger and Kaduna States. In the area of educational development, he enabled the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the University of Munster and the University of Abuja in 2018 that is focused on diaspora studies and transition to renewable energy which has huge implications for sustainable development. Equally, in 2018, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc) signed an MoU for seed and grain equipment with Petkus Technologie GmbH of Germany to drive the growth of the agricultural value chain and lead to improved food production and sustainability agriculture. In order to tackle medical tourism and improve local initiatives, Ambassador Tuggar received in 2019 the Akwa Ibom Thomson and Grace Medical University team that included Hamburg Parliamentarian, Dietrich Wersich and State Sec Oda Scheilbelhuber (rtd.) and Dr Isaac Amose. Ambassador Tuggar’s advocacy and interventions were instrumental to the concession by German museums to return stolen artifacts belonging to the Benin Kingdom through critical negotiation between the two countries. The reparation of the stolen artifacts symbolized hope and Tuggar’s conviction about the potency of the artifacts as integral aspects of society’s cultural identity and ingenuity. In 2022 therefore, Ambassador Tuggar signed for the return of the Benin Bronzes and a cooperation agreement between NCMM and the MARKK Museum.
Ambassador Tuggar’s ingenuity as a diplomat has attracted many commendable projects and collaborations between Nigeria and Germany, however, one of the most outstanding achievements of Tuggar’s diplomatic brilliance is perhaps, facilitating foreign funding for a major infrastructural development project like the Kano-Maradi Railway project, which is a 283km rail line and is jointly being financed by the German State Bank, KfW, and European export credit agencies. The economic and infrastructural development benefits accruable to the rail line project cannot be overemphasized and it takes a truly gifted diplomat to be able to attract these kinds of projects for his country. Ambassador Tuggar’s economic diplomacy heralded the fixing of the General Hospital Toilets across Bauchi State, a project that was a collaboration between the Water is Right Foundation, the Bauchi State Government, and Nigeria Embassy in Berlin.
The crux of the forgoing representations is to foreground Ambassador Tuggar’s achievements as an exceptional diplomat with the knowledge and global network required to strategically upscale Nigeria’s socioeconomic growth and development. Tuggar’s frugality and astuteness as a leader and diplomat have been acknowledged by different people and organizations alike, one very striking commendation of his leadership brilliance is contained in the words of Ruona J. Meyer, an investigative and Solution Journalism expert who tweeted this about him, “If you’re looking for a geopolitical zonal and local connector, Tuggar may not be your guy. But if you’re looking for a diplomat who knows how to manage people and network at a global level? He may be the best fit. Time will tell all, though.” There is no gain in saying that Ambassador Tuggar is an asset to the nation and especially to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. It is, therefore, a no-brainer as to why President Tinubu has nominated him to serve as a minister in his administration. He is a proven leader with the capacity to bring about positive change and development of Nigeria.
With a sterling background in international relations and diplomacy and a sturdy education from the University of Cambridge and the United State International University, San Diego, California, where he obtained his first and second degrees in International Relations, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar is a thoroughbred leader, corporate executive, seasoned legislator, and politician whose phenomenal emergence on Nigeria’s political scene has inspired a lot of followership. Born into leadership and politics, his father hailed from Gamawa in Bauchi State and was at one time the organising secretary of the Northern People’s Congress, during the first republic. His father became a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during which time he made his mark as a politician of repute. Ambassador Tuggar who was born on March 12th, 1967, and was raised in a politically conscious family would later follow in his father’s footsteps by venturing into partisan politics and becoming a lawmaker like his father. He was a member of the Federal House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011 as a representative of the Gamawa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, where he headed various committees and contributed to the promulgation of several laws for the country. It is safe to say that leadership runs in his blood and it is understandable why he has distinguished himself in such a short period of time as a formidable political figure, administrator, and diplomat.
Prior to Ambassador Tuggar’s political life, he had distinguished himself in the oil and gas sector where he provided leadership over successful establishments. After his national youth service with Golden Service Limited, Kano, between 1989 and 1990, he worked with various reputable companies afterwards where he developed his skills and competence in various niches of life and rose to the zenith of his career. Some of the strategic leadership positions he has held include some of the following: 1998-2000 Director, Petroil Trading Limited, Lagos; 2006-2007 Member, Editorial Board, Daily Times of Nigeria; 1990-1991 Public Relations Officer, Tuguma Enterprises Limited, Kano; 1991-1993 Sales Manager, Tuguma Enterprises Limited, Kano; 1993-1999 Managing Director Tuguma Enterprises Limited, Kano; 1994-2017 Chief Executive Officer, Nordic Oil and Gas Services Limited, Lagos; 2000 Strategy Development Study for Special Adviser to the Nigerian Senate President on Legislative and Public Affairs; 2001-2017 Executive Director, Movido Exploration & Production Limited, Lagos; 2004-2017 Occitania International Limited, Lagos;
2007-2011 Member House of Representatives, Gamawa Federal Constituency, Bauchi state; Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions; Member of the Committees on Petroleum (Upstream), Interior and Labour; 2008-2011 Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement; Member of Committees on Petroleum (Upstream), Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Legislative Budgeting, and Sub-Committee on Local Content; 2011 Gubernatorial Candidate; Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Bauchi State;2011-2012 CPC Renewal Committee, Head of Task Team on Guidelines for primaries, congresses and Conventions;2015 Gubernatorial Aspirant; All Progressive Congress (APC) Bauchi State; 2013-2015 Director, Librod Energy Services Limited, Port Harcourt Rivers State; 2015 Member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign; Council Member, Policy Research and Strategy Directorate, APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The administration of President Tinubu is going to benefit immensely from the wealth of experience that Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar is bringing to the table and to bear in the discharge of his duties and the nation at large is going to be better for it. More than ever before, especially in these challenging times, Nigeria needs quality and proven leaders willing to make the right sacrifices for the development of Nigeria for sustainable impact. The nation is lucky for President Tinubu’s foresight in surrounding his government with quality minds and nationalists eager to serve the nation. Ambassador Tuggar is a worthy patriot, diplomat, and excellent achiever, and based on his outstanding antecedents, President Tinubu could not have made a better choice
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Paul Liam is a Communications Specialist based in Abuja Nigeria.
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