The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari, died on Friday in Lagos, Nigeria after battling the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).
Kyari’s death was announced via a statement issued by Femi Adesina, the spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement read: “Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, passes on. May God rest his soul. Amen. Funeral arrangements to be announced soon”
As a parting shot, we highlight 10 things you may not know about the close ally and bosom friend of President Buhari.
– He was from the Kanuri tribe in Borno State.
– He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Warwick and also received a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge
– He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983 after attending the Nigerian Law School.
– He obtained a master’s degree in law from the University of Cambridge in the year 1984.
– He later attended the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland and participated in the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School, in 1992 and 1994, respectively.
– Kyari worked for the law firm Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo for some time after his return to Nigeria.
– He also functioned as the editor with the New Africa Holdings Limited Kaduna between 1988 – 1990.
– In 1990, he served as a Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in Borno State.
– President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as the Chief of Staff in August 2015.
– Mr. Kyari had a wife and four children.