Many Nigerians knew next to nothing about Mahmood Yakubu who has just been appointed as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Yakubu was born in Bauchi in 1962 and had his early education at Kobi Primary School from where he proceeded to the Teachers’ college, Toro and later to the University of Sokoto (now Usmanu Danfodiyo University). He graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in History, a record yet to be matched till date.

Yakubu proceeded to the Oxford University where he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy Degree, PhD, with specialization in Nigerian History in 1991 at the age of 29.

Yakubu won the over Overseas Research Student, ORS, award by the London-based Committee of Vice-Chancellors of United Kingdom, UK, Universities thrice. He was also a proud recipient of the competitive Commonwealth Scholarship by the Association of Commonwealth Universities tenable at the University of Oxford.

He was appointed the Executive Secretary of the Education Trust Fund, ETF, now known as Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, in 2007, in a bid to reposition its intervention towards achieving greater goals.

Yakubu is a professor of political history and international studies and an expert in guerrilla warfare, terrorism and counter-terrorism.