Mr. Atiku holds bachelor’s and MSc degrees in Accounting and finance from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also participated in a broad variety of professional development courses and seminars in Banking Operations, Credit Analysis, Marketing, Inspection, Investigation, and Management. His career started at the Katsina Steel Rolling Company, where he served as an Accountant before joining the services of Bells Holdings Ltd, a private Consulting establishment, as Company Secretary and Head of Finance. Mr. Atiku also had substantial experience in the banking sector. In 1987, he joined the services of Savannah Bank of Nigeria Ltd. as a Graduate Trainee. He spent twelve years with the bank during which he served in various capacities namely: Operations Officer responsible for branch operations, Credit Officer in charge of credit analyses and management, Branch Manager in Sokoto and Kaduna, Head of Internal Audit, and Executive Assistant to the Managing Director. In 1999, he joined the services of Intercity Bank Plc, which later became Unity Bank as Principal Manager and Head of Internal Audit. He served the bank for ten years in the following capacities: Principal Manager and Head of Internal Audit, Regional Manager for Kano Regional Office as an Assistant General Manager, and Regional Manager for Kaduna Regional Office as Deputy General Manager. During the historic merger of commercial banks in 2005, Mr. Atiku headed the Operations Work Stream, which was responsible for the development of Unity Bank’s first Banking Operational Manuals for Local Branch Operations and Foreign Operations. He was privileged to serve as the pioneer Divisional Head of Operations for Unity Bank. He served the bank until 2009 as Deputy General Manager and Chief Inspector. He was later assigned as Chairman of the bank Board’s Audit Committee between October 2010 and November 2014.
In 2010, Mr. Atiku joined the services of Capital Science Academy Abuja on contract appointment as Director of Finance and Procurement and a member of the senior management team. He served the school until 2017. In 2018, he was engaged at the International Centre for Islamic Culture and Education, Abuja as Director of Finance, Administration, and Procurement. In this capacity, he also served as a member of the senior management team for the Center. He had severally served as Acting Director General of the Centre. Mr. Atiku was also the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Centre and the Board of Al-Noor International Academy, Abuja.