An Educationist, Diplomat & Administrator, Her Excellency, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum was born to two eminent Royal families. Her father, Alhaji Umar Farouq was the 10th Emir of Katagum, while her mother, Fulani Ulu Binta Bayero was the daughter of the Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, the 10th Emir of Kano.
Our Celebrant obtained her post-secondary education in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She holds the Bachelor’s degree in English, Graduate Certificate in Education, M.Ed. in Administration & Planning, and Certificate in Social Development Policy, Planning & Practice.
Amb. Mariam Katagum has varied management experience in the Nigerian public service and within the United Nations System. She joined the Federal Civil Service in 1977 as an Education Officer II and rose to the rank of Director; retiring from service in 2012. Among other postings, she has worked as an English Language Teacher, Federal Scholarship Board, where she sharpened her skills and developed great interest in multi-lateral co-operation in education.
Other critical assignments she undertook include: NATCOM-UNESCO Section in the International Education Branch of the Federal Ministry of Education; Director, Special Projects, National Primary Education Commission/Universal Basic Education Commission [UBEC]; Secretary-General, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO; Head of Division for National and International Partnerships, Policy Planning, Management and Research Department of the Ministry. In the last-stated capacity, she was extensively involved in several World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF and Japan International Co-operation Agency [JICA] projects.
In 2009, our Celebrant was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador, Permanent Delegate to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France where she had two terms – up to 2014 — based on her sterling performance. Significant developments recorded during her tenure included: establishment of the UNESCO Multi-sectoral Regional Office in Abuja; establishment of UNESCO Regional Centre for Integrated River Basin Management in Kaduna and International Centre for Biotechnology at Nsukka; inscription of the Argungu Fishing Festival on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List; Financial and Technical Support from the Commonwealth of Learning [COL] to many teacher training Institutions; and Hosting of the Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF 7) in Nigeria.
Amb. Mariam Katagum was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, Trade & Investment in 2019. In that capacity, she and her counterpart led the promotion of government’s policies of Ease-of-Doing-Business, job creation, poverty eradication and industrialisation. Furthermore, she championed the cause of Halal Certification in Nigeria to harness the opportunities therein as well as chaired the Halal Policy Implementation Committee and that of Tomato Policy.
She also ensured Nigeria’s effective participation in the Dubai 2020 World Exposition; and chaired the Campaign Committee for the election of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General, World Trade Organisation.
Versed in international and multi-lateral negotiations, inter-governmental and policy processes; our Celebrant is the Author of the book Ten Years of Stewardship at UNESCO Headquarters, which documents a decade of multi-lateral co-operation, achievements and personal policy recommendations for the future of collaboration between Nigeria and UNESCO in all its fields of mandate.
A Champion of gender equality, girl-child education, and youth empowerment, Amb. Mariam Katagumhas left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s socio-economic and educational landscapes. Recognition has come from within and outside Nigeria, which include National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger [CON] and Honorary Fellowship of the Commonwealth of Learning — the first Nigerian woman to be so honoured – and Nigeria’s Vice-President’s Commendation for Outstanding Contributions to the MSME Sector.
She is married with children.