Gado Nasko

Muhammad Gado Nasko
is a Nigerian statesman and retired lieutenant general who served as the military governor of Sokoto State from 1978 and 1979. He also served as Minister of Trade, Agriculture, and Water Resources from 1985 to 1989, and as Minister for the Federal [Capital Territory (Nigeria)|Federal Capital Territory], Abuja, from 1989 to 1993.

Early life and education

Nasko was born on 20 June 1941 in Nasko town, in present-day Niger State. He attended Native Authority Junior Primary School, Ibeto, from 1947 to 1954, and Kontagora Senior Primary School from 1955 to 1956. He then proceeded to Provisional Secondary School, Bida, in 1957 and graduated in 1962.

Career timeline

Nigeria Military Training School: 1962-1963
School of Artillery, Larkhill: 1963-1964
Commissioned Officer, Corps of Artillery: July 1964
Commandant of the School of Artillery: 1969-1975
Commander 2nd Artillery Brigade: 1975-1976
Military Secretary: 1976-1978
Military Governor of Sokoto State: 1978-1979
Commandant 1st Divisional Artillery: 1979-1980
Commandant Corps of Artillery: 1980-1985
Minister of Trade, Agriculture and Water Resources: 1985-1989
Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja: 1989-1993

Later life

Nasko retired from the army in 1993, after Sani Abacha took over as head of state from Ernest Shonekan. He was at the time a lieutenant general and retired to his village home in Nasko, Niger State, quietly to a life as a farmer and community leader. In 2006, he was conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger by President Olusegun Obasanjo and recognised as one of the most respected statesmen in Nigeria. The former Gado Nasko Barracks, now Lungi Barracks, in the nation's capital, Abuja, was named after him.

Personal life

Nasko is married and has children and grandchildren.