Celebrate Mahmud Yayale Ahmed on His birthday

Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR (born April 15, 1952) is a Nigerian politician from Azare, Bauchi State, and was Defence Minister of Nigeria. Ahmed is the Ajiyan Katagum, a Katagum Emirate position, and the Akowojo of Idanre Kingdom, in Ondo State.

Early Life and Education

Ahmed was born in the town of Shira in southern Azare, Bauchi State, to Ahmadu, an Islamic scholar and farmer. He attended Shira Primary School, Government Secondary School Azare, and then Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State, where he received a bachelor's degree in Political Science in 1976 and a master's degree in Public Administration in 1981. He completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) service in 1977.

He has been awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree in Law by the University of Abuja and an honorary Doctorate Degree of Letters by Bayero University

Civil Service and Politics

Ahmed joined the Bauchi State Civil Service in 1977. In 1982 he became deputy secretary to the state's Ministry of Animal Health and Forestry Resources, and the next year, in 1983, he became acting permanent secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives.

In 1986, he joined the federal government's civil service, holding various positions in the Ministries of Internal Affairs and of Education. He was a member of the 1988 Ministerial Committee on the Civil Service Reforms.Ahmed was appointed to the position of Head of Civil Service (chief civil servant) of Nigeria on December 18, 2000, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who described Ahmed as "Mr Civil Servant".

In May 2006, Yahuza Mohammed Bauchi, Chairman of the Bauchi Actualization Forum (BAF), encouraged Yayale to run in the 2007 Bauchi State Governorship race. According to Bauchi, the people of Bauchi State were "clamouring for Alhaji Yayale Ahmed to assume the mantle of leadership in the state so as to consolidate the good works of governor Ahmed Mu’azu."

President Umaru Yar'Adua appointed him to the position of Defence Minister July 26, 2007. He had no military experience prior to the appointment. On September 8, 2008, President Umaru Yar'Adua appointed him as the Secretary to The Government of The Federation replacing Alhaji Babagana Kingibe.