Mr. Mwajim Malgwi Maidugu Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Abuja

Mr. Mwajim Malgwi Maidugu belongs to a group of silent achievers that are likened to special breeds.  His class of Nigerians are distinguished and characterized first by patriotism and unreserved dedication to duty.  He is one of the quintessential  Arts and Culture administrators of our times worthy of recognition as well as an icon in his chosen field of endeavour.

Mwajim Malgwi Maidugu was born in the then Biu Division (now Hawul Local Government Area) on 10^th June, 1951 in Borno State.  He attended Marama Primary School from where he proceeded to Borno Teachers’ College and obtained his Grade II Teachers’ Certificate in 1971.

He proceeded for his School of Basic Studies (SBS) at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1973.  Thereafter he bagged a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fine Art with a Second Class Upper Division.  Furthermore, in pursuit for further academic excellence, he added a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and a Masters Degree in Art Education from the same University in 1982.

He taught briefly at the Borno State College of Education from 1978 to 1983 before he proceeded to the University of Maiduguri where he worked as a Lecturer in the Department of Creative Arts from 1983 to 1989.

Driven by the interest he has in the development of Nigerian Arts and Culture and the need to make his contributions felt at the national level, he transferred his services to the National Council for Arts and Culture as Assistant Director in the Department of Creative Arts in 1989.

Through commitment hardwork and resilience he rose to become second in command in the hierarchy of the Management of the Council.  By dint of resourcefulness and proactive efforts he was appointed Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer on August, 2006 - August, 2010 in the first instance.  As a result of his outstanding performance and diligence in the discharge of his duty to the Council and indeed the nation he was reappointed for another term of four (4) years with effect from August 31^st 2010.

He has continued to move the Council to greater heights through his foresight and reform oriented programmes and projects.  Below are some of  the numerous  achievements he has made to date.

$       initiated an Arts and Crafts Regional platform titled “African Arts and Crafts (AFAC) Expo” which has attracted international recognition with an average participation of  sixteen (16) countries annually.

$       refocusing and positioning the annual National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) to become a platform for promoting peace and national unity as well as an avenue for job creation and economic empowerment.

$       Initiated the establishment of Crafts Development Centres geared towards growing our Arts and Culture industry into  Centres for creating wealth, generate employment as well as combat youth restiveness.

$       Re-positioned and refocused the National Research Centres on Durbar, Masquerade, Boat Regatta and Textile Traditions.  Similarly, the Council’s ten (10) zonal offices located in the six (6) geo-political zones of the country have been uplifted and given specific focus and mandate.

$       ensured maximum development and utilization of human resources thereby motivating staff in giving their best towards the upliftment of the Council.

$       his proactive attitude to work has endeared him amongst his colleagues, including the Directors of the 36 States Councils for Arts and Culture/History and Culture Bureaux and the FCT to the extent that he has presided over 19 editions of the bi-annual Chief Executives of Culture Meetings which has been very cordial and fulfilling.

$       computerized the headquarters and Zonal Offices of the Council for effective and efficient service delivery.

$       In line with the Public Service Reforms he instituted an evaluation mechanism through rigorous examinations and interviews before promotion which never existed in the Council before his tenure.  He has ensured that promotion examinations are carried out as at when due and effective and conducive working environment is in place at all times.

Mr. Maidugu, a labour friendly administrator puts the welfare of members of his staff close to his chest and a listening ear for labour matters. Through such efforts, there is a cordial synergy between Management and the Union resulting in Industrial harmony in the National Council for Arts and Culture.

He has spent a greater part of his life in advancing the course of Nigeria’s Arts and Culture at home and abroad.  To date he has participated in over 50 exhibitions at local and international level.  Similarly in his work towards the advancement of Nigerian Arts and Culture, he has travelled extensively to Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Pakistan, India, Brazil, Germany, South Korea, America, London, China, Algeria, Cameroon, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Italy, South Africa, Bahamas, Australia, Singapore, Kuwait amongst others.  He has also been opportuned to attend several professional courses and workshops both in Nigeria and abroad.  These exposures have surely brought to bear in his vision and focus towards repositioning the Council to be in line with best global practices.

Mr. Maidugu has been working closely with the Society for Nigerian Artists (SNA) both at the National and State levels.  It is significant to note that he provided office space to the FCT Branch of the Society.

He has received several awards and commendations both at local and international levels and has several publications to his credit.

He is a recipient of the Ahmadu Bello University Abuja Chapter Alumni Outstanding Career Service Award as well as several awards from the RATTAWU at local and national levels.

In addition, he is listed by the Leadership Newspaper as one of the Top Northern Nigerian Professionals.

Married with five children, Mwajim Malgwi Maidugu is a member of several professional organizations and enjoys travelling, reading collecting unique works of Arts and assisting the needy.

Mr. Maidugu is indeed a great and silent achiever, a man of many firsts, an astute administrator who is patient, unassuming and believes in hard-work, perseverance, loyalty and perfection.  He has contributed immensely towards the positive growth of the Arts and Culture Sector.