Tinubu’s ADC is some full load of competence
Trained in UK, China, how Tinubu’s ADC rose through the ranks
As part of his preparation for the May 29 inauguration, the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has appointed Lieut. Col. Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf as his Aide-de-Camp designate.
Barring any last-minute twist, this writer can authoritatively confirm the appointment of Yusuf by Tinubu and he’s expected to resume official duties on Monday, May 1, 2023.
Yusuf is not a stranger to the Aso Rock vicinity, having previously served in sensitive roles in the Presidential Villa during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. This indicates that the ADC-designate is bringing to the job his experience in intelligence and VIP protocol and protection.
So, it’s less surprising that the president-elect sought the permission of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, to have the senior military officer work with him as he prepares to take over the mantle from President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29.
How Yusuf rose through Nigerian military ranks
A peep into his Curriculum Vitae, exclusively obtained by this writer, showed that Yusuf concurrently ran many academic and military courses to become a top military officer in Nigeria.
After completing his Ordinary National Diploma in Computer Science from Offa Polytechnic in the year 2000, Yusuf enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Elect-Elect).
Between 2004 and 2005, he attended Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), in the United Kingdom.
The RMAS is an institution where all officers in the British Army are trained to take on the responsibility of leading their soldiers.
In 2006, he attended the Nigerian Army Intelligence School in Lagos where he was trained in intelligence and security-related subjects in accordance with the Nigerian Army training policies and directives.
Attending the Young Officer’s Course Infantry, NASI, another course in Kaduna in 2007 equipped him with military skills on the use of various types of weapon systems used in infantry units as well as special operations
In 2008, Yusuf completed the Tactical Intelligence Officers and Security Investigations courses to improve his capabilities as a military officer.
Between 2009 and 2018, the multilingual officer, who is fluent in Yoruba, Hausa, English and French, had several military trainings in Mali, Pakistan, China, Israel and the United Kingdom.
The trainings include Military Intelligence Basic Officers Course (Mali); Junior Staff Course (China); Officers Advanced Intelligence Course, SMI, (Pakistan) Advanced Command and Staff Course (Shrivenham UK).
While acquiring military training, Yusuf obtained a master’s degree in Defence Studies from Kings College, London in 2018, and a postgraduate diploma in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University (NOUN).
Yusuf recently completed another military course designed for Commanding Officers in Jaji, Kaduna, prior to his appointment as the ADC-designate to the president-elect.
Other courses that decorate Yusuf’s CV include Joint Information Course, Darfur, Sudan (2013); Humanitarian Recovery and Development Unit Course, Sudan (2013); Basic Counter Terrorism Training, Kontagora (2013); VIP Protection Leadership Training, Israel (2013); UN Military Observers Course, Egypt (2019); Joint Basic French Course (A1), Alliance Francais, Abuja (2019) and Joint Basic French Course (A2), Paris, France.
Yusuf served as an officer in charge (Technical) for 119 Intelligence Group, Lagos. He was thereafter transferred to HQ 4 Brigade, Benin, where he served as Operations Officer.
He also served as Officer Commanding at State House Military Intelligence Group and in 2015, he was promoted to Officer Commanding, Presidential Body Guard, State House, Abuja.
In 2017, Yusuf served the Nigerian Army as Staff Officer Grade 1 for the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corp (NAIC).