30 Facts About Isaiah Balat

Isaiah Chawai Balat was a Nigerian politician and businessman from southern Kaduna State.

Isaiah Balat was the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Kaduna South Senatorial District from May 2003 to May 2007 and, a member of the People's Democratic Party.

In May 2010, Balat was appointed the Special Advisor to the President on Special Duties where he served until his demise in 2014.

Isaiah Chawai Balat was born on 23 October 1952 in Gora, a village in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Isaiah Balat's father was from Gora while his mother was from a village called Kamuru.

Isaiah Balat was born into a polygamous family which was very common at the time.

Isaiah Balat spent his formative years in relative poverty, working on his father's farm rearing cattle.

Isaiah Balat started his early education at SIM Primary School in Gora in 1959 and later moved to SIM Primary School Ungwar Tabo, where he completed his primary education.

Isaiah Balat subsequently went to the Commonwealth College of Commerce Jos in Plateau State between 1966 and 1970 for his secondary school education.

Later, Isaiah Balat undertook postgraduate courses in Petroleum Management at St Clements University, in prospect, in addition to a certificate from the Oxford Princeton Programme, Oxford, United Kingdom, between 1996 and 1998.

Isaiah Balat was promoted to managerial level before leaving the company in 1978 to establish his own private oil and gas services company, Gora Nigeria Limited, of which he was the chairman and chief executive officer.

Isaiah Balat held several high management appointments and positions in the private and public sectors.

Isaiah Balat was a member of the Kaduna State Urban Development Board, a member of the Plateau State Committee on Revenue Sources and, the pioneer Chairman of the Katsina Steel Rolling Mill from 1980 to 1983.

Isaiah Balat was the President of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture from 1987 to 1991, during which period he initiated and commenced the construction of the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex.

Isaiah Balat was the Vice-President, Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture from 1985 to 1987, Chairman of the British Council and a member of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, from 1993 to 1996.

Isaiah Balat served as a Non-Executive Director of Guinness Nigeria from 1996 to 1999.

In 1978, Isaiah Balat was the Chairman of the Nigerian People's Party in Kaduna State where he led the coalition that ensured the election of Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa as the first civilian governor of Kaduna State in the Second Republic of Nigeria.

Isaiah Balat continued his involvement in party politics and in 1998, Isaiah Balat became the Kaduna State Coordinator of the Obasanjo Campaign Organizations.

In June 1999, Isaiah Balat was appointed Minister of State for Works and Housing in the cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In 2003, Isaiah Balat was overwhelmingly elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Kaduna South Senatorial District of Kaduna State.

In 2007, Isaiah Balat was a frontline candidate contesting for the Gubernatorial Primary of Kaduna State under the PDP, losing to Arc.

Isaiah Balat was instrumental in setting up the Northern Political Summit Group - The G-20 - which held in Kaduna on 16 and 17 March 2010.

In May 2010, Isaiah Balat was appointed the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties where he served till his demise.

Isaiah Balat participated in the United Nations organized colloquium preceding the South Commission Report under the chairmanship of the Late Dr Julius Nyerere, former president of Tanzania, which examined and recommended modalities for bridging the gap in the standards of living of peoples in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Isaiah Balat led Nigerian Trade Delegations to South Korea, the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, Brazil, South Africa and Namibia to encourage investors in those countries to invest in the Nigerian economy.

Isaiah Balat sponsored and supported the education of less privileged children.

Isaiah Balat has earned many honors in recognition of his service to his community the state, country and internationally.

In 2000, Isaiah Balat was awarded the International Trade and Development Award for promotion trade and investment between the United States and Nigeria by the Africa-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Los Angeles, California, United States.

Isaiah Balat was a Fellow of the prestigious Institute of Directors.

Isaiah Balat died on 18 February 2014 in Abuja after a brief illness.