John Opawula

Following her swearing-in by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on 21st August, 2019, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum became Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment.

As an investment driving Ministry, Amb Katagum with her counterpart, Otunba Richard Adeniyi Adebayo, CON are leading the promotion of government’s policies of Ease of Doing Business, job creation, poverty eradication and industrialization, implementing various policies and programmes including: standardization of bilateral trade agreements, stimulating growth of domestic Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, (MSMEs) and renewed roadmap to increase Nigeria’s Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

Amb. Katagum, an educationist, diplomat and international cooperation expert with leadership experience in the Nigerian public service and within the United Nations System, was born on 18th November, 1954 in Azare, Bauchi State, Nigeria.

She was educated at the Kaduna Capital School, Kaduna, Kaduna State,(1960-1966); Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, Kwara State,(1967-1971); School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State,(1972-1973).

She obtained a B.A (Hons) English and Graduate Certificate in Education at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State (1976); M.Ed. in Administration and Planning at the School of Post Graduate Studies, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos State (1985) and a Certificate in Social Development Policy, Planning and Practice at the University College London, London, United Kingdom (1999).

She served as Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris, France between 2009 and 2019.

Amb Katagum is versed in international and multilateral negotiations, inter-governmental and policy processes in the fields of education, the sciences, culture and communications particularly under the auspices of UNESCO.

Some of her books, publications and unpublished research include:
• Mariam Y. Katagum, 2019: Ten Years of Stewardship at UNESCO Headquarters (2009-2019), UNESCO Publishing.
• Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, 1991: Poverty Alleviation in Nigeria: What went wrong? Dissertation for the award of Certificate in Social Development Policy and Practice University College, London.
• Mariam Yalwaji Katagum, 1985: Federal Scholarships: A review of Goal-Achievement in Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Commonwealth Scholarships 1960-1985, in partial fulfilment of the Master of Education Degree, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

She was Director, Special Projects, National Primary Education Commission/Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja, (2000-2001); Secretary General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO (2001-2009); Head of Division for National and International Partnerships, Policy Planning, Management and Research Department, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja (2006-2009) and Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to UNESCO, Paris, France.

Amb. Katagum is married with four children.