H.E. Dr. Hajo Sani OON

Member, Board of Trustees

Dr. Hajo Sani is an Educationist and Policy Analyst with many years of experience in teaching and public administration. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, a Master’s 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.

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.