By Danlami Nasir Isah
Isa Ibrahim Modibbo was born in Keffi, Nasarawa State, where he attended Abdu Zanga Primary School from 1963 to 1969. From 1970 to 1974, Modibbo attended Government Secondary School, Lafia, as well as the Bayero University College, Kano obtaining his West African School Certificate in 1974 and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in 1978.
Beginning from 1979 to 1980, he served as Education Officer II in the Ministry of Education, Plateau State, as well as Inspector II, NYSC Secretariat Borno State, Maiduguri from July to August 1980; Administrative Officer II, University of Jos, In-charge of Information, Publications and Protocol (August 1980-1981); and Liaison Officer, University of Jos, Lagos Liaison Office, In-charge of the University Liaison Office (1981-1982).
Modibbo was also Administrative Officer I, University of Jos, Information and Publications Division, in charge of Information, Publications and Protocol, (1982 – 1983), Assistant Registrar, Vice-Chancellor’s Office/Personal Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Emovon, and also as Public Relations Officer, University of Jos.
He also served as a Member, Board of Directors, Plateau State Radio and Television Corporation (PRTV) Jos; Assistant Registrar, Vice Chancellor’s Office (served as Personal Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. O. C. Onazi) and was later promoted to the rank of Senior Assistant Registrar, after which he became as Senior Assistant Registrar (Junior Staff Establishment).
Modibbo was eventually appointed Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and later as Executive Director, New Nigerian Newspapers Ltd Kaduna. He was thereafter elected Chairman of Keffi Local Government Council (Non-Party basis) and later appointed Member, Nasarawa State Executive Council, where he served as Commissioner in the Ministries of Works and Housing, Information, Youth and Sports respectively.
Apart from his previous position as CEO of Capital Forum Nigeria Limited, he was also appointed by UNDP as Specialist Media Adviser to INEC Chairman on 2015 General Elections; as Team Leader, Select Nigeria Media Delegation on Goodwill Visit to Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Liberia and Guinea.
In October 1989, Modibbo was Member, Nigerian Observer Team to the Namibia Independence Elections, and from August to September 1983, he was Granted Administrative Travelling Fellowship by the Association of Common Wealth Universities, Gordon Square, London, through which he visited selected universities in the UK and Australia.
Also in August 1983, he participated at the 12th Administrative Training Programme organized by the Australia Vice Chancellor’s Committee at La’Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia.
In recent times, beginning from September 2018, Modibbo has been Lead Consultant for Training Workshop on New Techniques in Collaborative and Participatory Television Production for staff of NNPC Public Affairs Division.
In November 2019, he was Presenter and Discussant at the United Nations 3rd International Conferences on Sustainable Development Goals Implementation in the Lake Chad Basin Region, namely UN System and Non-State Actors Exploring New Ways of Cooperation in the Lake Chad Basin, and as Lead Consultant, Capacity Building Workshop on New Techniques in Participatory and Collaborative Strategic Information Management for Personnel of Nigerian Air Force Department of Public Relations and Information.
In September 2021, Malam Isa Ibrahim Modibbo was appointed as chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission Board (NUPRC) by President Muhammadu Buhari. The appointment didn’t come to many as surprise considering his vast experience as technocrat and astute administrator of repute. So far, Mallam Modibbo has demonstrated an appreciable level of leadership in the affairs of the upstream regulatory body.