First Nigerian Woman to be Appointed as Federal Electoral Commissioner

 

Mrs. Elizabeth James Yakubu Pam was born was on 9^th July, 1935. Among other schools, she attended Girls’ Training College, Kano; Clerical Training Center, Kano, 1946-1951; Institute of Administration, Kongo, Zaria, 1955-1956- Elizabeth with was one of the first two female graduates of the institution in Northern Nigeria. After briefly working with Secretary of Northern Nigeria, Kaduna, she went back to Kongo for her advanced studies. She also obtained Advanced Diploma in Public Administration at the University of Jos, in 1990 and a Certificate in Theology at Theological College of Northern Nigeria, Bukuru, Jos in 1994.

She spanned for more than four decades serving the nation Nigeria, where she contributed to its development before her retirement in 1997. Elizabeth became the first Nigerian woman to have been appointed as Federal Electoral Commissioner, where she oversaw the national elections in 1979 in Bauchi State; later, she was posted to Lagos and Kwara States. Following her tract record in Bauchi, she was the only Electoral Commissioner that was retained, which gave her the privilege to oversee the 1983 general elections I Imo State. She was a Member of the Justice Oputa Panel (Human Right Violation Investigation Commission), 1999-2001; Chairperson, Plateau Peace Conference, 2004 and Member, National Political Reform Conference, 2005.