PROFILE OF THE 13TH ETSU NUPE AND CHAIRMAN NIGER STATE COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS : ALH. (DR.) YAHAYA ABUBAKAR CFR

Born in 1952 to the family of Late Abubakar Nakodi Nupe and Hajiya Habiba Bantigi. Since his parents were enlightened, education for the young Yahaya was a compulsory enterprise.
He started with Islamic Education as early as when he could speak and write. He was then enrolled in Primary School at Bida East and Sabongida Primary Schools in Bida between 1957 and 1965.
After Primary Education, the young Yahaya proceeded to Government College Sokoto and later moved to Kano Commercial College from 1966 to 1972.
Yahaya Abubakar gained admission into Kaduna Polytechnic in 1972 for a Diploma Course in Commerce. He however spent just a session and left for Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna for an Officer Cadet training as a
member of 14th Regular Course in July 1973.
He was commissioned into Nigerian Army Armoured Corp as a Second Lieutenant on 13th December 1975. He served at various capacities for 30years and 3months, and roused to the rank of Brigadier General before his glorious exit in September, 2003 to ascend the Throne of his fore-bearers as the 13th Etsu Nupe.
As a servicing Army Officer, Yahaya Abubakar attended several courses within and outside Nigeria. They include Adjutant General’s Course in the United States of America, Tank Technology Course India, Command and Staff College Jaji, Kaduna State, Nigeria and National Defence Course Egypt.
He had held many Staff and Command appointments such as Commanding Officer of various Battalions, Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Army Depot, Zaria, Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force, Lake Chad Region, Commander, Ecomog Operation in Liberia and Director of Peace Keeping Operations in the Army Headquarters, Abuja, Nigeria.
While in the Army, Yahaya Abubakar received many awards and medals in recognition of his dedicated and unblemished service.
These include DSS, MSS, FSS, ECOMOG Service Medal, Command and Staff College PSC as well as Fellowship of the National Defence College NDC Egypt.


He participated in many peace keeping operations including NIBATT 27, ECOMOG Operations in Liberia/Sera Leon between August 1996 and July 1998.
The Military career of Brigadier General Yahaya Abubakar came to a glorious end on the 11th September 2003 when the Government of Governor Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure appointed him as the 13th Etsu Nupe after the death of his uncle late Alh. Umaru Sanda Ndayako the 12th Etsu Nupe. He was sworn in and presented with the First-Class Staff of Office in Bida, Niger State on 11th July, 2004.
Etsu Yahaya Abubakar has strived to use his wealth of experience as Army General to impact on the lives of his people through the promotion of Education, Agriculture (at both subsistence and large-scale levels) and Cultural/Traditional Heritage.
His support for small scale industries as well as fostering peace in his Emirate, Niger State and Nigeria at large is of great significance.
As at today, Etsu Yahaya Abubakar is the sole owner of EDU-SOKO Farms Limited covering more than 30,000 hectares of both up and low lands with various colonies such as rice, cassava, guinea corn and groundnut, orchards, fish ponds and livestock among others.
Etsu Yahaya Abubakar’s sterling qualities as a First-Class Emir has succeeded in blending ancient time with the modern time, which brought him National recognition; as a result he was conferred with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2004.
He was also appointed the Chairman of Abuja National Mosque Management Committee and he is currently the Chancellor of two notable Universities in Nigeria.
As a First-Class Traditional Ruler in Nigeria, Etsu Yahaya Abubakar is also the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria. This affords him the responsibility of inter-facing between fellow Traditional Rulers and various tiers of Government on issues of security, harmonious co-existence and good governance.

 

In recognition of his contributions to National development, Etsu Yahaya
Abubakar is also a recipient of several Academic Honours of Doctor of Philosophy, Honoris Causa of Four distinguished Nigerian Universities and a Federal Polytechnic namely,
• Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi State, North-East Nigeria 2005.
• Ambrose Alli Unversity, Ekpoma, Edo State, South-South Nigeria 2012.
• Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State in South-West Nigeria 2015.
• Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, North Central Nigeria in 2017.
• Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, North Central Nigeria.
• Fellow, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (niia), June 2023.
Furthermore, in view of his Leadership quality he has been appointed
Chairman of many Organisations in different sectors, among which are;
• Chairman, Usman Zaki Islamic Foundation.
• Chairman, National Management Board.
• Chairman, Edusoko & Sons Nig. Ltd. (Infrastructural Development).
• Chairman, Edusoko Farms and MEGA FARM INTERVENTION. (Agriculture).
• Chairman, Board of Directors, Digital Space Capital. (Economic & Financial Consultancy Services).
• Chairman, Initiative Against Addiction and Substance Abuse in Nigeria [IAASAN]. (Social and Moral Ethics).
• Chairman, Board of Directors, News Engineering Company Ltd.
Grand Legend and Patriot of the Legends of Peace Initiative
• Chairman, Etsu Yahaya Foundation to mention a few.
Etsu Yahaya Abubakar is married with children, some of who are already excelling in some areas such as Engineering and Infrastructural Development, Agriculture, Military, Aviation, Public Administration etc.
He enjoys Reading, Traveling, Farming and Golf.