Tribute to Former Health Commissioner Hajia Rabi Ahmadu Coomassie: A Substantial Woman in the Health Sector

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Bature Sallama joins the wider public in mourning the passing of Hajia Rabi Ahmadu Coomassie, a former health commissioner whose service left an enduring mark on the sector she dedicated herself to.

A Substantial Woman in the Health Sector

Hajia Rabi Ahmadu Coomassie served as Health Commissioner of Katsina State during Nigeria's military junta era, between 1995 and 1999 years spanning the administrations of General Sani Abacha and, later, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. It was a demanding period for public health administration, marked by economic strain and the broader governance challenges of military rule, yet she distinguished herself as a substantial and committed figure in the sector, steering healthcare delivery through one of the most turbulent chapters in the nation's political history.

A defining feature of her tenure was her emphasis on the girl-child and education in health. She championed the admission of a significant number of girls into the School of Nursing and Midwifery in Katsina State, opening doors for young women to enter the nursing and midwifery profession at a time when opportunities for girls in health education were limited.

This deliberate investment in female participation in the health workforce stands as one of the most enduring aspects of her legacy, having shaped the careers of many women who went on to serve in Katsina State's health institutions and beyond.

Hajia Rabi Ahmadu Coomassie had four children. She was the former wife of Justice Umar Abdullahi, a former Justice of the Court of Appeal.

A Distinguished Family Lineage
Hajia Rabi Ahmadu Coomassie was a member of the celebrated Coomassie family of Katsina, a lineage that has produced some of Northern Nigeria's most respected public servants and community leaders. She was a sister to Alhaji Abdullahi Coomassie, Samaila Coomassie, Abidina Coomassie, Ibrahim Coomassie, Sambo Coomassie, Dahiru Coomassie, Hajia Sa'adatu Coomassie (Mrs Abdulsamad Habibullah, Kumasi), Kubura Coomassie, Lantana Coomassie, Hajia Amina Coomassie (Hajia Mina), and Zainab Coomassie.

Condolences
The family of Bature Sallama extends its deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the entire Coomassie family, both in Katsina, Nigeria, and Kumasi, Ghana, during this period of mourning. May her service to the health sector be remembered, and may her family and loved ones find strength and comfort in this difficult time.

Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.

Mustapha Bature Sallama is a Columnist for ModernGhana.com and the Daily Graphic, a security analyst and peacebuilding practitioner, and holder of the traditional title Sallaman Sardaunan Katsina.

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