AIhaji Abdul Rahman Garuba was born on 15 July 1942 to the Abalume family, Hausa Quarters in Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo State. He attended Government School, Auchi Edo State from 1949 – 1955 and his secondary school education was at Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongida-Ora, Edo State from 1957 – 1961. He graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics.

His working experience started with the Board of Customs & Excise in 1963 and in January 1965 he joined the Central Bank of Nigeria from where he resigned to further his education. Upon completion of university in 1968, he worked with Lagos City College, Yaba as a Tutor in Economics, Government and History and then in 1971 he moved to Leventis Stores Limited as Training Manager.

The high point of his professional career was with Nigerian External Communications Limited (NET) later renamed Nigeria Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), where he worked from 1973 – 1989. He rose through the ranks to become the Director of Personnel in 1985 and later on the Acting Deputy Managing Director before retirement.

During his working career in the defunct NITEL, Alhaji Garuba ensured that a number of Etsako Indigenes were gainfully employed from the lowest to the upper echelon of the organization of which he was regarded as a messiah at the time. As a top bureaucrat, he received several accolades for his dedication to duty including a National Award for Outstanding Performance in 1983.

During his working career, he enrolled to study Law at the University of Lagos, Akoka and graduated in 1984, thereafter proceeded to the Nigeria Law School where he graduated the following year. He was subsequently called to the Bar in 1985. After retirement in 1989, he went into private practice, setting up his law firm, Abalume Chambers.

Alhaji Abdulrahman Garuba is a household name within the Etsako community for his humility and emancipation of Afenmai people before his death on 27 June 1999.

He was married and had four children – Mohammed, Shehu, Sekinat and Halita.