Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed (born July 7, 1969; Age: 54 years old) is a Nigerian politician, businessman, and economist best known as the founder and Pro-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja. He is currently the running mate of Peter Obi, 2023 Presidential Candidate for the Labour Party.
Before he gained recent recognition as Peter Obi’s running mate, Yusuf Datti already had an established political career. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 and served as Senator for Kaduna North from 2011 to 2012. Undoubtedly, many Nigerians do not know much about Peter Obi’s running mate, so here, we bring you all the facts you need to know about Yusuf Datti.
Summary of Yusuf Datti’s Bio
- Full name: Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed
- Gender: Male
- Date of birth: July 7, 1969
- Yusuf Datti’s Age: 54 years old
- Ethnicity: Hausa
- Nationality: Nigeria
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Islamic
- Marital Status: Married
- Yusuf Datti’s Wife: N/A
- Yusuf Datti’s Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Baba Ahmed
- Datti’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 8 inches
- Yusuf Datti’s Weight: 86kg
- Yusuf Datti’s Net worth:
- Famous for: Peter Obi’s running mate for the 2023 general election
- Political Party: Labour Party (LP)
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is a 54 Year Old Kaduna State Native
Born on July 7, 1969, in Zaria, Kaduna State, Yusuf is one of the thirty-three children of his parents. His father, Baba Ahmed, was an Arab cattle trader from modern-day Mauritania but later became a renowned professor and an expert on Islamic jurisprudence. According to records, the Baba Ahmed family has lost their father and 11 of their children over the years. Baba Ahmed died at the age of 95 on November 5, 1987.
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s Education
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has acquired several academic qualifications. Yusuf grew up with his siblings in their family house in Tudun Wada in Zaria Kaduna State, receiving his primary and secondary education there. After that, he proceeded to the University of Maiduguri in Borno State, where he obtained a BSc and MSc in Economics.
Later in 2006, Yusuf completed his Ph.D. studies at the University of Westminster, United Kingdom, earning the title of Doctor of Philosophy. Furthermore, the former senator bagged an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) from the University of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
He Started His Career in the Corporate Firm
Yusuf Datti did his NYSC at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, after which he took up a role as an officer in the Nigerian security and minting company in Lagos. Resigning from the company, he founded his own company, Baze Research, and Data Services Limited, in 1992, where he also worked as a project coordinator. Further, Yusuf worked as a banking officer at First Bank of Nigeria from July 1997 to December 1998.
He returned to Baze Research and Data Services Ltd, became the Managing Director, and served from July 1999 to July 2003. In 2015, he emerged as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NYSC, Hope Alive Foundation, whose aim is to support and promote post-service economic survival of corp members, especially those who suffered constant disability through their service year.
His Foray into Politics
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed ventured into politics in 2003. His first political appointment was as a member of the House of Representatives of Zaria Federal Constituency Kaduna State. Then, he was under the party, All Nigeria’s Peoples Party (ANNP). While in office, Yusuf gained popularity for his ability to speak up against corruption and the Third Term Agenda. He was one of the key lawmakers that bluntly opposed president Olusegun Obasanjo from running a third tenure.
At the expiration of his tenure in 2017, Yusuf announced that he would not run for reelection if action were not taken to investigate that house members were bribed to support the constitutional changes needed for a third-term presidency. Later in the same year, he sued INEC for misconduct in the past election. Yusuf Datti took a break from the political scene in 2007 to return to his Baze business group and found Base University.
Yusuf returned to politics in 2011 and successfully ran for the position of Senator of Kaduna North under Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). However, he stayed for only a few months in office before the election was challenged in court by the electoral tribunal. Thus, his victory was overturned in 2012.
In 2019, Yusuf Datti unsuccessfully ran for the presidential ticket in the PDP primaries. The election was won by Atiku Abubakar, with Peter Obi as his running mate. In 2022, during the primaries, Yusuf reportedly withdrew as a PDP gubernatorial aspirant for the 2023 governorship election of Kaduna State because he refused to buy delegate votes.
How Yusuf Emerged as Peter Obi’s Running Mate
On July 8, 2022, just a day after his 53rd birthday, Labour Party nominated Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as the Vice Presidential candidate for the 2023 Nigeria General election. According to senator Yusuf, his decision to accept the nomination was borne out of his interest and dedication to rescuing Nigeria.
Speaking on why he chose the learned politician as his running mate, Peter Obi stated that after a thorough search and numberless consultations, he could find only Yusuf Datti as the right candidate who fits into the party’s vision of “take back Nigeria.”
Peter described his running mate as one of the youngest and brightest personalities in Nigeria with a distinguished wealth of global knowledge and experience in the private and public sectors, which will greatly help turn the country around.
Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is the Owner of Baze University
In April 2011, Senator Yusuf Datti founded Baze University, located in the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, Nigeria. This is a prestigious, independently owned university described as one of the best private institutions in Nigeria that offers a high-quality standard of education.
With over fifty thousand students, the university offers more than 43 undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including International Relations, Mass Communications, Law, Computer Science, and Sociology, among many others. Baze University has prominent alumni, including Nigerian Senator Dino Melaya and Osita Chidoka, past aviation minister.
Referring to his studies abroad as a standard, Yusuf Datti said that the educational system in Nigeria is appalling, and that was what inspired him to found Baze University. Below are the educational positions he has held and currently holds in the country
- Pro-Chancellor of Baze University
- Chairman, Baze Construction Ltd
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of NYSC
- Managing Director, Baze Research & Data Service Ltd
Yusuf Datti is a Married Man
According to reports, Yusuf Datti is married with children. However, there is no available record to show details of his wife and children. But, we hope that the same will surface in the media as Yusuf will soon begin to grant interviews.
In addition to being a politician and businessman, Yusuf is a great philanthropist who does not look back on using his wealth to help people. The former senator reportedly built two secondary schools as part of his Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project.