An accomplished businessman, Mr. Iya Abbas holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He comes from the equally accomplished family of the famous Iya Abbas of Adamawa, an unparalleled civil servant, who has left an indelible reputation of unblemished integrity, perchance for community service, personal sacrifice for the good of humanity, and unrivaled incorruptibility. Mr. Abbas is the Founder and CEO of Desert Cat Limited, a highly successful indigenous civil security company based in Yola, Adamawa State with branches in other parts of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory.
Mr. lya-Abbas led an impressive career in the civil service, the banking sector, and as a shipping Consultant. He began a memorable career as a civil servant in the defunct Gongola State Government before joining the Banking Industry. He worked with the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry; from 1988-1993 where he rose to become a management staff. Mr. Iya-Abbas also experienced working with international organizations when he served as Program Secretary for the UNDP-EMPRETEC initiative for three years. In 1993, he established Desert Cat Limited and became its first Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He later became the Chairman of the company, a position he still holds.
In 1996, he joined the Shipping Industry and rose to become the Executive Director of Rashany Shipping Company Limited. He also served as a Shipping Consultant for a couple of years and was later appointed Managing Director of Equatorial Marine Oil & Gas Company Limited. Mr. Iya Abbas also serves as either Chairman or Director of several other companies. In recognition of his numerous achievements and contributions to the Nigerian Economy, the Federal Government appointed him as a member of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC) in the presidency. He also serves as a member of the Vision 2020 Business Support Group (BSG).
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Industrial Security, Mr. Iya Abbas sits on the boards of several corporate organizations, and serves as a member of the following companies: Sigma Securities Limited, Sigma Convoy Limited, Hisnan Boneh Limited, Iya Abbas Foundation, Feed Nigeria Initiatives, Equatorial Marine Oil & Gas Company Limited, Sigma Securities Limited, Rashany Shipping Company Limited, Mayel-Landi Nigeria Limited, Yuppies Limited, National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC), Facility Managers Limited, Richfield Finance Investment Limited, etc.