Professor Hadiza Abdullahi Usman

She obtained her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree in 1992 from the University of Maiduguri, College of Medical Sciences. She completed her internship at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) between 1992 and 1993, followed by her National Youth Service at the Police Hospital, Falomo, Lagos State (1994–1995).

Professor Usman commenced her postgraduate clinical career at UMTH, serving as a Senior House Officer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from 1997 to 2000. In 2000, she earned the Primary Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and proceeded with residency training. She obtained the Part I Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) in 2002. In 2003, she was awarded a Certificate in Understanding and Managing Reproductive Health by the International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, Netherlands. In 2007, she completed her Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS), becoming the first female Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist produced by the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

She further strengthened her surgical expertise by acquiring a Fellowship and Diploma in Minimal Access Surgery (FMAS, DMAS) from the World Laparoscopy Hospital, Delhi, India. Her career stands as a testament to resilience and excellence, having risen to prominence in a traditionally male-dominated specialty while successfully balancing professional and family life.

Professor Usman has held several key academic and leadership positions. She served as Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Maiduguri/University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital from March 2019 to April 2021, and earlier as Head of Department at the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State, from May 2014 to June 2015 during her sabbatical. She was an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Maiduguri from 2015 to 2018 and was promoted to Professor in October 2018, a position she continues to hold.

A highly respected professional, Professor Usman is a Fellow and member of numerous national and international professional bodies, including the World Association of Laparoscopic Surgeons (WALS), West African College of Surgeons (FWACS), International College of Surgeons (FICS), International Gynaecological Cancer Society (IGCS), International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO), Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON), African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ASOG), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the Leadership Development Mechanism (FLDM).

She has participated in over sixty professional development conferences, courses, and workshops and has authored more than fifty peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals and books. She also serves as a reviewer for several scientific journals in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

In recognition of her extensive experience and leadership capacity, Professor Hadiza Abdullahi Usman transitioned into mainstream healthcare administration, culminating in her appointment as the Fourth Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State, on 18 November 2022. She is the first female to hold this position at the Centre and one of the few female CMDs/MDs in Nigeria.

Professor Usman has received numerous awards for her professional and administrative excellence and serves as Patron and Adviser to several organizations. Notably, she was honoured with the Most Workers-Friendly Medical Director award by the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) in 2023.