Alhassan Yakmut

He obtained a Primary School First School Leaving Certificate from L.E.A. Primary School, Ampang West in 1974 and West Africa School Certificate (WAEC) from Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri, in 1979; all in Plateau State, Nigeria.

In 1981, he went to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna to obtain a Diploma in Physical & Health Education and later got a Bachelor of Science in Physical and Health Education from Ahmadu Bello University ^[6] , Zaria, Kaduna State in 1986. In 1990, he got a Masters in Administration of Physical Education and Sports from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State,^[7] and in 1998 a Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing and Public Relations from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, and in 2001 a Certificate in Sports Event Management and Organization from Academie Internationale des Sciences et Techniques du Sport, Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2007, he obtained a Masters in Law and Diplomacy, University of Jos and a master's degree in Business Administration from Business School, Netherlands. In early 2017, he began a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Law and Diplomacy in University of Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, conducting a research on Good Governance and Economic Diplomacy: A case of Nigeria from 2009-2015.

In 1990, Alhassan worked as Senior Sports Officer, Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports, and in 1992 as Personal Assistant on Sports to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Gen. Y.Y. Kure. In 1993, he worked as Personal Assistant to the Executive Chairman of National Sports Commission, Chief Alex Akinyele and Sole Administrator/Director of Sports, Plateau State Sports Council ^[8]

In 1994, he worked as Sports Zonal Coordinator, North East and in 2005 the Sports Zonal Coordinator, North Central, in Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development, Nigeria. ^[9] In 1996, he was the Sports Zonal Coordinator, South East and Desk Officer, Marketing and Insurance in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports. In 2001, he was Secretary of the Professional Football League.^[10] Nigeria Football Association, and in 2007 as the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Premier League^[11]

Alhassan has served as Special Assistant to four Nigerian Honourable Ministers of Sports and Social Development; these include Ishaya Mark Aku (2002), Stephen Akiga (2004), Saidu Samaila Sambawa (2006) and Bala Kaoje (2007). In 2012, he worked as Director, Grassroots Sports Development Department.^[12] and in 2011 Acting Director Federations and Elite Athletes Department in 2010 ^{[13] [14]} and in 2010 Acting Director Sports, Planning, Research and Documentation Department, National Sports Commission, Nigeria.^[15]

In 2012, he obtained an Intermediate Olympics Committee (IOC) Advance Diploma in Sports and Administration. Since 2016, Al-Hassan has been a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration, and from 1 May 2015, a member of the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sports. ^[16]

In April 2015, Yakmut was appointed Director General, National Sports Commission by then President Goodluck Jonathan, after for the former Director General, Gbenga Elegbeleye, was removed. ^{[17] [18]}

Under Yakmut's tenure as Director General of the National Sports Commission, Nigerian sports made great progress, finishing second at the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville. Four years earlier in Maputo, Team Nigeria could only place third behind South Africa and Egypt at the end of the 10th All Africa Games.^[19]

Since 3 March 2016, Alhassan has been the Director of Special Duties in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.^[20]