Afakriya Aduwa Gadzama mni OFR (22 November 1953) is a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

security officer who is the current Chairman of the National Institute for Security Studies. He previously served as Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) under President Umaru Yar'Adua from August 2007 until September 2010.

Background and education

Afakriya Aduwa Gadzama was born on 22 November 1953 at Lassa in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of

Borno State Borno is a States of Nigeria, state in the North East (Nigeria), North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is bordered by Yobe State, Yobe to the west, Gombe State, Gombe to the southwest, and Adamawa State, Adamawa to the south while its ea ...

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

. He attended the prestigious

Barewa College Barewa College is a college in Zaria, Kaduna State, northern Nigeria. Founded in 1921 by British Governor General Hugh Clifford, it was originally known as Katsina College. It switched its name to Kaduna College in 1938 and to Government College ...

Zaria Zaria is a List of Nigerian cities by population, metropolitan city in Nigeria, located at present time within four local government areas in Kaduna State. It serves as the capital of the Zazzau Emirate Council and is one of the original sev ...

, from 1968–1972, then School of Basic Studies, Zaria. He later proceeded to the

Ahmadu Bello University The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a public research university located in Zaria, Nigeria, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. The university has four colleges, three schools, 18 faculties, ...

, where he obtained his bachelor's degree (BA) in Political Science (1977). In 2001, Gadzama attended the Senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos.

Early career

Gadzama started his career in 1978 with the Ministry of Finance in Borno State and transferred to the National Security Organization as a Principal Officer in 1984. He rose through the ranks of the NSO and the subsequent State Security Service which was carved out of the NSO when it was dissolved.

State Security Service

His postings at the State Security Service include: *Director of Security,

Plateau State Plateau is a northern states of Nigeria, Nigerian state. It is located in the north-central geopolitical zone of Nigeria and includes a range of hills surrounding the Jos Plateau. Plateau State is described as "The Home of Peace and Tourism". Th ...

(1989–1991) *Director of Security, Federal Capital Territory (1991–1993) *Director of Security, Kaduna (1993–1997) *Director of Operations, SSS National Headquarters (1997–1998) *Director of Programmes, SSS National Headquarters 1999 *Director of Intelligence (2001–2002) *Director of Operations (2002–2003) *Director of Administration and Logistics, National Headquarters (2004–2005) *Director of Corporate Services, National Headquarters (2006–2007). In August 2007, President

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (; 16 August 19515 May 2010) was a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2007 until his death in May 2010. He won the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 M ...

appointed Gadzama as Director General of the agency. Gadzama was instrumental in President Yar Adua's Amnesty Program for militants in the Niger Delta region. In September 2010, Ita Ekpeyong replaced Gadzama as Director General of the SSS after President

Goodluck Jonathan Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957) is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari and ...

's mass dismissal of security chiefs.

Later career

On December 16, 2019, Nigeria's President

Muhammadu Buhari Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A retired Nigerian army major general, he was the military head of state of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 Augu ...

appointed Gadzama as the Chairman of the National Institute Policy and Security Studies.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gadzama, Afakriya Living people 1953 births People from Borno State Ahmadu Bello University alumni Barewa College alumni Directors general of the State Security Service (Nigeria) Nigerian security personnel National Security Organization staff Members of the Nigerian National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies Marghi people