Mallam Aliyu Mai-Bornu (1919 – 23 February 1970) was a Nigerian economist, and the first indigenous Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He started his teaching career at his alma mater, Yola Middle School, from 1942 to 1946 before proceeding to another one of his alma maters, Kaduna College (1946–1952), and soon joined the Northern Teachers Association.

He earned a government scholarship to travel abroad and studied economics at Bristol University in the United Kingdom, graduating in 1957.

[1] Mai-Bornu returned to Nigeria and obtained a post as administrative officer with the Northern Nigeria Public Service (1957–1959) serving in the Public Service Commission and Ministry of Finance and Trade.

After leaving the bank, he was appointed director and general manager of the Nigerian Tobacco Company (1967–1969).