A Visionary Leader in Health and Public Service

About Me

Dr. Nuruddeen Muhammad MBBS (BUK), MWACP, FMCPsych


Nuruddeen is the Former Minister of State II, Foreign Affairs & Overseeing Minister of Information, Federal Republic of Nigeria. One of Nigeria’s top exemplary youth with high-level leadership responsibilities, Dr. Nuruddeen Muhammad a native from Jigawa State, North West Nigeria is a combination of scholarly, cultural, global, and merger ideologies of what could be a new Nigeria.
A man known to witness years before his time in the privileged mist of high principled groomers with political conciseness, yet living the qualms of every average Nigerian with a dream of advancement, development, independence and ethical responsibility; Dr. Nuruddeen Muhammad is undoubtedly a symbol of the aftermath of pervious social democratic thirst and drive. Caught between the goals of social and professional evolution, his blended career and resolve has over the years proven his calling to serve on unforeseen platforms on high-level politics. There is no telling what next is in store for this young aspirant.


Background & Early life
Dr Nuruddeen Muhammad, also known to many as Dr Nura, Nura Hadeja and Nuruddeen, was born on the 20th of August 1976 in Hadeja, Hadeja Local Government Area of Jigawa State. Son to the family of Mallam Muhammad Adamu Unik a school headmaster and mother Malama Hadiza Muhammad Unik. The privilege of a father headmaster, made the toddler Nura tag along with him to school as early as 1980, but wasn’t formally enrolled until 1982 in Auyo Central Primary School where he later finished in 1987 at Dubantu Primary School both in Auyo and Hadeja LGAs respectively. Between 1988 and 1990, he attended Government Secondary School Wunti Hadejia for his Junior Secondary Education. By early 1991, Nura gained admission into the prestigious Science Secondary School Dawakin Kudu (now Sani Bello Science College) in Kano for his Senior School Certificate, which he obtained in 1993.
The instilled passion for education by his father who vowed to support his children to gain the highest educational attainment possible created an early zeal in the young impressionable teenager, who pursued and acquired admission into the School of General and Remedial Studies of Bayero University Kano between 1994 and 1995. Subsequently, in the same University, Nura Hadeja was admitted into the Faculty of Human Medicine, College of Medical and Health Sciences in 1995 where he obtained his Medical Bachelor Surgery (MBBS) making him a qualified Medical Doctor by 2003.


Political Orientation and Philosophy
With hindsight, one would say his political/moral ideologies and consciousness started quite early from his father’s strict moral views and exposure to radical left wing politics of the NEPU/PRP. There is no doubt these values were transmitted with the efficiency and sometimes the over principled traits of a schoolteacher, which his father Mallam is. He grew up with a strict sense of right and wrong, respect for elders, strong sentiments against oppression and a fulfillment in helping others. Above all, he was indoctrinated with the idea that education is the most priceless possession of all worldly acquisitions.
As early as 11 years of age, Nura was the literate secretary of a political movement in his ward and at 13 he was already attending political rallies where he first saw Mallam Sule Lamido CON when he was the Kano State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) during a political rally at Hadeja in 1989. Between 1989 and 1998, Nuruddeen had soaked his feet further as he participated in various political activities as a foot soldier, mobilizer and polling unit agent.


By 1999, the pressure of Medical training and distance from Kano didn’t allow the then Clinical Student to continue with active participation in grass root politics, and later the presence required in postgraduate medical training. However, Nuruddeen effectively transferred this huge political consciousness, interest and passion into public debates and later activism through authoring newspaper articles. This activism and recognition of his writings on political viewpoints and resolve was highest between 2006 and 2007 when Jigawa State was prostrate with rudderless political leadership. In 2007 he founded Jigawa Development Network (JIDEN) a civil society organization formed to serve as a vehicle for statewide issue based youth mobilization around development. In August 2008 he authored an open letter in a national daily paper to Governor Sule Lamido when Jigawa state turned 17. The Governor read the article, traced him within a week and invited him for a chat, setting in motion his spectacular recruitment into partisan politics and leadership.


Professional & Political Career
Dr Nuruddeen Muhammad started his working career as a House Officer with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, where he undertook his compulsory one year Medical Internship between 2003-2004. Between 2004-2005, he was a Medical Officer at Osun State Government House Clinic Osogbo, where he was posted based on character and competence for his one year compulsory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC). In which capacity he also served as the alternate Physician to the then State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and his family. Upon completion of his NYSC in 2005 he was the only Medical graduate of his set that year that returned to his native Jigawa and picked up an appointment with the Jigawa State Ministry of Health, which posted him to Ringim General Hospital as Medical Officer II. This was borne out of his personal resolve and principles to serve his people. However, due to the prevailing political situation in Jigawa at that time, this rare display of patriotism was reciprocated with non-payment of salaries for up to seven months. Consequently, Dr Nura was forced by these circumstances to transfer his services in March 2006 to Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu, still in Jigawa State.
Dr. Nuruddeen still strongly with the personal ambition and that of his father’s to attain the pinnacle of the Medical professional continued to write and pass his Primary Fellowship Examination of the National Postgraduate Medical Collage in Psychiatry in 2006. This enabled the young Dr. to resign from Birnin Kudu and commenced the same year with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) as a Registrar for a five year Postgraduate Medical Fellowship training in Psychiatry with both the West African College of Physicians and National Postgraduate Medical College from Lagos. In 2009, Dr. Nuruddeen passed his part 1 examination in Psychiatry of both the National Post graduate Medical College and West African College of Physicians. He accordingly became Senior Registrar II and a member of the West African College of Physicians (MWACP). He later rose as Senior Registrar I in 2010 where he diligently worked. By 2011, he had completed all statutory postings, final fellowship examination requirements and had submitted and attained approval for his proposed dissertation.


While still in AKTH, he was nominated in July 2011 by H.E. Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the youngest ever-ministerial nominee since the return of democracy in 1999 at the age of 34. Dr. Nuruddeen surprised the country as a Minister with his young mien and rare composure and his principals in Abuja with the clinical precision and effectiveness he discharged his duties. As Minister of State II Foreign Affairs, he became effectively in charge of Nigeria’s foreign policy in Africa generally and the Western African sub region in particular through his oversight of all ECOWAS activities in the Ministry. In this capacity, he had travelled extensively across all the five continents of the world and also interacted with leaders from all across the African continent and beyond.


While yet determined to complete the final lap of achieving his Medical professional goal, Dr. Nuruddeen put in the extra hours to complete his dissertation while still serving in the Federal Executive Council. He subsequently passed the final examination to qualify as the Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Psychiatry (FMCPsych) by December 2013.


In a rare display of dedication, responsibility and diligence this young patriot over the years grew public and international admiration over his composure to deliver the goods. It was through the same confidence and recognition of his capabilities that President Jonathan appointed him to oversee the Federal Ministry of Information in October 2014 following a minor cabinet reshuffle. He remained effectively in charge of these two portfolios until January 2015 when he voluntarily resigned after his nomination as running mate by Mallam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Gubernatorial Candidate of Jigawa State in the February 2015 general election.


Marital Status
Married to Mrs. Zulaihatu N. Muhammad with three children.
Role Models

  1. Mallam Muhammad Adamu Unik: For being his father, and his first English, political and moral teacher.
  2. Mallam Sule Lamido: For both his unique political thoughts and deep philosophical appreciation of contemporary Nigeria. Above all for giving him a political family with NEPU/PRP ideologies to belong.
  3. Mallam Aminu Kano: For his leadership and adept mobilization in pursuit of the Talakawa Emancipation.
  4. Mr. Nelson Mandela: For his single mindedness and sacrifices to set his people free.
    Hobbies & Interest:
    Jogging, reading, hanging out with family, writing, healthy lifestyle, watching documentaries and intellectually driven debates and conversations.