Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe Biography: Age, Education and Career

Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe is a Nigerian medical doctor, public health specialist and politician who serves as Deputy Governor of Kaduna State. She became the first woman elected to the position in Kaduna State when she took office on May 29, 2019.

Her career spans clinical medicine, public health administration and government. She served in health institutions in Abuja and Kaduna before entering politics, bringing decades of medical and administrative experience to public office.

Early Life and Education

Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe was born on August 26, 1966, into the family of Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed in Kaduna State. She attended Demonstration Primary School in Kagoro, where she completed her primary education in 1977.

She proceeded to Government Girls Secondary School in Soba, now known as Government Girls Science Secondary School, and obtained her General Certificate of Education in 1982.

Balarabe studied Medicine at the University of Maiduguri and earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree in 1988. She completed her medical internship at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, in 1989 and undertook her National Youth Service Corps assignment at the Police Clinic in Owerri from 1989 to 1990.

Medical and Public Health Career

Balarabe began her medical career in 1990 and worked at Wuse General Hospital in Abuja. She served there in medical officer positions before moving to Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, in December 1998, where she advanced through postgraduate clinical training.

She pursued specialist training in public health and became a Member of the West African College of Physicians in Community Health in 2001. In 2004, she earned a Fellowship in Public Health from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

Her work focused on disease prevention, community health, healthcare planning and public health administration. The combination of clinical experience and specialist training prepared her for senior responsibilities in government health agencies.

Leadership in Public Health Administration

Balarabe returned to the Federal Capital Territory administration in 2004 as Principal Medical Officer in the Department of Public Health. She later rose through the department and became Director of Public Health in 2014.

In February 2016, Kaduna State appointed her Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency. She worked on strengthening primary healthcare services and improving access to essential health interventions across the state.

Her experience in health administration helped establish her public profile before she entered electoral politics. In 2018, then Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai selected her as his running mate for the 2019 governorship election.

Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe as Kaduna Deputy Governor

Balarabe and el-Rufai won the 2019 election, and she took office as deputy governor on May 29 that year. She made history as Kaduna State's first elected female deputy governor.

She continued in the role after Governor Uba Sani and Balarabe won re-election in 2023 under the All Progressives Congress. Her responsibilities include representing the governor at official engagements, participating in government committees and supporting the administration's policy priorities.

In October 2019, while serving as acting governor, she presented Kaduna State's 2020 budget to the State House of Assembly. The occasion marked another milestone for women in Northern Nigerian political leadership.

Public Health and Social Development Initiatives

Balarabe has remained involved in healthcare and social development initiatives during her time in government. Her public engagements have included primary healthcare strengthening, routine immunisation, maternal health and programmes that support women and children.

In September 2026, she joined stakeholders in celebrating 58 women who had completed fistula repair and skills acquisition training in Kaduna. The programme combined medical treatment with practical training to support the women's return to their communities and economic activities.

She has also participated in initiatives promoting girls' education, nutrition and women's participation in public life. These activities reflect the connection between her medical background and her responsibilities as a state political leader.

Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe's Age

Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe was born on August 26, 1966. She is 60 years old in 2026.

Personal Life

Balarabe keeps her private and family life largely outside the public spotlight. Her public profile focuses mainly on her medical profession, government responsibilities and community development work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe?

Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe is a Nigerian medical doctor, public health specialist and Deputy Governor of Kaduna State.

How old is Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe?

She was born on August 26, 1966, and is 60 years old in 2026.

Where is Hadiza Balarabe from?

She comes from Kaduna State, Nigeria.

What did Hadiza Balarabe study?

She studied Medicine at the University of Maiduguri and later specialised in public health.

When did Hadiza Balarabe become deputy governor?

She became Deputy Governor of Kaduna State on May 29, 2019, and won re-election in 2023.

What did Hadiza Balarabe do before politics?

She worked as a medical doctor and public health administrator, including serving as Director of Public Health in the Federal Capital Territory and Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency.

Is Hadiza Balarabe the first female deputy governor of Kaduna State?

Yes. She became the first woman elected Deputy Governor of Kaduna State in 2019.

Conclusion

Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe has built a career that combines medicine, public health administration and political leadership. Her experience in clinical practice and healthcare planning shaped her transition into government, where she has served as Kaduna State's deputy governor since 2019.

Her career also marks a milestone for women's representation in Northern Nigerian politics. Through her public office and health-related engagements, she continues to contribute to discussions about healthcare access, community development and social welfare in Kaduna State.