President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, the founder of the Bring Back Our Girls Group as Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Her appointment is effective July 11, 2016, according to a federal government tweet at handle @AsoRock. Her appointment makes her the first woman to head the economically viable parastatals.

The President also appointed three persons as Executive Directors at the NPA. They are: Mohammed Bello-Koko (Finance), Professor Idris Abubakar (Engineering) and Dr. Sekonte Davies (Marine Operations).

Hadiza, 40, takes over from Alhaji Habib Abdullahi, who was removed following the recommendations of Transport Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi. The minister was said to have frowned at the pace of operations at the NPA and wanted a much more dynamic person.

Until her appointment, Hadiza was serving as the chief of staff to the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai and is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She was vocal during the past regime of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as she led a coalition with Oby Ezekwesili to champion the Bring BackOurGirls campaign in the wake of the kidnap of the Chibok girls.

She’s married to Dr. Tanimu Yakubu, the former Chief Economic Adviser to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.