[4] Hadiza Bala Usman was born on 2 January 1976 in Zaria to a Fulani ruling class family of the Sullubawa clan.

From October 2004 to January 2008, she was then hired by the UNDP for the Federal Capital Territory Administration as a special assistant to the Minister on project implementation.

[9] She then joined the Good Governance Group in Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, as the country director of strategy from 2011 to July 2015.

"[12] Hadiza Bala Usman also helped coordinate meetings with the parents of the kidnapped girls and members of the Nigerian government.

[15] She was appointed as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in July 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

[17] In May 6, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari approved her suspension as the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).