Ahmad Rufai Zakari
Ahmad Rufai Zakari | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 February 1984 |
| Nationality | Nigerian/USA |
| Known for |
|
| Title | Engineer and Consultant |
Ahmad Rufai Zakari (born 25 February 1984), is a Nigerian expert on financial infrastructure on power. Ahmed is the Executive Director of Gas Power Installed Fleet and Services for Nigeria/South Africa General Electric.[citation needed] He served as the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Infrastructure from 2019 to 2023.
Early life and family
[edit]Ahmad was born on 25 February 1984[1] to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Zakari Kazaure of Jigawa State. His father, Mr. Zakari Kazaure was a banker and an economist before his death in 2000. He is the first child in the family of five (5) children.
Educational background
[edit]After attending secondary school in Nigeria, Ahmad got admission to study bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering/Economics from State University of New York at Buffalo,[2] and in 2006 at the age of 22 years he graduated. While in University, he developed interest in Oil and gas and financial infrastructure in Power.[3]
Career
[edit]From 2006 to 2008, he was among the youngest Engineer admitted to build a career at General Electric through a programme known as Edison Engineering Development Programme,[1] USA. He was later employed to work as an Electric Engineer at General Electric.[4]
From September 2012 to January 2014, Ahmad was the executive director and Audit manager of GE Corporate (aligned to Oil and Gas, Sub Saharan Africa & Middle East) and was the first African to be promoted to the position of Executive Audit Manager.
In 2013, he served as the co-chair[4] for the revamp of the Acquisition Integration Framework for GE leading 30 executives.
Between 2015 and 2017, he was the Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer of General Electric, Nigeria.[5]
Achievements
[edit]Mr. Ahmad was the first African to be promoted to Executive Audit Manager Position and responsible for global financial/compliance audits and operational consulting for $20B GE Oil and Gas unit.[1]
He was responsible for the company's gas power installation based in Nigeria and South Africa. This amounts to over 150 turbines and up to 8GW of installed capacity.[6]
Awards and honours
[edit]- GE Power Services Middle East and Africa Team of the Year Award (SSA)[7]
- GE Global Chairman's Circle Award
- GE Corporate Audit Staff Individual Award – Sub Saharan Africa structural review
- GE Corporate Audit Staff Team Award – Global Growth Organization Shared Service Award
Political appointment
[edit]In 2019,[8] the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed[9] him as the Special Adviser[10] to the presidency on Infrastructure.[11][12] He was among the few youth appointed as aids to the presidency.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Impressive profiles of 6 presidential aides". Oak TV Newstrack. Oak TV. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "Ahmad Rufai Zakari is an expert in financial infrastructure". GlobalNoticeHub. GlobalNoticeHub. DIS. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "He has spent over 12 years working with General Electric". GlobalNoticeHub. GlobaNoticeHub. DIS. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ a b "He has spent over 12 years working with General Electric". GlobalNoticeHub. Global Notice Hub. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "POWER WEEK AFRICA, 10 - 14 September 2018, Johannesburg | Speakers". www.power-week.com. Power Week Africa. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "POWER WEEK AFRICA, 10 - 14 September 2018, Johannesburg | Speakers". www.power-week.com. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "Ahmad Rufai Zakari is an expert in financial infrastructure". GlobalNoticeHub. Global Notice Hub. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "Buhari Appoints Son Of Controversial INEC National Commissioner, Amina Zakari As Special Adviser On Infrastructure". ScanNews Nigeria. Scan News Nigeria. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "Buhari Appointed Amina Zakari's Brother As Minister, Son As Special Adviser For Helping To Rig Election –Kperogi". Sahara Reporters. Sahara Reporters. 1 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "Buhari Re-Appoints Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu As Media Aides". Channels Television. Channels TV News. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ "Buhari approves key appointments for Osinbajo's office - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
- ^ Laolu, Akande. "President Buhari Approves Re-Appointment of Ade Ipaye as Deputy Chief of Staff, Others – The State House, Abuja". Statehouse. State house. Retrieved 3 September 2019.