Mahmood Yakubu Biography: Early Life, Career, Wife & Net Worth

Mahmood Yakubu (born 1962) is a Nigerian professor who chaired the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2015 to 2025. He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015, to succeed Amina Zakari, the acting chairperson.

Mahmood Yakubu Biography

Mahmood Yakubu, born on May 1, 1962, in Bauchi State, northern Nigeria, grew up in a lively Hausa-Fulani culture.

His father, Alhaji Yakubu Usman, was a well-known local educator, while his mother, Hajiya Aisha Yakubu, had a small trade firm, instilling in him the principles of discipline and service. Information regarding any siblings is kept confidential.

As a Muslim, his faith has influenced his approach to leadership and public service, mirroring the prevalent religious environment in his origin.

He attended Kobi Primary School and Toro Government Teachers College for his primary and secondary schooling, respectively. He then attended the University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University), where he earned a first-class degree in history.

He received a master’s degree in international relations from Wolfson College, Cambridge, in 1987, and a doctorate in Nigerian history from the University of Oxford in 1991.

The Bauchi State Government awarded him a scholarship to study at Cambridge and Oxford universities. Yakubu was awarded the Overseas Research Scholarship as well as the Commonwealth Scholarship from the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Career

Mahmood Yakubu is a Nigerian professor, public administrator, and election expert noted for his contributions to education reform and electoral management. He has a first-class degree in History from the University of Sokoto, an M.Phil. in International Relations from Cambridge, and a D.Phil. in History from the University of Oxford.

He began his academic career as a lecturer at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna, where he taught Nigerian political history, guerrilla warfare, and counterterrorism. His study and achievements won him a professorship, establishing him as a distinguished historian of African history and governance.

Yakubu began his public service career in 2007 as the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. During his term, which ended in 2012, he oversaw important reforms to boost infrastructure, research funding, and academic advancement in Nigerian universities and polytechnics. His leadership strengthened Nigeria’s higher education sector and fostered greater accountability and openness in funding.

Yakubu’s most notable post occurred in October 2015, when President Muhammadu Buhari named him Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission. He has since presided over important elections, including the 2019 and 2023 general elections, navigating problems like logistics, security concerns, and public pressure.

Under his tenure, INEC implemented crucial technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to increase transparency and credibility in Nigerian elections. Despite numerous conflicts and technical challenges, Yakubu is praised for advancing electoral reforms and strengthening the institution.

In addition to INEC, he has worked as a Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education and on a number of academic and international bodies. His professional background demonstrates a strong dedication to public service, institutional reform, and democratic government in Nigeria.

Personal Life

He is married, but his wife’s name and background are not mentioned in public sources, reflecting his penchant for privacy amidst high-profile responsibilities in academics and election administration.

He is known to have children, but details about their number, names, and engagement in his life are not publicly available, highlighting his desire to protect his family from media scrutiny.

Mahmood Yakubu Net Worth

Mahmood Yakubu, the former Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has a net worth estimated to be between $5 million and $15 million, according to recent estimates.

This wealth is primarily the result of his high-profile public sector roles, including his decade-long tenure at INEC, where he earned a substantial official salary, and prior positions such as Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) from 2007 to 2012, as well as his academic career as a professor at the Nigerian Defence Academy.