Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar, Director General of the National Intelligence Agency [NIA] who is being turbanned on Saturday, December 31 as the Sardaunan Katsina, was born at Kofar Durbi area of Katsina into a respected family of Quranic scholars. His uncle, who was a renown Islamic scholar, took him at a tender age to Republic of Chad, where he was partly brought up.
He returned home to Nigeria and attended Arabic Teachers’ College, Katsina where he obtained his Grade II Certificate. He later went to Bayero University, Kano where he obtained a B.A degree in French Language and Literature and an M.A degree in Francophone Maghrebian Literature. He worked as a Lecturer at Bayero University before taking up appointment with the Katsina State government. Later, he transferred his services to NIA in the 1990s.
At different times, Abubakar served at the Nigerian Embassy inRabat, Morocco; African Union Peace Mission in Darfur, Sudan; and he later went to work for the United Nations as Director in Peace Support Operations, Mediation Process, Preventive Diplomacy and Good Governance office. He also worked as Senior Advisor with the Multinational Joint Task Force [MNJTF] at its headquarters in Ndjamena, Chad, before his appointment as Senior Special Assistant to PresidentMuhammadu Buhari on Foreign Relations, Security and Intelligence Analysis, as well as being the President’s Arabic and French language interpreter.
Upon his appointment as the Sardaunan Katsina in July, President Buhari sent a powerful delegation led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe to thank the Emir of Katsina for the appointment. Members of the delegation included business mogul Alhaji Dahiru Mangal; Minister of Aviation Senator Hadi Sirika; Alhaji Murtala Safana; Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission representing Katsina State Bala Almu Banye and Ambassador Adedeji, among others.
Ambassador Kingibe described Ambassador Abubakar as ahardworking, dedicated and trustworthy individual who is also learned, religious and philanthropic. He has contributed much to societal development particularly through the empowerment of youths, women and the less-privileged, Kingibe said. He assured the emir that the new Sardauna would justify the confidence reposed in him.
Ambassador Abubakar succeeds Alhaji Ibrahim Ida, who was made the Wazirin Katsina earlier this year. The traditional title of Sardauna acquired great prestige all over Northern Nigeria because it was once held by the late Premier Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sokoto. Since then it has been conferred on persons who exhibit great leadership acumen, deep commitment to societal peace and progress and also selfless service to the community and the country.
