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Abdul-Aziz Nyako

Abdul-Aziz Murtala Nyako (ab-dool á-zeez moor-tá-lá nee-yá-ko) is the current Senator of Adamawa state. With over 15 years of leadership experience in the Nigerian Navy, and an appointment as the Sarkin Matasa Adamawa (Youth Leader of Lamido Kingdom) in 2013, AbdulAziz has demonstrated initiative in tackling issues related to security, youth empowerment, and drug and law enforcement—all of which are important in encouraging a functional democratic society in Nigeria.

Early Challenges

Born in Kaduna in 1970 and the eldest of 17 children, Abdul-Aziz spent most of his childhood in Tamandu Barracks in Apapa, Lagos. In Nigeria, he moved around frequently between Bauchi, Adamawa, Niger, Borno, and Lagos due to the fact that his father, Murtala Nyako, an officer in the Nigerian Navy, was posted to various locations. As a result, he was enrolled in several nursery and primary schools from 1970-1981—completing parts of his primary education in the United Kingdom from 1978-1981. This continuous change in environment from the UK back to Nigeria proved to be trying for him as a young boy, although it improved his resilience, academic performance and understanding of various cultures and backgrounds.

It was not until 1985 that Abdul-Aziz found some stability. He spent five years at the Air Force Military School in Jos and in 1990 enrolled in the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) where he received a BSc. in Chemistry. The following year, he went back to the UK and trained at the Britania Royal Naval College (Dartmouth), where he was subsequently commissioned as a Sublieutenant in 1992. His time at Dartmouth was significant in that it renewed his sense of confidence and helped him reinforce his identity. Upon his return back to Nigeria that same year, Abdul-Aziz withdrew his commission and re-enrolled in the NDA.

NDA was especially difficult during his first year. As the son of Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako, the then Chief of Naval Staff of the Nigerian Navy, he received harsher treatment than some of his fellow classmates whose fathers were not military officials. Motivated by the challenges and abhorrence of failure, Abdul-Aziz made it his priority to graduate from the parade ground at NDA, just as he had at Dartmouth.