Meet Abdulaziz Atta, The First Northerner To Become Permanent Secretary In The Federal Civil Service

 Abdulaziz Atta was the second son of late Atta of Ebiraland, HRH Ibrahim Onoruoiza Atta who ruled Ebiraland between 1917-1954.

Born April 1, 1920, Abdulaziz Atta attended the the famous Okene Elementary and Middle School in 1926 to 1935 after which he proceeded to Achimota College, Ghana and graduated in 1944.

Atta proceeded to prestigious Balliol College, Oxford in England and bagged Bachelor Degree in Politics and Economics in 1947.

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Abdulaziz Atta emerged the first African District Officer in Northern Nigeria in 1948 after his return from Oxford University.

In 1960, Abdulaziz Atta set record as the first northerner to become a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.

He was the first Head of Service and Secretary to the Federal Military Government during the regime of Yakubu Gowon. Abdulaziz Atta was blessed with children who rose to become popular figure in the world. He is the father of award winning Nigerian American novelist, Sefi Atta. He was a family and did everything possible to give his children the best education.

Unfortunately, the first northerner to become a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service died on June 12, 1972 at the Royal Free Hospital in London at the age of 52 years old.

To honour his giant strides, Government Secondary School, Okene was renamed Abdulaziz Atta Memorial College Okene (AAAMCO) in 1972 with a publication to celebrate his struggles and achievements.