Life of Service — Gallery
A photographic record of Shehu Musa Yar'Adua's life, from his earliest years to the heights of national leadership — in 17 chapters.
01
Subjugating a Nation - Colonialism
Before the man came the world that shaped him: a Nigeria held under British colonial authority, ruled through the traditional…
02
Independence - First Republic
In 1960 Nigeria won its independence, and a young republic set out to lead itself.
03
Heritage - Family
Shehu Musa Yar'Adua was born in Katsina into a family of scholarship and traditional leadership, the son of the Mutawallin…
04
Joining the Military
In 1962, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua began a military career that would carry him from Kaduna to the officer academies of…
05
Keeping Nigeria One - Civil War
When civil war came in 1967, Major Shehu Musa Yar'Adua served in the Army's Second Division, and the peace of…
06
After the War
With the war over in 1970, the officer corps returned to peacetime soldiering, and to the parades, sport and ceremony…
07
Discipline and Principle
The 1975 coup brought General Murtala Mohammed to power and Yar'Adua into government, first as Commissioner for Transport and then,…
08
Leadership and Purpose - Governing
As Chief of Staff, Yar'Adua helped drive the Obasanjo administration's programme of building, reform and an "Africa First" foreign policy,…
09
Handing Over
On 1 October 1979 the military kept its promise and handed power to an elected civilian government, a first for…
10
Tafidan Katsina - Turbaning
On 18 April 1987 Shehu Musa Yar'Adua was turbaned Tafidan Katsina, a traditional title inherited from his father, given to…
11
Business - Development
Retiring from the army, Yar'Adua turned to enterprise, building ventures in banking, agriculture, oil services and more.
12
Spiritual Strength - Islam
A devout Muslim, Yar'Adua gave quietly and led publicly, from the pilgrimage to the building of the Abuja National Mosque.
13
Building Bridges - Politics
Yar'Adua entered politics to steady the return to democracy, building a grassroots movement through the People's Front, the Social Democratic…
14
Courage and Commitment - Standing up for Democracy
When the June 1993 election was annulled and General Abacha seized power, Yar'Adua demanded a return to democracy, and in…
15
Sacrifice - Imprisonment
Imprisoned without charge and sentenced to death for an alleged coup plot, Yar'Adua bore his ordeal as a sacrifice for…
16
Honouring a Hero - Commemoration
In 1999 the nation gathered in Kaduna to honour Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, and a year later the Foundation was launched…
17
Realizing Democracy
The family's public service continued in Shehu's younger brother, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, who in 2007 was elected President of Nigeria.