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By Sule Isa Akagwu Kpaleko.
His Royal Highness Alhaji Ahmodu Yakubu Adaji was a direct descendant of Atiyele the founder of Ankpa kingdom. Ahmodu Yakubu Adaji is one of the younger brothers to Colonel Hassan Yakubu Adaji (Ejeh ll). Oguchekwo was the only surviving son of Atiyele who gave birth to Aba who in turn gave birth to Anawo Modo, the father of Agenyi Ebaju, who too had a son called Itodo Akpa, the father of Adaji. Adaji had Alhaji Yakubu the first Ejeh of Ankpa and Ahmadu Yakubu Adaji was one among the twenty sons of Yakubu Adaji.
His Royal Highness, the Ejeh of Ankpa Alhaji Ahmadu Yakubu Adaji was born on the 15th February, 1943. His mother, Metuwo Alekade, a tall, beautiful and dark young lady of Angwa-Ankpa, got married to Yakubu Adaji as one of his many wives. His Highness Mother (Metuwo) gave birth to Nine children including Ahmadu Yakubu Adaji.
His Royal Highness, Ahmadu Yakubu was initially under the care of his paternal grand mother before his elder brother, Alhaji Suleiman Adaji approached his stepmother to allow little Prince Ahmadu to be left under his care, though the grand mother refused but he persisted, because he felt, the old step mother would not be able to take proper care of Prince Ahmadu as the only survived male child from his mother. Later the step mother, succumbed and Prince Ahmadu was left under the care of his elder brother, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu Adaji who was a clerk in the Native Court at Ogboloko, present Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
At the age of seven he was enrolled for Qur’anic education after then he moved with his brother to Ugwolawo the present headquarters, Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State, where he trekked to ldah weekly to acquired Western Education, it was there he met his uncle Attah Ameh Oboni (A Paramount Ruler in Igala Kingdom) and Omale Wada of blessed memory who was a Native Court Judge of Idah, these people shown him love and affection.
In I955, it was already clear that Prince Ahmodu was an exceptionally brilliant among the pupil and was taking his studies seriously with excellent performance and good grades, his teachers and siblings liked him, he became a central figure in his school Concert Team (Drama Club) because of his ability to have memorized Qur’an from the early stage of his life, its became more easy for him to memorize long sections of books.
He often play the role of Shylock the Jew, while performing the play “Merchant of Venice” this particular act made him popular. Aside his stage concert and academic performance he was also a great footballer which earned him the captain of the school team, the Native Authority (NA) Primary School Football Team, Idah. He crowned his eventful and glorious academic career in the Native Authority Primary School ldah with excellent performance in 1960.
Prince Ahmodu recalled purposeful role of his selfless teachers and mentors Mr. A. A. Abogede from Ogugu, present Olamaboro Local Government Area, Kogi State.Mr. S.S. Odoma his Headmaster, Mr. Aruwa and a host of others who gave their best for him. Amongst his schoolmates were the likes of late Alhaji Shehu Akus, Muhammed Alfa, who later was a Major General in Nigeria Army (rtd). Micheal Shaibu who is now a third class paramount Ruler in ldah. Rear Admiral Oseni Okpanachi, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, Mr. O.C.C Ojoku Treasurer, Mr. Momoh Onoja Gabriel who later became Principal Federal Government College Ugwolawo and subsequently commissioner for Education in Kogi State. He also remembered his great friend Dr. Egene Adah who was extremely found of him.
The ability to mingle with all segment of people in the society has been attributed to the lessons and experienced he learnt in his formative years at the Royal Court of Ankpa and Idah. Prince Ahmadu and his brothers/sisters were trained not to think of their superiority to the detriment of others. He had learnt to live with this vital lesson throughout his life. This had helped him tremendously in his career and relationships, particularly with people of other ethnic nationality and diverse religious belief.
In 1961, he went to Kano State of Nigeria to studied at lbo Union Grammar School, Kano 1962 – 1964 and finished with distinction. His quest for knowledge enrolled him for West African School Certificate (General Certificate of Education, Ordinary level) as an external candidate in 1965 – 1966. The young vibrant Prince Ahmadu went to the Royal Society of Arts (R.S.A) Examination in 1966 – 1967 Kano and was successful. He still not satisfied with the search for knowledge, he attended the London School of Accounting from 1970 – 1972, for a Diploma Program in Accountancy. He also attended Management and Finance Course at International Chartered Accountancy in Munich, Western Germany l978 – 1979.
He attended several seminars, he was an associate member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM) and a fellow of the Institute of Book Keeping London.
His Highness Ahmadu Yakubu Adaji got married in 1972 at the age of 29 to Hajia Rabi Usman from Idah (First Wife). He met the young beautiful Amina in Kano while she was on visit to her relatives, followed by Hajia Berikisu (Second Wife) from Adamawa State, who later died in 2007 after protracted illness. His Highness later got married to the daughter of Ado Bayaro an Emir of Kano after the death of the second wife, by name Amaria Farida and then to Zarah.
Until his death he was a teacher at Ibo Union Grammar School Kano in 1963.
He was offered a job as Clerk to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kano branch in 1964.
In 1972, he left Central Bank of Nigeria ceremoniously to serve as Assistant Accountant in Bagauda Textile Mills, Kano, later became Management Member.
He approached the challenges of the new construction company job at Dantata Group of Companies Kano in 1977.
In 1979, he transferred his services to Dantata and Sawoe constructions company’s (A joint venture between a German company and Dantata group of Company) he served in various capacity before he was coroneted in 1993 to served his fatherland as Ejeh of Ankpa and he died on 15th August, 2016 after attended an Islamic Summit in Edo State.
May Allah forgive all his mistakes and reserved a place for him in Aljanatul Firdous. Ameen
Culled: The Man Behind The Wheel of ATYELE OMA’IDOKO DYNASTY OF ANKPA KINGDOM
(Publication in View) – Musa Abdulkarim Itodo
Courtesy: Who’s Who in Igalaland.
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Photo Credit and additional information; Prince Sadiq Ahmed (Solo)
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