Alhaji Tanko Yakasai OFR (born 5 December 1925) is a Nigerian politician, human rights activist and former Liaison Officer to

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

Shehu Shagari Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari (25 February 1925 – 28 December 2018), titled Turakin Sokoto from 1962, was the first democratically elected President of Nigeria, after the transfer of power by military head of state General Olusegun Obasanjo in ...

. He is a founding member of

Arewa Consultative Forum The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria formed in 2000 which has considerable influence in the political scene. (Arewa means "Northern" in Hausa, the primary language of the region.) ...

Personal life

Yakasai was born on 5 December 1925 in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, Yakasai Quarters

Kano Kano may refer to: Places *Kano State, a state in Northern Nigeria * Kano (city), a city in Nigeria, and the capital of Kano State **Kingdom of Kano, a Hausa kingdom between the 10th and 14th centuries **Sultanate of Kano, a Hausa kingdom between ...

. He resides in Kano with his family. One of his children, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, was the social media aide of the governor of

Kano State Kano State (Hausa: ''Jihar Kano''جىِهَر كَنوُ) (Fula: Leydi Kano 𞤤𞤫𞤴𞤣𞤭 𞤳𞤢𞤲𞤮𞥅 ) is one of the 36 states of Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajee ...

until he was arrested by Department of State Services at the end of February 2021.

Education

:1933–1937: Gidan Sarkin Gini quranic School, Yakasai :1937–1939: Tsangayar Mallam Musa Dankore Quranic School, Hardawa, Bauchi :1939–1940: Mallam Idi Quranic School, Tudun Jaba, Yakasai, Kano :1940–1942: Alhaji Balarabe Kofar Mata Quranic and Islamic Studies School, Kano :1941–1946: Shahuci Elementary School, evening classes, Kano City :1952–1955: British Council English Tutorial classes, British Council, Kano :1956: Ibadan University, College, Extramural Department Certificate Course on Comparative Federalism,

Ibadan Ibadan (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Oyo State, in Nigeria. It is the third-largest city by population in Nigeria after Lagos and Kano, with a total population of 3,649,000 as of 2021, and over 6 million people within its me ...

:1959: Ibadan University College Extramural Department Certificate Course on Problem of Independence and Development, Ibadan :1963: Wilhem Pieck Youths Higher Institute, Bogansee, German Democratic Republic, GDR

Work experience

:1954–1960: Hausa Editor, ''Daily Comet'', Kano :1966–1967: Sales Manager AGIP Nigeria Ltd, Kano Area Office

Public offices held

:1967–1971: Commissioner for Information Kano State :1971–1972: Commissioner for Forestry, Community Development and Cooperatives, Kano State :1972–1975: Commissioner for Finance, Kano State :1973–1975 & 2012-2015: Member of Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs :1979–1983: Special Assistant to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria on National Assembly Liaison

Traditional titles conferred

:2013, Kauren Ganye conferred by Gangwari Ganye on the recommendation of Ganye Traditional Council,

Adamawa State Adamawa state () is a state in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered by Borno to the northwest, Gombe to the west, and Taraba to the southwest, while its eastern border forms part of the national border with Cameroon. It tak ...

:2014, Odosiobodo of Ogbunike, conferred by Igwe John Umenyiora, Ezedioramma, Igwe of Ogbunike, Anambra State on the recommendation of Ogbunike Traditional Council

Political and civic positions held

:1952–1955: National Secretary, NEPU Positive Action Wing (PAW) :1954–1960: National Publicity Secretary, Northern Elements Progressive Union, NEPU :1954–1956: National Chairman, NEPU Youth Association :1955–1958: National Secretary, Northern Elements progressive Union, NEPU :1959–1961: National Chairman NCNC/NEPU Youth Association :1961–1962: Secretary General, Sawaba Party of Nigeria :1961–1964: Deputy National Chairman, Nigerian Youth Congress, NYC :1963–1966: Deputy National Secretary, Northern Progressive Front :1966–1975: Founding member of Board of Governors, Kano Community Commercial College, KCCC :1970–1975: Founding member of Governing Council of Kano State Education Development Fund (KSEDF) :1969–1973: Chairman of Nigerian Chapter Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) :1974–1976: National Chairman Nigeria-Soviet Friendship and Cultural Association (NSFCA) :1971–1975: Nigerian Representative on the Executive Committee World Peace Council :1978–1982: Deputy State Chairman, Kano and Member National Executive Committee, National Party of Nigeria (NPN) :1974/1975: Founder of Constitutional Conference Delegates Consultative Forum :1977/1978: National Coordinator Northern Patriotic Front :2003–Date: Founding member and member of Board of Trustees of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF :2013/2015: National Chairman Nigeria National Summit Group :2014: Member of National Conference Consensus Building Group

Conferences and meetings attended

:1956: All-Northern Nigeria Political Parties Conference, which worked out modalities for a hitch free visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's official tour to Northern

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

during her state visit to Nigeria in 1956. The conference was convened by the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello and was presided over by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa The Prime Minister. :1958: All-Africa Peoples Conference, Accra,

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

, where African Freedom Charter for the liberation of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

from colonial rule was adopted :1960: All-Africa Positive Action Conference against French Atomic Test in the Sahara, Accra Ghana :1960: Led a six member first ever unofficial Nigerian delegation to the International Conference for solidarity with the struggles of the Algerian peoples for independence from the French Colonial Rule in Peking, People's Republic of China :1967: Delegate to the Northern Leaders of Thought Conference in

Kaduna Kaduna is the capital city of Kaduna State, and the former political capital of Northern Nigeria. It is located in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River. It is a trade Centre and a major transportation hub as the gateway to northern Nige ...

where Northern Nigeria's stand on the 1971 Nigeria's constitutional crises was adopted :1967: Member 16 member Northern Consultative Committee set up to advise the Military Governor of Northern Region :1967: Member Northern Nigeria Advisory Committee on the creation of states in Nigeria :1969: Leader Nigerian Delegation to the emergency meeting of Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity Conference, Khartum, Republic of Sudan :1970: General Meeting of World Peace Council, Berlin, German Democratic Republic, GDR :1994/1995: Nigerian Constitutional Conference :2014: Delegate Nigerian National Conference :2014: Member National Conference Consensus Building Group

Awards and recognitions

:1970: Life Patron Award by the Nigerian Union of Journalists Kano State Chapter :2005: National Honor Award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR :2007: National Television Authority (NTA) Prominence Award for Northern Development & Integration :2010: Kano State Government Achievers Award: Most Influential Personality of The Year :2013: Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Life Member Award :2014: National Conference Award of All Time Democrat :1962-1966: Due to passionate interest in promoting education in Nigeria, he used the opportunity to secure free scholarship for 12 Nigerians not related to him personally to undergo degree courses in various universities in the defunct Soviet Union. Following are the beneficiaries of the scholarships: :# Dr. Muhtari Ahmed Kura, Kano :# Dr. Muhammad Achimalo Garba, Kano :# Tanko Yaro Mahmud, Plateau :# Hamza Ahmed, Plateau :# Garba Dorayi, Kano :# Muhammad Nasir Ahmed, Sokoto :# Malam Sidi Kwaru, Kano :# Bello Sule, Kano :# Baba Jimeta, Adamawa :# Ado Gwadabe, Kano :# Nuhu Muhammed, Niger :# Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Yakasai, Kano

Publications and extracurricular activities

:2004/2012 Author: 1004-pages two volumes autobiography titled ''Tanko Yakasai: The Story of a Humble Life,'' an autobiography. :Delivered numerous lectures on various topics both at home and abroad on many national and international issues. :Public Affairs commentator for over six decades. :Visited more than 30 countries in

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

and America including

United States of America The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, Japan,

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta i ...

Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

, Sri Lanka,

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia ( The Middle East). It is located at t ...

Qatar Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it ...

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...

, Syria,

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

Ethiopia Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...

, Guinea,

Mali Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mal ...

Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...

Republic of Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languages1925 births Living people