Ahmad Sani Yerima

Alhaji Ahmed Rufai Sani Yerima (born 22 July 1960) was Governor of Zamfara State, Nigeria from May 1999 to May 2007, and is now Senator for Zamfara West and Deputy Minority Leader in the Senate. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP).

Early years

Ahmed Rufai Sani was born on 22 July 1960 in Anka town, Zamfara State.

After completing a matriculation course at the Sokoto College of Arts and Science in 1978, he was admitted to Bayero University, Kano, and graduated with a B.Sc in Economics in 1982. In 1987 he returned to Bayero University and achieved a master's degree in economics.

Early career

As part of the National Youth Service he was posted to Borno State, where he worked in the Budget Department of the Governor's office and also taught at the Borno College of Basic Studies, Maiduguri.

In 1983 he began his career in the Sokoto state civil service as an economic planning officer in the Ministry of Finance. Between 1988 and 1993 he worked with various Federal Government bodies, including the National Directorate of Employment from 1988 to 1990, and the Central Bank of Nigeria between 1990 and 1993.