Ishaya Shekari

Shekari was born in Taligan (Magamia), Zangon Kataf to parents of Atyap heritage. He started his elementary education at a junior primary school in Zangon Kataf before moving to a middle in Zaria. He attended two senior primary schools before gaining admission to the Provincial Secondary School, Zaria where he completed his studies in 1962. In 1962, he enlisted at the Nigerian Military Training College. In February 1963, he went on a flight training program in Canada under the administration of the Royal Canadian Airforce. From July, 1964 to June 1966, he trained in Germany. He was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a pilot officer.[1]

• Officer, Nigerian Airforce Training Wing, (November 1966 - August 1967)
• Operations Officer, Nigerian Airforce Headquarters, Lagos (August 1967 - December 1968)
• Officer Commanding, Nigerian Air Force Wing of the Nigerian Defence Academy
• Senior Air Force Officer (Logistics), Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Lagos
• Commander, Nigerian Air Force Logistics Group, Ikeja (1975 - 1977)
• Commander, 303 Flight Training Centre, Kano (1977 - 1978)

In 1978, Shekari succeeded Sani Bello as the military governor of Kano State. He was charged with ensuring a smooth transition from the military to a civilian administration. He was assisted in the capacity as military administrator by Isa Gambo-Dutse and Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Secretary to the Military Government and Secretary to the Executive Council respectively, while Mohammed Sagagi was the Principal Secretary before presiding over the transfer of power to the civilian administration of Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi at the start of the Nigerian Second Republic.[2]

He later served as Minister of Special Duties during the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida and as administrator of the Federal Urban Mass Transit Programme. During the transisition to the Third Nigerian Republic and took part in the organisation of the June 12 election,[3] and was briefly the government appointed interim Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, he was later succeeded as chairman by Tony Anenih.

After retiring, Shekari entered business. In 1990 he was appointed a director of Diamond Bank Nigeria.[4] He became Chairman of Lion Bank of Nigeria, and a board member of companies such as Grand Cereals and Oil Mills. He serves as Chairman and Chief Executive of Magami Holdings Ltd.[5] He is also the Chairman of Meristem Securities Limited.[6]