Shagari, (Alhaji) Shehu (Usman Aliyu) (1925– )

Nigerian politician, president 1979–83. An experienced minister prior to the 1966 coup, he became both state commissioner for education in Sokoto province and federal commissioner for economic development and reconstruction 1968–70, and then commissioner for finance 1971–75. He was a member of the constituent assembly that drew up the constitution for the Second Republic, and in 1979 was the successful presidential candidate for the National Party of Nigeria. He was overthrown in a military coup in 1983.

Shagari began his political career as a member of the federal parliament 1954–58. He was minister of economic development 1959–60, minister of establishments 1960–62, minister of internal affairs 1962–65, and minister of works 1965–66.

He was educated in northern Nigeria, and became a schoolteacher before entering politics. In 1981 he published his collected speeches, entitled My Vision of Nigeria.