Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar is the Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force. Air Marshal Abubakar was born on 8th April,1960 in Azare Bauchi State.

Educational Background

Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar attended St. Paul’s Primary School, Bauchi where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1973. He obtained his Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) at Government Secondary School, Bauchi State.

Abubakar obtained a Diploma In Public Administration and a Bachelor of Sciences (BSc.) in Political Science. He proceeded to obtain a Masters degree in strategic studies from University of Ibadan

Career

Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar joined the Nigerian Air Force as a member of the Cadet Military Training Course (CMTC 5) in November 1979. He moved to primary flying training at the Primary Flying Training Wing (PFTW) from 1980 to December 1981 where he graduated as the Best All Round Student and the Best in Flying Cadet Course.

Air Marshal Abubakar moves to Oxford Air Training School, England for a basic flying training. He is rated tactical-type rating on the Mi-35P helicopter gunship and type-rated on the Mi-17.

Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar rose in ranks at the Nigerian Air Force. He was the

Training Captain on the aircraft, Commander

NAF Station, Maiduguri, Commanding Officer (CO) 207 Wing,

Acting Commander Officer National Emergency Management (NEMA) Air Wing

Directing Staff (DS) in the Junior and Senior Divisions of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College.

Directing Staff, National Defence College.

Group Operation Officer (GOO), 97 Special Operation Group, 2007 – 2008.

Commander, 97 Special Operation Group (SOG), PH, 2009 – 2011.

Air Component Commander, OPERATION RESTORE HOPE

Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) Mobility Command, February 11 to 6 June, 2012

SASO, Tactical Air Command, 6 June 2012 – November 2012

Chief of Standards and Evaluation, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, 8 November 2012 – 31 December, 2013.

Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command.

Chief of Defence Communications, Defence Headquarters (DHQ), January 2014 – January 2015.

He is the External Examiner, National Defence College since 2010 till date. Between 2012 and 2014, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar was the Chairman, Participant’s Project Defence Panel.

Appointment as Chief of Air Staff

Following the emergence of President Mohammadu Buhari as the Nigerian President in the 2015 gubernatorial poll, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar was appointed as the Chief of Air Staff by President Buhari on 13th July, 2015.

He was reappointed as the Chief of Air Staff in 2019 after Buhari was re elected for a second term in office

Honours, Awards and Legacy

In 1997 Air Marshal Abubakar was the Best Officer of the Year, Tactical Air Command.

In 2009 he was awarded the Chief of Air Staff’s Letter of Commendation for good leadership and prudent management of resources by Air Marshal OO Petinrin.

In 2011 Air Marshal Abubakar was awarded the Chief of Air Staff’s Letter of Commendation for good leadership and prudent management of resources by Air Marshal MD Umar.

In 2013 he was awarded the Chief of Air Staff Special Award by Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh.

Personal life

He is married with children.

On September 24th, 2020,Sadique Abubakar got married to the Sadiya Umar Farouk. Their marriage was reported to be in a private ceremony.