Muhammadu Ribadu (an haife shi a shekara ta 1909 – 1 ga Mayu 1965) ɗan siyasan Najeriya ne, wanda shine ministan tsaro na farko bayan samun ‘yancin kai. Ɗan wani hakimin gundumar Balala ta Adamawa, ya yi karatun Alkur'ani da wuri kafin ya wuce makarantar sakandare a Yola . An haifi Ribadu a ƙauyen Ribadu tsohon lardin Adamawa dan Ardo Hamza Hakimin Balala da Adda Wuro diyar Alkali Haman Joda daga Yola. Shine kakan uwargidan shugaban Najeriya Aisha Buhari . Ya fara karatu a karkashin Liman Yahaya, malamin addinin musulunci. Sannan ya halarci makarantar Middle Yola daga 1920 zuwa 1926. Yayin da yake Yola, ya sami horo na sirri a karkashin wani jami'in mulkin mallaka. Bayan haka, ya kasance malami a makarantarsa mai suna Yola middle school. An nada shi ma’aji a hukumar ‘yan asalin garin Yola a shekara ta 1931. Bayan rasuwar mahaifinsa a watan Oktoban 1936, Ribadu ya zama hakimin Balala. A shekarar 1946, ya tafi kasar waje don samun tallafin karatu daga British Council don karantar kananan hukumomi.