About

— Meet Ali Ahmad

Ali Ahmad (born November 23, 1965) is a Nigerian lawyer, scholar, and politician. Currently, he is a professor of law at the University of Abuja, Nigeria. His academic career started in 1990 at Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, and included positions at Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the University of Ilorin, and Baze University, Abuja, Nigeria. He has practiced law in Nigeria and New York City, United States.

Ali’s political career started as a special assistant to the then Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in 2005. He was elected to Nigeria’s 7th House of Representatives in 2011, representing Ilorin East/Ilorin South Federal Constituency. He moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 and was appointed a member of the Governing Council of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies in 2012.

Ali played a key role in the moulding and establishment of the Kwara State University, Malete, during the administration of Governor Saraki in his capacity as Secretary of the Feasibility Committee as well as Secretary of the Planning Committee and the Steering Committee in 2009.

In 2015, Ali Ahmad was elected into the Kwara State House of Assembly to represent Ilorin South. His colleagues unanimously elected him Speaker to lead the 8th Kwara State House of Assembly. The Assembly was the first to debate and pass the constitutional amendment dubbed the Not-too-young-to-rule Bill, meant to reduce the age limit for running for elective offices in Nigeria.

He became an Ambassador to the movement for the passage of the Bill, which has now become law. He led the Assembly to maintain a robust relationship with the Administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. At the same time, he demonstrated commitment to upholding the principle of power separation, resisting overtures of the executive in appropriate circumstances, and always deferring to the Constitution of Nigeria even where situations warranted wider legislative-executive confrontation.

Academic and Professional Qualifications

Primary Education

Makera, Kaduna South Local Government, Kaduna State

Diploma

Arabic Teachers’ College, Jebba, Kwara State (1984)

Bachelor of Laws

Bayero University, Kano (1988)

Master in Business Administration (MBA)

Bayero University, Kano (1996)

Master of Laws (LL.M.)

Harvard Law School, Cambridge Massachusetts, USA (1997)

Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)

George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C., USA (2000)

Honours, Awards and Publications