His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the 20th Sultan of Sokoto and the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslim faithful was 70 years on Monday. Born August 24, 1956, in Sokoto, Sultan is the Sarkin Musulmi and Head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). A direct descendant of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, founder of the Sokoto Caliphate, the celebrant is the youngest son of the 17th Sultan, Sir Siddiq Abubakar III. He attended the prestigious Barewa College in Zaria, and enrolled into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1975 (18th Regular Course) and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1977 into the elite Armoured Corps. He served in the Nigerian Army for nearly three decades, commanding troops in Chad and Sierra Leone. During that period, he led a presidential security unit in the late 1980s and served as Nigeria’s military defense attaché to Pakistan from 2003 to 2006. The Sultan retired from active service as a Brigadier – General in 2006, to take over the ancient throne of his forefathers on November 2, 2006, following the death of his elder brother, the 19th Sultan, Muhammadu Maccido.

Widely recognized as a champion of interfaith dialogue, peace, and national unity, Sultan Abubakar actively partners with Christian leaders like Cardinal John Onaiyekan to bridge religious divides and counter extremism in Nigeria and West Africa.

Therefore, his 70th birthday can be described as both a milestone and the celebration of a life devoted to service, sacrifice, leadership, and national cohesion.

His excellent military career forged the discipline, courage, and commitment to duty that now define his traditional and spiritual leadership.

Since his ascension as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto in 2006, the Sultan has provided exemplary leadership to millions of Nigerians. Over the past two decades, His Eminence has distinguished himself as a consistent voice for peace, tolerance, interfaith dialogue, and national unity.

His engagements with leaders across religious and ethnic divides, his advocacy for peaceful coexistence, and his unwavering commitment to the unity of Nigeria have earned him immense respect at home and abroad.

The bridges he has built across our diverse nation, his advocacy for good governance, peaceful coexistence and national unity, as well as commitment to the dignity and welfare of all Nigerians, constitute a remarkable legacy of service.

Indeed, Nigerians acknowledge the Sultan’s influential role in promoting interfaith dialogue and national reconciliation, while his voice of wisdom and moderation remains invaluable at a time when Nigeria needs greater understanding, tolerance and unity.

We at Daily Newscraft join millions of Nigerians in thanking Almighty Allah for granting the Sultan 70 years of service and impact.

We pray that Allah continues to grant him sound health, wisdom, strength, and many more years of purposeful service to the Sultanate, the Muslim Ummah, Northern Nigeria, and the nation at large.

Happy 70th Birthday, Your Eminence. May your years ahead be filled with greater accomplishments, peace, and divine blessings