Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Aishatu Abubakar has etched her name in history as the most senior female officer in the Nigeria Police Force, marking a remarkable career defined by service, reform, and groundbreaking leadership.
Born in 1971 in Biu, Borno State, and raised in Adamawa State, AIG Abubakar began her academic journey at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 1994. A year later, she joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1995 as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), bringing her professional training and discipline into national service.
Widely respected for her intellect and advocacy, AIG Abubakar played a pivotal role in the historic removal of Sections 126 and 127 of the Police Act, which previously allowed the dismissal of unmarried policewomen who became pregnant while in service. Her intervention marked a major milestone in promoting gender equity and protecting the rights of women in the Force.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she has received several prestigious honours, including the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) and the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Beyond policing, AIG Abubakar has continued to break barriers in professional leadership. She currently serves as the President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, becoming the first woman to hold the position since the council’s establishment in 1953.
Her influence also extends into traditional institutions. She is the Queen of the Royal Heart of Gembu’s Serene Crest and the first woman to be adorned as Gimbiya in Biu’s royal domain, a testament to her cultural and societal impact.
AIG Aishatu Abubakar’s journey stands as a powerful example of excellence, resilience, and transformative leadership, inspiring women and young professionals across Nigeria and beyond.
