Dr Hajara Ibrahim Salim; a True Ambassador at Home and Abroad
Dr Hajara Ibrahim Salim (Jakadiyar Akko, Madafan Kaltungo)
By Ibrahim Magaji
I recalled with nostalgia the turbaning of Dr Hajara Ibrahim Salim as “Jakadiyar Akko” in the early millennium.
‘Jakadiya’ is the Hausa name for Ambassador.
It is almost certain to say that; its not a coincidence that in almost two decades after the traditional title investiture, Dr Salim would come to be appointed an Ambassador not at the home front but to an Asian country to represent the most powerful black nation in the world.
The 1st Jakadiyar Akko is by her character, appearance, interactions and engagement a Quintessential Person with a heart so large it can accommodate a whole regiment or community.
The reflections of Ambassador Hajara Salim’s work shines bright like the Galaxy, beautifully spread in the sky.
Born on the 13th of march 1956 in Kumo town of Akko local government of Gombe state, the Doctor of Philosophy in Management from St Clements University United Kingdom started a career as a lecturer in 1980 at the Staff Development Center Azare in Bauchi State, a Committee Clerk and Acting Clerk Bauchi State House of Assembly between 1990-1993.
There’s no aspect of human venture that Dr Hajara has not made a stint from academia, to legislature and executive (administration).
Between 1996-2000 Ambassador Hajara served as the first and only female Chairman of Gombe Municipal Council and also the first Clerk of Gombe State house of assembly all between.
Her stint in legislative duties continued untill 2014 when she retired as Director Chambers and Head of Table Department of the Federal House of Representatives.
Decades of experience in all the arms of government afforded the seasoned Civil Servant the edge to seemingly blend into politics after retirement.
Before her appointment as Ambassador to Malaysia with concurrent accreditation to Brunei in 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr Hajara Salim contested for Gombe Central Senatorial seat in 2015 and 2019.
In the area of philanthropism, Ambassador Salim silently runs many NGO’s including an Orphanage “Al-Guh Foundation” which accommodates over 25 orphans and supports the Education of over 200 children and students of tertiary institutions.
To cap it all, Dr Hajara Salim is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration, Fellow African Center for Resource Studies Durban South Africa, Member Nigerian Institute of Management among others.
In addition to the traditional title of Jakadiyar Akko, Ambassador Hajara is also the Madafan Kaltungo, all in Gombe State.
As the current serving High Commissioner to Malaysia, Dr Salim loves reading, research, travels, cooking and Internal Decor.
Due Respect and Honour are given to whom the cap fits and Dr Hajara Ibrahim Salim fits the cap/head tie. She has proven the odds wrong in delivering the job equally or even better than the Men.
IG Magaji can be contacted via this email address: magajiishaq@gmail.com
