Dr Maina was born in Kano in December 1957. He started his Primary education at Mafoni Primary School, in Maiduguri, Borno state, and his secondary education at Government Secondary School Maiduguri and Kano Community Commercial College, Kano State.
He later proceeded to the Borno State College of Basic Studies, Maiduguri. He obtained his BSc. in Political Science at Bayero University Kano in 1983, and MSc. Political Science at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in 2007 and a PhD in Political Science at Bayero University, Kano, in 2022.
He started his working career as a teacher at Government Secondary School, Gubio, Borno State. In 1987, he worked as a journalist at the Triumph Publishing Company, Kano, and later proceeded to the New Nigerian Newspapers, Kaduna where he held various senior Editorial positions as Associate Editor, Lagos Edition, NNN, and Deputy Editor New Nigerian on Sunday.
He was the Pioneer Executive Editor, This Day Newspapers and later founding Editor of the Kaduna-based Millennium Weekly Newspaper climaxing a 30-year stint in the practice of Journalism.
Dr Maina has also worked as a lecturer in various Nigerian universities. He is married and blessed with five children.