The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, has approved the appointment of Aliyu Ma'aji, as Ma'ajin Zazzau.

The Emir has also fixed December 21, 2012 for the official turbaning at his palace in Zaria by 2:30 p.m.

Ma'aji succeeds his father, the late Ma'ajin Zazzau, Alhaji Iliyasu Kubau.

In ancient Hausa/Fulani emirates, Maaji is the designation given to a royal chief, who is responsible for the emirate's economy and its treasury.

The new Ma'aji was born on December 24, 1972 in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He is currently an Assistant General Manager with responsibility for the Corporate Communications Department of Unity Bank Plc. A Mass Communication graduate from Bayero University, he was the pioneer Group Business and Economy Editor of the Daily Trust newspaper between 1999 and 2001. He left to become Head of Communications in two other Nigerian banks between 2001 and 2004.

Aliyu joined British American Tobacco in 2004 and rose to become the company's West Africa Area Communications Manager in charge of Nigeria, Benin Republic, and the Republics of Niger and Togo.

He departed in 2008 to assume his current role at Unity Bank Plc - during which time he led the bank's rebranding project and drove its recapitalisation communications programme, including playing a prominent role in its corporate strategy and restructuring plan in 2010.

A widely travelled and internationally trained professional, Aliyu has attended several international master-class communications and business trainings in more than 25 countries.