By Madu Onuorah
Former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar (Rtd), has been honoured with the traditional title of Ja’idanawan Fika. Turbaned at a ceremony held at Emir of Fika’s Palace, Potiskum, Yobe State as Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko ibn Umaru Babura (Rtd), it was superintended by His Royal Highness, the Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali ibn Muhammadu Idrissa ibn Suleiman.
Air Marshal Umar (rtd) served as CAS from September 8, 2010 to October 4, 2012. He was turbaned alongside other distinguished Nigerians including AVM Mohammed Mamu (rtd) (Barde Fika), DIG Bala Ciroma (Talba Fika), Alhaji Baba Galadima (Balanga Fika), Alhaji Mohammed Ciroma (Sarkin Noma Fika) and Muhammad Ajiya Waziri (Iya Fika).
The Emirate said at the turbaning ceremony held on April 12, 2025 that Air Marshal Umar (rtd) was being honoured as a worthy son of the Sultanate of Sokota and a true friend of Fika Emirate.
Interestingly, the title of “Sarkin Fulani Ja’idanawa” was first bestowed on Umaru Babura, the father of Air Marshal Umar by Emir Muhammadu Sanusi 1 when he was appointed the Kano Emirate Councilor of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1954. Sarkin Fulani Ja’idanawa was selected for him as most appropriate for the task as agriculture was the mainstay of Nigerian economy and Kano led the way with the production of groundnuts that made Kano Groundnut Pyramids famous all over the world.
His role in improving all aspects of agriculture that included conservation of forests, animal health, fisheries and converting of tsetse fly menace soon made Umaru Babura noticed by Northern Nigerian Government when they appointed him the first Minister of Establishment and Training in the North that was given the task of accelerating training of Northern Nigerians to catch up with southern part of the country.
His transfer to Ministry of Social Welfare and Cooperatives in 1964 made Ja’idanawa a household name in Northern Nigeria because of the nature of his Ministry that requires a lot of travelling all over the North. It was during this time that Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna was built.
Obviously, the newly turbaned Ja’idanawan Fika, Air Marshal Umar inherited the traits of purposeful service from his father. The former Chief of the Air Staff is a highly respected military officer known generally as an astute administrator, an officer and a gentleman. In fact, in the words of his boss and mentor, Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike (Rtd): “Umar’s leadership style has placed the NAF way ahead of other agencies and has made the service better placed to meet the current contemporary challenges bedeviling our Nation.”
The Ja’idanawan Fika and AVM Mohammed Mamu (rtd) (Barde Fika)
Air Marshal Umar (Rtd) was born on June 20th, 1955, in Dambazau, Kano Municipal Local Government Area, Kano State into the family of Umaru Babura, the Sarkin Fulani Ja’idnawa of Kano. Umaru Babura’s parents, Umaru Abdulaziz and Salamatu Muhammad Dikko, were cousins and direct descendants of Mallam Inusa Dabo, the leader of Dambazawa Fulani clan.
Mallam Inusa was one of the four leaders that led the Jihad in Kano that culminated in the appointment of Dabo Suleiman as the first Fulani Emir of Kano. Mallam Inusa was the only one amongst the Kano leaders that fought alongside Sheik Usman bin Fodio in the battle of Tsunsua that led to the victory of the Jihad. Dabo Inusa was the military arm of the Jihad in Kano which is one aspect of his grandfather that Air Marshall inherited.
Umaru, father of Dikko was the son of Abdulaziz, son of Umaru and son of Dabo Inusa. His mother Salamatu Muhammad Dikko was the daughter of Muhammad Dikko the fifth Sarkin Bai of Kano, whose name Air Marshal inherited, was the son of Abdurrahman who was the son of Dabo Inusa.
His grandmother Hauwa from the father’s side was the granddaughter of Emir Suleiman Dabo and his grandmother Asama’u from the mother’s side was the granddaughter of Sheik Usman bin Fodio.
Air Marshal Umar started his school at Victory College, Ma’adi, in Cairo, Egypt in 1963 following the grant of scholarship slots by President Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi I, which Muhammad Dikko Umar benefited from.
After completing his primary education in 1969, the young Muhammad Dikko Umar returned to Nigeria to continue his secondary school education at Sheik Sabbah College Kaduna, later renamed Sardauna Memorial College.
In 1976, the young Muhammad Dikko Umar enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as a member of the Short Service Course 12 Special Pilot Enlistment Exercise to begin the process of a distinguished military career.
On completion of his basic military and pilot training in Kaduna and the United Kingdom, he was posted Benin in 1980 to begin his flying career. He returned to Kaduna in 1982 to serve as a Flying Instructor and later rated a Qualified Flying Instructor. In December 1983, he received his posting to the Presidential Air Fleet where he not only spent 16 years out of his 23 years of flying career but unarguably where he distinguished himself as a pilot and professional of repute.
From 1983 to 2000, when he served at the Presidential Air Fleet, he flew all the Presidents and Heads of State including their deputies. He had the singular privilege of flying Mr Kofi Anan, the 7th Secretary General of the United Nations as well as Mr Sepp Blatter, the President of FIFA.
Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umar (Rtd) held many positions in the Nigerian Air Force during his distinguished career. By the special grace of the Almighty Allah, these successes were crowned with his appointment as the 17th Chief of the Air Staff on the 8th September 2010.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Star (DFS) and the National honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR for his meritorious service to the nation.
Air Marshal Muhammad Dikko Umar (Rtd) is married to Hajiya Aisha Uwani Umar from the family of late Alhaji Muhammad Bello Bature (Garkuwan Wazirin Sokoto) and Hajiya Aishatu Muhammad Bature. They were married on the 24th March 1989. The marriage is blessed with five lovely children: two boys, Faisal and Farouk; three girls, Salma, Aisha and Maryam.
