Marafa Hamidou Yaya
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Marafa Hamidou Yaya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Territorial Administration | |
| In office 2009–2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1952 (age 73–74) Garoua, Cameroon |
| Party | Cameroon People's Democratic Movement |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas |
Marafa Hamidou Yaya (born 1952) is a Cameroonian politician, former minister, and senior member of the ruling party. He held several government positions before being arrested in 2012 in connection with a corruption case.
Marafa Hamidou Yaya was born in 1952 in Garoua, located in the northern region of Cameroon. He comes from the Fulani aristocracy of Garoua. Marafa Hamidou Yaya completed his entire primary and secondary education in Garoua, graduating in 1973 with a baccalaureate D at the lycee of Garoua.[1] after that, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Geology from the University of Yaounde in 1976.[2] He pursued higher education in the United States, at the University of Kansas, where he graduated as an engineer specializing in petrochemistry.[1]
Professional career
Marafa's professional journey in Cameroon began after his return, he found work as a petroleum engineer. His career path included a few months at Elf-Serepca in Douala, followed by a long period at the Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH). There, he initially directed the Exploitation Production Department and then became a Technical Adviser, with a focus on the company's interactions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.[1]
Political career
Marafa's political career flourished inside the CPDM, Cameroon's governing party, becoming a close ally of President Paul Biya.[3] He served as Special Adviser to the President before being appointed Secretary General of the Presidency from 1997 to 2001.[4] In 2001, he became Minister of State and, from August 2002, served as Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization a strategic post in the Cameroonian government. During his tenure, he was known to push for decentralization reforms.[2] He was also chairman of the Board of FEICOM (the Cameroonian local government development fund).[4]