By Emmanuel Kwada
Imagine a kid from Girei, Adamawa State, scribbling dreams in a dusty notebook under a flickering lantern, growing up to become a force of nature in Nigerian education and public service.
That’s Dr. Salihu Girei Bakari, PhD, a man whose quiet presence belies a roaring legacy of progress, compassion, and vision.
At 54, he’s not just a leader; he’s a political titan, a beacon Adamawa can’t stop buzzing about, with a profile and leadership acumen that scream “game-changer” louder than any campaign slogan ever could.
Born on September 5, 1971, in Girei, Dr. Bakari’s story is the kind that gives you goosebumps. He started at Girei 1 Primary School (1977-1982), aced his West African School Certificate at Government Secondary School Girei (1987), and then shot for the stars.
He earned a B.A. in Education (Second Class Upper) from the University of Maiduguri (1992), an M.Ed. in Sociology of Education (with Distinction) from the University of Jos (1997), and an MA in International Education (with Distinction, 1998) and PhD in Education Policy, Equity & Gender (2004) from the University of Sussex.
Not one to chill, he’s now chasing a second PhD in Knowledge Management at ISSBS, Celje, Slovenia.
From workshops in Cambridge to summits in Seoul, he’s soaked up global ideas, always with one goal: to lift Nigeria up. “Education is the heartbeat of progress,” he says, and man, has he made that heart pound.
Dr. Bakari’s career is a masterclass in getting stuff done. Since 2020, as Director of Research and Development/Centres of Excellence at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Abuja, he’s been a whirlwind.
He’s launched 26 Centres of Excellence across Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges, dished out 457 National Research Funds to brilliant minds, and kicked off Innovation Hubs and Model Entrepreneurship Centres in every geo-political zone.
This July, he steered a $250,000 grant through the Science Granting Councils Initiative, empowering four Nigerian research teams to turn big ideas into economic wins.
His May 30 lecture at UNILAG’s Doctoral Academy, “The Researcher as Innovator and Policy Influencer,” and June 3 talk at the University of Jos, “Knowledge Sharing for Community Development,” had folks on their feet, with his work cited 81 times worldwide. He’s not just building institutions, he’s building futures.
Back in Adamawa, Dr. Bakari’s a hometown hero. As Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (2008-2012), he transformed schools like a man on a mission.
He built 51 Model Primary Schools across 21 local government areas, handed out free uniforms to thousands of girls and Class One pupils, and fixed up over 4,000 classrooms.
He cleared promotion backlogs for 6,785 teachers, upgraded 2,085 others, and brought 2,700 Federal Teachers Scheme participants into permanent jobs.
His hustle put Adamawa on the national map, snagging 2nd place in UBE rankings in 2007 and 2009, and the top spot in 2008.
As Commissioner for Local Government Affairs (2012-2014) and Higher Education (2014), he crushed corruption with cashless policies, built modern slaughterhouses to boost local markets, and made sure retirees got their pensions on time, moves that brought real dignity to real people.
His brainpower spills onto the page, too. With over 20 journal articles, a co-edited book, Introduction to Sociology of Education, and chapters on gender equity and nomadic education, he’s reshaping how we think about learning.
His 2024 paper on TETFund’s role in university-industry partnerships is a blueprint for economic growth.
Awards? He’s got a shelf full: British Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships, the 2010 Arewa Inspirational Leadership Award, the 2024 Goodluck Jonathan Excellence Award, and traditional titles like Wakili Makaranta Adamawa (2010) and Magajin Garin Girei (2009).
At 54, Dr. Bakari’s just hitting his stride. From chairing TETFund’s Anti-Corruption Unit (2017-2024) to lecturing at Federal University Kashere and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, he’s a spark that keeps igniting change.
Whispers of a 2027 Adamawa gubernatorial run are getting louder, and it’s no surprise; people see him as the compassionate, can-do leader Nigeria’s been waiting for.
“Leadership is about serving with your whole heart,” he says, flashing that humble smile. Dr. Salihu Girei Bakari isn’t just a political giant—he’s Adamawa’s north star, and his star’s only climbing higher. Nigeria’s watching, and we’re all rooting for him.