VP Shettima to unveil biography of late Brigadier Musa Usman

Vice President Kashim Shettima is scheduled to unveil a posthumous biography of the late brigadier general, Musa Usman, the pioneer military governor of the former North-Eastern State, on Monday, 14 September 2026.

A press release, signed by Hassan Usman, on behalf of the family, says the public presentation of the 363-page book, titled “Brigadier Musa Usman (1940–1991): Service and Impact,” will take place at the NAF Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja, starting at 10:00 a.m. Authored by two of Nigeria’s distinguished journalists and intellectuals, Mahmud Jega and Theophilus Abbah, the book chronicles the life, military career, and governance footprint of the late statesman.

Mr Usman, who served in the Nigerian Air Force, governed the vast North-Eastern State from 1967 to 1975. The massive geographical territory he administered has since been divided into six modern states: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe.

The statement said Vice President Kashim Shettima will be the Special Guest of Honour and shall officially unveil the historical biography. The ceremony will be conducted under the distinguished chairmanship of a retired major general, IBM Haruna, the former Federal Commissioner for Information, while another retired major general, Ike Nwachukwu, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.

The Executive Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, will serve as the Chief Host. He will be supported by his counterpart co-hosts, the Executive Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states, representing the entire territory originally administered by Mr Usman. Additionally, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe, will take on the role of Book Presenter, alongside Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, who will attend as a special guest among other notable national personalities.

The biography captures how Mr Usman meticulously laid the foundational infrastructure for the socio-economic, educational, and healthcare systems that continue to shape the region today. His vision during Nigeria’s critical formative years left a legacy that remains an inspirational blueprint for sub-national governance. Beyond his administrative tenure, the book details his humble beginnings, his rapid rise through the military ranks across both the army and the air force, and his historic appointment as governor.

The book features a foreword by former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, who lauded the late governor’s impeccable character.

He is quoted as saying, “Brigadier Musa Usman, who served as Governor of the North Eastern State, was known for his integrity and honesty,” Gowon wrote. “His administration achieved significant results, as evidenced by the substantial infrastructure present in the North East region of Nigeria today. He was responsible for investing in many of these developments.”

Similarly, former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, recalled how a then-Major Usman was handpicked as a young officer to steady the Nigerian Air Force Station in Kaduna following the departure of the German technical pioneers who established it.

Mr Abdulsalami said, “The late Brigadier Musa Usman wasn’t my colleague; he was my boss,” General Abdulsalami reflected. “I was a cadet when the late Brigadier was posted to the Nigeria Air Force in Kaduna as Commandant. At the early stage of the air force, the authorities thought it necessary to bring a Nigerian officer to study the system under the command of the Germans to get the air force going… the authorities felt to bring an officer [Brigadier Musa Usman] to stabilize the system.”

To provide a rigorous analytical perspective on the late governor’s life and administrative legacies, Abubakar Mohammed, the Director General of the Centre for Democratic Development Research and Training (CEDDERT) at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, will conduct the formal book review.

According to a statement, admission to the event is completely free. Members of the general public, academics, students, and media practitioners are warmly invited to attend and celebrate the enduring legacy of one of Nigeria’s foundational leaders.