Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, the current governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria, is the People's Democratic Party's candidate for the 2007 election for Nigeria's new president. Born in 1951 and raised in the same state in which he is now governor, Alhaji Yar'Adua is renown for his stance against corruption as evidenced by his willingness to be the first governor to publicly declare his assets.

The Early Years
Governor Yar'Adua has an extensive education which spans twenty years. Beginning in 1958 he attended Rafukka Primary School, then Dutsinma Boarding Primary School followed by government college in what is now Nasarawa State for his secondary education.

In addition, Gov. Yar'Adua attended Barewa College Zaria and Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Chemistry. Finally, Gov. Yar'Adua earned his Masters in Science degree and Analytical Chemistry from Ahmadou Bello University in 1980.

Academic Career
From 1975 to 1976 Gov. Yar'Adua worked for the National Youth Service Corps at Hold Child College in Lagos, followed by a position as lecturer at Katsina College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria from 1976 to 1979. Govenor Yar'Adua ended his public service after five years as a lecturer at Katsina Polytechnic .

Professional Career
Yar'Adua began his career in the private sector at Sambo Farms Limited as its first general manager from 1983 to 1989 while simultaneously serving as a board member of Katsina State Farmers' Supply Company from 1984 to 1985. Other posts held by Yar'Adua include: member of Governing council of Katsina college of Arts, Sceience and Technology and Katsina Polytechnic (1978-1983) and board chairman of Katsina State Investment and Property Development company (1994-1996).

Yar'Adua served as Director of several companies from the late eighties until the late nineties including Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd., Lodigiani Nigeria Ltd., Hamada Holdings and Madara Ltd. Vom Jos. He also served as Chairman of the Nation House Press Ltd. in Kaduna from 1995-1999.

Political Career
Governor Yar'Adua's first foray into politics began as an active member of the now defunct Peoples' Redemption Party of which Chinua Achebe was once a member. Yar'Adua was also a founding member of the Peoples' Front, a political association under the leadership of his elder brother Major General Shehu Musa Yar'Adua. Peoples' Front later became Social Democratic Party.

Yar'Adua further established himself in Nigerian politics by becoming a member of the Social Democratic Party's 1988 Constituent Assembly as well as becoming a member of the party's National Caucus and the SDP State Secretary .

At the inception of General Abduldalam Abubakar's transition in 1998 Yar'Adua founded the K34 political association which later became part of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Finally, Yar'Adua won the election for governor of Katsina State in 1999 and was so successful in his first term that he was re-elected in 2003.

As governor of Katsina, Yar'Adua has created unprecedented development in education and health, urban and rural roads, access to electricity and water and positive impacts on agriculture. His primary health care delivery system and primary education policies have become models with compelling national appeal.

In addition his determination to make taxation the primary source of public finance in Katsina State is the catalyst for the implementation of plans to make neem production a viable resource. His projected export revenues from this venture are in excess of $2 billion USD. Under his leadership the once empty treasury of Katsina state now has a surplus of N6.5million.

Awards
Yar'Adua has a proven record of prudence, accountability and transparency which has lead to his receipt of the the National Primary Education Productivity Merit Award in 2004 and the Central Bank of Nigeria Best Governor Award under the Agricultural credit Guarantee Scheme in 2005. He was also honored with the NUJ Abuja Council Award in 2003, the NUJ Kaduna Council Award in 2005 and the Leadership Watch Award in 2004.

Personal Life
Being a well rounded individual, Governor Yar'Adua is happily married to Hajia Turai Umaru Yar'Adua and they are fortunately blessed with children. In his leisure time Governor Yar'Adua enjoys reading and staying active by playing squash.