THE Nigerian Senate has confirmed Mrs Halima Shehu as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).
President Bola Tinubu had on September 18, 2023, appointed Shehu as the head of the agency, but subject to Senate confirmation.
The nominee was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday during plenary.
The National Social Investment Programmes Agency (NSIPA) (Establishment) Act, 2023, was signed into law on May 22, 2023.
Below are eleven things you should know about Shehu.
1. Born in Kafin Dagi village, Katsina, Katsina State, Shehu had her First School Leaving Certificate.
2. Shehu attended the Federal Government College, Kaduna State, for her secondary school education where she obtained her West African Examination Certificate.
3. She proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, for a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language.
4. Proceeding further, Shehu earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from ABU, Zaria.
5. After her education, she completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps at the Afri-Project Consortium under the Petroleum Trust Fund
6. After her NYSC, Shehu began her 10-year banking career during which she worked at the former Intercity Bank, before proceeding to Unity and Access Banks
7. Shehu is a well-trained professional in financial transactions as she worked as the head of several banking units, including the cash, funds transfer, clearing, reconciliation, operations and coordination units; across all three banks.
8. She joined politics in 2010 during which she was first appointed in 2011 as a Senior Special Assistant to a former governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shema. She also served as a member of the state’s Internal Revenue Board.
9. In 2016, she was appointed by the Economic Community of West African Countries where she temporarily worked as a presidential election observer in Cape Verde.
10. The former banker worked at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, from 2017 to 2022.
11. Shehu also worked as the National Coordinator, Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, where she used her banking and career expertise to see to the digitalisation of the programme – a move she described as her biggest achievement.
