Abdussamad Dasuki is new Santurakin Sokoto

Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki will today be turban as the Santurakin Sokoto by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar (CFR, MNI).

The new Santurakin Sokoto is the serving commissioner for finance in Sokoto State and the 13th son of the late Sultan Ibrahim Dasuki.

• Fulani: One people, many splinter associations
• Nigeria exports more hibiscus after lift of Mexico ban – FG

Dasuki is the second person to be given the title of Santuraki after his paternal uncle and former minister of state for education, Alhaji Bello Dogon Daji of blessed memory.

Interestingly, a source close to the newly appointed Santuraki confided in Daily Trust on Sunday that after his turbaning, Dasuki would be using his late father’s 1982 model of Mercedes Benz as his official vehicle.

According to the source, the Benz was bought as an official car for the late Sultan when the newly turbaned. Dasuki was three years old at the time.

The vehicle, the source explained, has a customised plate number, with the inscription ‘Santurakin Sokoto.’

Born in Sokoto on June 30, 1978, Dasuki is the 13th of the 27 children of the 18th Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji (DR) Ibrahim Dasuki. He belongs to the Malam Buhari Dan Shehu ruling family of the Sokoto Caliphate.

Abdussamad Dasuki is a thoroughbred professional with vast experience in the public and private sectors; hence, managing the additional responsibility as Santuraki would not be an issue to him.

He acquired primary education at the Federal Staff Primary School, Sokoto, from 1984 to 1990, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria from 1991-1996 for his secondary education.

Dasuki moved on to the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA), from where he spent three years (1997-2000) in active military training.

He left the NDA for the University of Abuja and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2004.

From 2006 to 2010, Dasuki worked at the renowned Dangote Group in various capacities, including head of Dangote Cement, Corporate Marketing Unit in Abuja.

In 2011, Dasuki was elected member, Sokoto State House of Assembly, representing Tambuwal East constituency. He served as chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, as well as chairman, Committee on Finance and Appropriation.

He sponsored a number of impactful bills and motions, including the consumption tax bill, which was passed into law after deliberations.

Dasuki represented the House of Assembly at various fora, including the periodic meeting of Commonwealth Parliamentarians.

His track records while in the state Assembly had culminated in an award given to him in 2013 by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (Sokoto) for his outstanding performance as the chairman, Committee on Agriculture.

In 2015, Dasuki was elected into the House of Representatives for the Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency.

As a federal lawmaker, Dasuki distinguished himself in rendering selfless services to his constituents, sponsoring important motions and bills, including the North- East Development Commission bill, Usman Danfodio University amendment act, motion on erosion for Dogondaji and its environs and the epic Not too Young to Run bill.

An active member of the global Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Dasuki also served in various committees, where he made admirable impact. These include Navy, Sustainable Development Goals, Financial Crimes, Local Content, North East and IDPs.

His impressive performance as the chairman, House Committee on Navy paved the way for the conception and construction of a world class Navy Secondary School in Tambuwal, the first of its kind in North-West Nigeria.

Again, his contributions on the floor of the Green Chamber were recognised by the House Press Corps, such that they conferred on him an award of the Young Lawmaker of the Year in 2017.

A firm believer in continuous improvement and life-long learning, Dasuki regularly updates his knowledge by obtaining numerous certificates, notably, Harvard Kennedy School certificate: Leaders in Development (2013) and Business Analysis (2008) from the Lagos Business School.

Dasuki is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Management, the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria; member, Association of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Economists of Nigeria.

His commitment to Governor Tambuwal and Sokoto State is unparalleled. It was this support and cooperation that he extended to Governor Tambuwal that earned him appointment into the State Executive Council and deployment to the sensitive Ministry of Finance as commissioner.

Dasuki is happily married with children.