General Abdulsalami Abubakar was born in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria on June 13, 1942. He attended Minna Native Authority Primary School from 1950 to 1956. He proceeded to the famous Government College, Bida, for his secondary education from 1957 to 1962. He also attended the Kaduna Technical College from January to October 1963.

General Abdulsalami Abubakar enlisted into the Nigeria Air Force on October 3, 1963 as Officer Cadet. In June 1964, he was sent to Germany for training as a pilot. Due to exigencies prevailing at the time, he was seconded to the army and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. By dint of hard work, he progressed steadily in the service, earning his promotions regularly and became General on June 9, 1998. From 1967 he held various staff and command appointments ranging from Platoon, Company, Battalion and Brigade Commander. He became General Officer Commanding the armed forces in1988 and was posted to 82 Div after being Military Secretary from 1986 -1988. He was appointed Commandant of National War College from where he became Chief of Defence Staff from 1993 to 1998 when destiny made him Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1998. Since leaving office in 1999, he has been involved in several international assignment such as the following:

INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS

DECORATIONS

National

• Forces Service Star (FSS)
• Meritorious Service  Star (MSS)
• Distinguished Service Star (DSS)
• Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR)

International

• The Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana (CSG)
• Medal of Grand Officer (France)
• Grand Order of Monor of Togo
• National Distinction in the Order of the Pioneers of the Republic of Liberia
• Grand Maitre des Orders Nationaux of the Republic of Niger (GRAND CROIX)

AWARDS

National

• The Prestigious ECOWAS International Gold Award (27 May, 2000)
• The National Honour For “The Shortest and Successful Democratic Transition in the History of Nigeria Award” by CCJRCA (31 July, 2000)
• Distinguished Leadership of Honour Award by NBA (21 August, 2000)
• Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science (HonorisCausa) by AbubakarTafawaBalewa University, Bauchi, NIGERIA.(25 November, 2000)
• Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science (HonorisCausa) by Edo State University, Ekpoma, NIGERIA (4 May, 2002)
• Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science (HonorisCausa) by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GHANA.(10 August, 2002)
• Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Law, LLD (HonorisCausa) by Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, NIGERIA (15 May, 2004)
• Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Law, LLD (HonorisCausa) by University of Ibadan, NIGERIA (17 November, 2006)
• Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Law, LLD (HonorisCausa) by Igbinedion University, Okada, NIGERIA. (25 November, 2006).
• Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Agriculture (D. Agric) (HonorisCausa) By Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Nigeria (31 Junuary, 2009).
• Award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Doctor of Letters (D. Agric) (HonorisCausa) By University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria (10 November, 2012).

International

• The Peace Prize Award by Rainbow Push Coalition U.S.A (7 August, 1999)
• Outstanding Peace Award for bringing Democracy in Nigeria by the Nigerian Community in U.S.A (16 October, 1999).
• Outstanding Leadership Qualities Award by MABDEC in USA (August, 2000).
• Chicago State University Instituted Lecture Series in his honour ‘First Lectures’ (23 February, 2001)
• Liberian National Honour “The National Distinction in the Order of the Pioneers of the Republic of Liberia “by the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) (16 December, 2005)

• Award Honours as the International Recipient by National Secretariat of the Golden Image Award 2013 of the Republic of Liberia in recognition of the role played in Liberia as the ECOWAS Facilitator for the Liberian Peace Talks (20 July, 2013 in Monrovia).