Jarmai Zazzau. Lt. General (rtd) Theophilues Yakubu Danjuma, GCON was born in Takum, Taraba State on the 9th December, 1937. The young Yakubu began his elementary school in Takum and Completed it at the famous St. Bartholomew Primary School, A CMS Intuition at Wusasa, Zaria. For his secondary education, he attended Benue providence Secondary School, Katsina- Ala, where he graduated in 1958 after which proceed the following year to the Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria (Which later become Ahmadu Bello University).
The foundation of his intensive military training was laid in 1960 was in 1960 when Yakubu Danjuma attended the Nigeria Military Training College Kaduna. From the on, young Yakubu subjected himself to a chain of successive and intensive military training. He attended Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, United Kingdom between 1960 and 1961, and the school of infantry. Hythe and Warminster , UK in 1962, Special Warfare Centre, Fort Bragg. North Caroline, USS in 1963 and Army Staff college Camberly, UK in 1967. With the background. Danjuma had a brilliant career in the Nigeria Army where he distinguished himself as model officer reputed for discipline, integrity, professionalism and effectiveness.
In his early military career je served twice in the Congo as Company Commander with the united Nations forces in 1961 and 1962. He also served as company commander with the Nigerian Army contingent Tanzania in 1964 upon his return from staff college he was posted to Nsukka front of October 1967. He remained with that brigade until the liberation of umuahia. He was then posted to Division Headquarters as Deputy Division Commander where he served until the end of the war.
He served as chairman of special Military Tribunal to Trinided and Tobago between 1970 and 1971 he was appointed General officer Commanding 3rd infantry Division, Nigerian Army from 1971-1975 and Chief of Army Staff and chairman joint Chiefs 1975-1979. In his four years tenure as chief of Army Staff. General Danjuma faced the vexed issues of demobilization bravely and squarely, the army had remained at its wartime size of 250.000 five years after the end of the civil war: the need for rejuvenation was dire and recruitment had stopped. Danjuma Persuaded the Army Council to the fact that the coup makers that killed General Murtala Muhammed used demobilization as one of their frouses afainst the regime, Danjuma ensured that by the end of his four year tenure about 50.000 soldiers had be demobilized.
Furthermore, to cater for the education of soldiers, children, Danjuma established command secondary schools, in each of the Army Division. He also established Army Command and staff Secondary School in each of the Army Command and Staff College and ensured that all officers of the rank of major (who because of the exigencies of war has missed this courses) attended the compressed two courses to enhance their academic and professional training. At chairman of joint Chief of Staff Danjuma not only encourage the Nigeria Navy and the Nigerian Air Force to enroll their officers in Command and staff College, he in addition laid the foundation of upgrading the Nigeria Defence Academy to a degree awarding institution. He retired from the army in 1979 with the rank of Lieutenant General.
Outside the military, T.Y. Danjuma is quite active. The Many years of soldering had nurtured him in the art of public administration. It is therefore not surprising that he was appointed Director National institute of policy and strategic studies, Kuru from 1979-1982; chairman, Defense industries corporation of Nigeria 1984-1992; chancellor Benue State University 1997-2003; chairman of presidential Advisory Council (PAC) in March 2010 when vice President Jonathan was facing serious challenges from some of the key appointees of the sick president Yaradua. Working with the National Assembly, Jonathan was conferred with the title Acting President thereby enabling him to reconstitute his cabinet and personal staff.
Things gradually stabilized and the PAC remained in service until President Jonathan won his own mandate in the 2011 General Election and it become obvious to most PAC members that the PAC was no longer relevant. In a private audience, Gen, Danjuma Persuaded president Jonathan to dissolves the PAC and shortly after an valedictory meeting was held on 18th May, 2011. A Distinguished and astute businessman, Lt. Gen. T.Y Danjuma is Chairman and owner of various businesses including Nigeria America Line Limited. Comet Shipping Agrncies Limited, best Land and sea service limited, south Atlantic Petroleum Limited and TY Holdings Limited. He is also the Chairman of May and Baker Nigeria Plc.
Through a consummate military man by training and a successful entrepreneur by occupation, T.Y Danjuma is quite in Christian Religions affairs. General Danjuma believes in leadership by example and transparency and he also believes that leaders must be their brother’s keeper through charity patron and the main benefactor Mission to save the Helpless (MITOSATH), and NGO specialized in the treatment of River Blindness and other neglected tropical diseases and he is also the founder of T.Y Danjuma foundation, a philanthropy dedicated to the provision of free primary healthcare, education and poverty alleviation.
Owing to his sterling qualities, General T.Y Danjuma was conferred with a number of national and international honours and titles. He was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) in 1979. Honorary Degree of Doctor of philosophy in Business Administration by University of Liberia in February 1990, Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by Nigeria Defense Academy in September 2008 and Honorary Degree of Doctor Laws by Ajayi Crowther University, Oya in November, 2010. He was also conferred with Degree of Doctor of Science, Honris cause, by Bingham University 2011, Doctor of Science Degree, Bayero University Kano 2012, Doctor of Science Degree honoris causa, from Ahmed Bello University, Zaria 2013.
He has also received national honors from the Republic of Somalia, Republic, Poland and France, Lt. General Danjuma is the Abonta of Wukari the Ochiagha Of Obowu-Etiti in Imo State and Jagunla of Akure, the Jiji of Karu and the Jarmai Zazzau. Danjuma is married with five children.