Dr. Hajo Sani is an Educationist and Policy Analyst with many years of experience in teaching and public administration. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Education, a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counselling and a Doctorate Degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. She was a school principal for twelve years before her appointment as Minister of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (1997- 98). During her tenure, she led a delegation to the United Nations (UN) and defended the 2nd and 3rd Country Report on CEDAW at the 19th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. She is an alumnus of Department of State International Visitor Programme and a fellow of the International Health Programme. Dr. Sani was once the Secretary-General of the West African Women Association (WAWA), Nigeria Chapter, from 2000 – 01.
Dr. Hajo Sani is a gender and leadership advocate, policy analyst and a prolific writer. She advocates for the recognition of women’s potential and contribution to the development and establishment of the worth of womanhood. Her contributions to women’s development continued after her ministerial assignment. She researches and documents women issues leading to the writing of her first book, Women and National Development: The Way Forward (2001), which was recommended by the Federal Ministry of Education as a reference material for tertiary institutions. A founder of Women and National Development (WAND), an NGO that focuses on promoting women’s issues particularly the recognition of their historic achievements and education of the girl-child. In 2010, her second book First Ladyship and Empowerment Programmes in Nigeria was published, followed by her third book, Women and Leadership, in 2012. Her continuous efforts in promoting women achievements informed a decision to embark on writing a book titled Women in the New Era (unpublished) a compendium and collection of write-ups by resource experts on different areas of women development.
Dr. Sani belongs to many National and International Committees, Associations and Professional Bodies, including the UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG). Also, she is a recipient of many awards and recognitions as well as a National Honour in the rank of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), in 2006. She has worked with the Society for Family Health (SFH), a lead public health NGO and development partner in Nigeria, from 2003 -2015. She was a Director at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, before she disengaged with the SFH. In July 2015, she was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President, as Chief of Staff of the First Lady. In 2019, the scope of her reappointment was broadened as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs and Administration Office of First Lady of Nigeria.
In 2021, Dr. Hajo Sani was appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as the Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO in Paris, France.
He was eventually sent to the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, where he remains to the present day as Deputy Director Parastatals.
