BACKGROUND

1. 1. Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Yaro Abdullahi was born on the 6 March 1970 in Kaduna State. He hails from Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State. The senior officer had his primary school education at Kaduna Capital School from 1976 – 1981 and his secondary school education at the Air Force Military School, Jos from 1983- 1988. Thereafter, he was admitted into the foremost Premier Military University in Africa, the Nigerian Defence Academy in September 1989, as a member of 41st Regular Combatant Course. 

   2. Later, on 17th September 1994, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer of the NAF, having bagged a Bachelor of Science Degree Honours in Political Science and Defence Studies. He progressed steadily through the ranks and was promoted to the enviable rank of Air Vice Marshal of the NAF in November 2021.

   3. Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi attended both Military and Professional Courses at home and abroad. Some the courses include: Ab-initial Flying Training at 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna from November 1999 – January 2002; Basic Flying Training Course on L-39ZA Aircraft at 303 Flying Training School, Kano from May 2003- December 2006; Junior and Senior Command Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji-Nigeria and Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College respectively from January –May 2000 and September 2007 – August 2008. Other courses attended by the Air Officer Commanding include: Train the Trainers Workshop on Democracy, Peace Building and Conflict Mgt for the Military; DO228 Aircraft Conversion Course at 301 Flying Training School, Kaduna in 2009; C-130H Aircraft Conversion Course at CAE Tampa Florida, USA in 2012; Higher Defence Management Course at College of Defence Management, Secunderabad India from May 2016 –March 2017; Masters in Management Studies at Osmania University India in 2017 and Boeing 737 BBJ Type-rating Course at Dallas in 2019.

   4. In the course of his chosen military career, Air Vice Marshal Abdullahi has served the nation in several capacities, among which include Staff Officer Grade 1 Operations and Training respectively at 301 Flying Training School Kaduna, Headquarters Air Training Command Kaduna and Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Abuja; Group Logistics Officer and Group Intelligence Officer respectively at 301 Heavy Airlift Group Lagos; Commander at the 301 Heavy Airlift Group Lagos; Fleet Operations Officer as well as Commander at 011 Presidential Air Fleet, Abuja and Chief of Staff Logistics Command, an appointment he held briefly before his appointmrnt as the 47th Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command. He is currently the Air Officer Commanding, Air Training Command, Nigerian Air Force.

   5. As an accomplished Transport Pilot of the Nigerian Air Force, with thousands of flying hours to his credit, the distinguished senior officer has participated in both International Peace keeping and Internal Security Operations. These include United Nations Missions, ECOWAS Missions in Liberia and Guinea Bissau, Operation PULOSHIELD/Operation DELTA SAFE in the Niger Delta Region, Operation LAFIA DOLE as well as Operation HADIN KAI in the North East, among others. He also has several awards and certificates, some of which include Distinguished Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, Forces Service Star, Pass Staff Course, Higher Defence Management Course and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic.                         

   6. Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Yaro Abdullahi is happily married and the marriage is blessed with a son and 2 lovely daughters. At his leisure time, he loves watching sporting events and documentaries, surfing the web and reading.