Garba Shehu – Politics
| Stage Name: | Mallam Garba Shehu |
| Real Name: | Mallam Garba Shehu |
| Occupation: | Politician |
| Date Of Birth/Age: | 27th November 1962 (63 years) |
| State of Origin: | Kano State, Nigeria |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Marital Status: | Hafsat Shehu (Wife) |
| Education: | Bayero University |
| Known for: | Politics |
Early Life
Mallam Garba Shehu was born on 27 November 1959 (some reports say 1962) in Dutse, a town in Jigawa State, Nigeria. He comes from a humble family originally from Kano. His father, Shehu Kofar Mata, worked as a driver, and his mother, Jummai, sold sugar in the local market. As a boy, Garba grew up in a rural setting. He once said that his mother sold sugar, which gave him a “sweet tooth” from eating raw sugar, though he reduced it later for his health.
He began his primary education at Dutse Primary School, completing it in 1970. While in class one, the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, visited his school and asked him a question. He answered it well. This moment inspired him and showed the value of education.
He then went to Barewa College in Zaria for secondary school and passed his West African School Certificate in 1975 after trying twice, which he described as very challenging.
Educational Background
After finishing secondary school, Garba Shehu enrolled at Bayero University, Kano in 1978. He studied mass communication and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1981. After graduation, he served his NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) at the Nigeria Army School of Education in Ilorin from 1981 to 1982. He is known to be a great reader and often reads about politics, economics, and many other subjects.
Career
Garba Shehu began working as a journalist in 1982 when he joined the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Sokoto as a correspondent. In 1984, he moved to Lagos and became an Energy Correspondent at NTA’s Network News division, reporting on power and energy stories.
In the mid-1980s, he started working at the Triumph Newspaper in Kano State. He quickly moved through many roles—from writer to features editor, assistant editor (Sunday edition), then editor of the daily paper, and finally Managing Director and Editor‑in‑Chief of Triumph Publishing Company by 1986, at about age 33. When he was about 37, he was elected President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, a top position for journalists in Nigeria.
He also worked as Deputy General Manager at the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria around 1997.
His political journalism career began to develop from 2003, when he was appointed Special Assistant on Media to Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Although he was relieved of that role after six months, he stayed active in media work for Atiku’s political movement.
In 2015, during the presidential campaign, Garba Shehu became Director of Media and Publicity for the All Progressives Congress (APC). After the election, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity. He was reappointed again in 2019 when Buhari won re‑election. He served in that role through Buhari’s two terms (which lasted till 2023).
In addition to his government duties, Garba Shehu regularly writes columns for the Premium Times newspaper, often expressing his views on national issues in clear, plain language.
In 2025, he published a book called According to the President, sharing lessons from his long experience in journalism and working in the presidency. The book explains how to balance speaking for the boss, telling the truth to the public, and keeping records for history.
Personal Life
Garba Shehu is a Muslim and is respected for his quiet and disciplined personal style. He got married in 1986 at the age of around 27 to Hafsat Shehu. They have four children—three daughters and one son. His son is Muhammad Garba Shehu, and one daughter is Maria Garba Shehu, who works in public relations and social media consulting.
He is known to enjoy reading, traveling, traveling and jogging for health. He also has said he fears death the most, and that he loves chocolates and sweets but eats less now for health reasons.
Social Media Presence
Garba Shehu is active on social media. His Twitter handle is @GarShehu. He also has public pages on Facebook and Instagram under his name Garba Shehu. By September 2022, he had about 1.4 million followers on social media, making him one of the most followed government officials in Nigeria. He uses social media to share important messages about government policies, respond to critics, and explain complex topics in simple words.
Net Worth
There is no official report of Garba Shehu’s wealth, but estimates suggest his net worth is around ₦100 million to ₦500 million (roughly US $200,000 to US $1 million), depending on the exchange rate of Naira to US Dollars. Some say it may exceed ₦500 million, because he worked in many top media and government roles over many years.
Much of his wealth came from his journalism career (including being MD of Triumph) and his role in government as media aide. He may also have some investments, though those are not public knowledge.
