By Ebunoluwa Sessou

As part of efforts to ensure  inclusiveness and gender equality in governance as well as decision-making, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, will install Hajiya Saratu Iya Aliyu as its 20th National President at an investiture and inauguration ceremony which holds today, May 16, 2019, at NACCIMA’s 59th AGM in Kaduna, Nigeria.

Before her new position, Aliyu had served NACCIMA in various capacities over two decades. She is the immediate past chairperson of the Coalition of the Northern States Chambers of Commerce, 1st and 2nd Deputy President, NACCIMA; National Vice- President, NACCIMA; President, Kaduna Chambers; 1st and 2nd Deputy President, Kaduna Chambers and Treasurer, NACCIMA.

Aliyu’s wealth of leadership and management spanned four decades in private and public sectors where she served in various capacities including Chairperson of Job Creation and Sustainable Livelihood, UNDP-Assisted programme, Commerce; Vice- President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, Kaduna chapter; Vice-Chairman, Agricultural Trade Group of Kaduna Chambers; Member, UNDP Stakeholders Board on job Creation & Sustainable Livelihood, Kaduna; Member, Coordinating unit of Poverty Eradication Programme in Kaduna; Member, Nigerian Shippers Council; Member, FEAP Stakeholders Board and Treasurer, Nigeria-Niger Chamber of Commerce amongst several others. Aliyu was a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Aliyu’s passion in the development of women is seen in her commitment and involvement with different women groups. She was President of Police Officers’ Wives Association, Yola chapter; President of Police Officers’ Wives Association, Kaduna chapter; President, Public Officers’ Wives Association, Yola; Vice-President, Retired Armed Forces and Police Officers Association; Treasurer, Forum for African Women Educationists and Life Member, Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria among other associations.

Sacked Kwara hotels staff beg Saraki, Ahmed to pay outstanding salaries

Aliyu has attended several leadership fora, conferences and seminars both national and international including World Conference on Women Heads of Entrepreneurs in Brussels; Conference of Women Heads of Organisations in Washington DC, and Seminar for African Chambers of Commerce in Beijing China, among others.

She graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She is a professional with exemplary leadership skills and the Managing Director of Sarat Group of Companies.

Although she was born on September 24, 1948, in Lagos, Aliyu who is from Borno State, schooled in Kaduna and Zaira. She is married to Aliyu from Niger State.

She lives in Kaduna with her husband, Senator Nuhu Labbo Aliyu, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and they are blessed with children and grandchildren.