He then attended Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria
in 1972-1975 for his University education where he obtained B.Sc
Education/Chemistry. And in 1978 he did his M.Sc degree in Analytical
Chemistry in same University.
In 1975/1976 he did his one year mandatory NYSC
service at the Holy Child College, Lagos.
He became a lecturer at the Katsina college of Arts,
Science and Technology, Zaria between 1976-1979, from where he moved
over to the Katsina Polytechnic in 1979 also as a lecturer.
Umaru Musa Yar’adua left the public service
in 1983 to private sector where he became the pioneer General Manager
of Sambo Farms Ltd in Funtua, in Kastina State between 1983-1989.
He served as a broad member, Kastina State farmer’s
supply company between 1984-1985.
He was a member of the governing council of Katsina
College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria, and Katsina Polytechnic
between 1978-1983.
He was the broad chairman of Kastina State Investment
and property development company (KIPDECO) between 1994-1996.
He also held the following position as a director
in many companies like;
Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd 1995 – 1999
Lodgiani Nigeria Ltd 1987 – 1999
Hamada Holdings 1983 – 1999
Madara Ltd. Vom in Jos 1987- 1999
He was also the chairman of Nation House Press Ltd,
Kaduna between 1995-1999.
Yar’adua’s journey into politics began,
when he became an active member and mobilizer of the defunct Peoples’
Redemption Party (PRP).
He was one of the founding member of the Peoples’
Front, a political association under the leadership of his elder
brother, late major-general Shenu Musa Yar’adua, during the
Babagida’s transitions programme. That association later fused
to form the social Democratic Party (SDP).
Musa Yar’adua, was a member of the 1988 Constituent
Assembly. He was a member of the party’s National caucus and
the SDP State secretary in Kastina State. He contested in 1991 governorship
election in Kastina State, under the SDP party, but lost to the
National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate.
1998, Musa Yar’adua founded the k34 political
association during General Abdulsalam Abubarkar’s transition,
the association which later teemed up to form the Peoples’
Democratic Party (PDP). And he contested and won the governorship
election of that State in 1999 and in 2003 he was also re-elected
as the governor of Kastina state.
Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, can best be remembered
as the first governor to publicly declare his assets, and he promised
to do same again at the end of his tenure.
During his tenure as the governor of Kastina state,
there had been unprecedented development in the state both in the
educational and health sector, provision of rural and urban roads
in the state, electrification of both rural and urban area, water
supply and agriculture in the state.
He had been proven to be prudent, accountability
and transparency in his leadership. The state now enjoys a surplus
of N6.56 billion from an empty treasury and back lots of debts which
he met as a governor in 1999.
He had won the following awards
The National Primary Education Productivity Merit
Award in 2004.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) best Governor Award
under the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) in 2005.
He unwinds by reading and playing lawn tennis and
squash in the club.
