Sanusi to confer ‘Sarkin Fulanin Ja’idanawa’ title on former air chief Dikko Umar

By Samuel Solomon

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, will formally confer the traditional title of Sarkin Fulanin Ja’idanawaon on Mohammad Dikko Umar, former chief of air staff, on Friday.

Sanusi named Umar as the new titleholder in April, following the death of Abubakar Buhari, who previously held the position.

Sarkin Fulanin Ja’idanawa is one of the senior traditional titles in the Kano emirate under the authority of the Emir of Kano.

The title, according to the emirate council, will be conferred on Umar in recognition of his contributions to national service.

Born on June 20, 1955, in Kano Municipal LGA of Kano state, Umar joined the air force in July 1976 as a member of short service course 12.

He began his education at Victory College, Ma’adi, Cairo, Egypt, in 1963 before returning to Nigeria for his secondary education at Sheikh Sabbah College, Kaduna, later renamed Sardauna Memorial College.

Umar commenced his flying career in Benin in 1980 after military and pilot training in Kaduna and the United Kingdom.

In 1983, he was posted to the presidential air fleet, where he spent 16 of his 23 years in the air force.

Umar was appointed as the 17th chief of air staff on September 19, 2010, a position he held until October 3, 2012.

The retired military officer has received several traditional honours across the country, including Olu Omo of Ipetu-Ijesa in Osun, Oyukor Ovie in Delta, Okenwa Ana Amulu Oha of Nike Kingdom in Enugu, and Ja’idanawan Fika in Yobe.