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Did You Know? John Nmadu Yisa-Doko: Nigeria’s First Indigenous Chief Of Air Staff

Jeremiah Aluwong

Alchetron

  One who was amongst the first batch of pilots recruited to serve in the newly formed Nigerian Air Force, John Nmadu Yisa-Doko was born to parents Paul Kolo Yisa and Sarah Dufia Yisa in Doko, Niger State, of Nigeria on 13th February 1942. He rose to become not only the first officer of NAF origin to become Chief of the Air Staff, but also the first to reach the rank of Air Vice Marshal, in Nigeria.
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Air Vice-Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko was born in 1942. He was the first Nigerian Air Force’s Chief of the Air Staff from 1975 to 1980 who joined as a NAF cadet. He was sent to Ethiopia for training as a pilot. He was also given command over the first air platoon formed when the German technical assistance team concluded their mission to form the Nigerian Air Force.

Education

Air Vice-Marshal Yisa-Doko started his education at St. Peter’s School, Doko in 1947 before moving to St. John’s School, Bida in 1951 where he completed his primary school in 1955. After his primary school, he moved to Government College, Kaduna for his secondary education, graduating in 1961. He then moved on to the Federal Emergency Science School, Lagos in 1962. He was enrolled into the NAF as a cadet in 1962 and was one of the pioneer officer cadets sent to the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force for pilot training between 1962 and 1964. On return from Ethiopia, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1964.

Training

His other military service training includes:

Assignments

He served in various capacities as his career progressed including the following:
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Between 1975 and 1979 Air Vice Marshal Yisa-Doko served as a member of the National Council of States, Supreme Military and National Security Councils.

Achievements

During his tenure as CAS, he initiated the establishment of primary schools in all major NAF formations, as well as training schools for all NAF primary trade specialities. He also established the NAF operational bases at Makurdi and Kainji, the NAF Regiment, NAF Junior Command and Staff School and the Air Faculty at the Command and Staff College, Jaji. He established the NAF Technical Training School Kaduna, to service the technical training needs of the Service. It was also during his tenure that the current NAF rank structure was introduced. Before retiring, he initiated the proposal for the presentation of Service colours to the NAF.

Post-military career

He held many appointments since his retirement from the Service on 14 April 1980. They include:

Awards

He was awarded the following by the Federal Government The NAF on its part has honoured him with the following in recognition of his meritorious service to NAF and the country. He died on the 3rd of May 2012, on a brief illness, after Air Force F7-Ni single-seat fighter jet crashed, in a routine training exercise. Before his demise, he spent his leisure time as a very keen hunter, composed music and played the piano, played soccer at school, and enjoyed flying in his spare time. He was turbaned the Madakin of Doko and addressed as “Giwa“, a title which made him a senior member of the Doko traditional council. Source: Wikipedia Featured Image Source: Alchetron
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