Alhaji Adam Zarma was born in Maiduguri in 1935. At the age of two, when he was weaned, he was taken to his father in Gwoza, who was a civil servant heading the Dispensary there. In 1946 the little Adam was brought back to Maiduguri and enrolled into Yerwa Elementary School. He however left the school and took to tailoring as an apprentice. A year later, he was brought back to the school to continue his education. One of teachers in the school was Alhaji Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno, who taught them English.
In 1949 he gained admission into the Borno Middle School. He also did not stay long here. He terminated his studies and was employed in Ngirmairi Farm Centre as a Garden Boy. Here he became skilful in budding mangoes. He was later transferred to Bama where he combined his job of a Garden Boy with that of Time Keeper. It was in Bama that the late Alhaji Hayatu Jere, then Visiting Teacher of Borno Native Authority encouraged him to become a teacher and he was eventually appointed and posted to Kirawa.
Between 1953 and 1954, he sat for entrance examination into Mubi Teachers’ College and gained admission into the college. He completed his studies there in 1960 and upon arrival home he started teaching in Gwoza. In 1962, he was transferred to Maiduguri Boarding School, then headed by Alhaji Hamza Damboa. In the same year, when the headmaster of Hausari Primary School, Mallam Lawan Kolo resigned and joined the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Alhaji Adam Zarma was appointed headmaster to replace him. A year later (1963) he was transferred to Gamboru Primary School. About the same time he also served in Bulabulin Primary School. In 1967 he was transferred to Kawuri Primary School. From 1969 to 1970, he was in Mallam Fatori Primary School, where he was the founding headmaster.
Alhaji Adam Zarma obtained the Grade 11 Teachers Certificate in 1972. After this he resumed duties in Mallam Fatori, but was later transferred to Marte Primary School. In 1975, he was transferred to Kukareta Primary School.
In 1979 he took up appointment in the Borno State House of Assembly as a Translator/Interpreter. In 1983 he transferred to the Borno State Ministry Information as Assistant Information Officer. He had risen to the rank of Principal Information Officer and had also been instrumental in creating offices in Dikwa, Bama, Badde and Biu, before changing his rank to the Executive line by moving to the Borno State Civil Service in 1984, as Assistant Chief Executive Officer. He retired from the civil service in 1987, upon reaching retirement age.
Barely one month after retirement, he was appointed Electoral Officer by the National Electoral Commission and was posted to Gwoza. Before leaving the Commission in 1995, he had also served as officer in charge of Askira/Uba and Magumeri Local Government Areas.
Upon leaving the Commission, he was appointed member, Borno State Teaching Board, but the Board did not take off.
In 2003, during the tenure of Governor Mala Kachallah, he was appointed member, Borno State Independent Electoral Commission. With the coming of a new administration, the Board was dissolved and new members appointed. After that, he has severed as Chairman of Local Education Authority (LEA) Committee of Gwange, Bulabulin and Madu Ganari Wards of Maiduguri. He is currently the Chairman of the LEA Committee of Faali Ward, also in Maiduguri.

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