As the Emir of Keffi, His Royal Highness, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, reaches the significant milestone of ten years on the throne in December 2025, his tenure stands out as a compelling study in progressive traditional leadership. Ascending the throne on December 14, 2015, the Emir’s journey has been marked by a successful and intentional effort to harmonize the deep-rooted traditions of the Keffi Emirate with the imperatives of modern development and global relevance. This blend of the old and the new has positioned the Emirate as a beacon of stability and advancement in Nasarawa State.
Blending tradition and modernity: The philosopher king
The Emir’s unique background has been instrumental in shaping his dual-focus approach. A highly accomplished academic, Dr. Yamusa holds a Ph.D. in Energy Law from the International Islamic University, Malaysia, and a Master’s in Law from the University of Dundee, Scotland, alongside his Nigerian legal qualifications. His pre-throne experience includes working with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and lecturing at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), where he now serves as Chancellor.
This profound educational and professional experience outside the traditional palace walls gives him a contemporary lens through which to view the challenges and opportunities facing his people.
Modern governance with traditional authority:
Dr. Yamusa utilizes the venerable traditional institution as a platform for modern governance strategies. His palace is not just a repository of custom but a center for policy advocacy, community engagement, and conflict resolution, integrating the traditional council directly into the machinery of state governance.
Knowledge as power:
The Emir’s personal academic journey has translated into a fervent push for modern education within the Emirate. He doesn’t just encourage school enrollment; he leverages his vast network in the academic community to foster partnerships, particularly with Nasarawa State University (NSUK), ensuring the youth are equipped for the 21st-century economy.
Digital and economic integration:
Unlike traditional rulers who might resist new technologies, the Emir embraces platforms and collaborations that promote modern economic activities. His advocacy for youth empowerment and skills acquisition centers demonstrates a commitment to moving beyond subsistence—a distinctly modern approach to local governance.
Positive developments: A legacy of progress
The past decade has witnessed several tangible positive developments under the Emir’s leadership, reflecting his balanced approach to progress.
Peacebuilding and security enhancement
A cornerstone of his reign has been the emphasis on peace and communal harmony. Recognizing the heterogeneous nature of the Emirate, Dr. Yamusa has actively worked as a bridge-builder between diverse ethnic and religious groups.
Conflict resolution: He has utilized the respected traditional conflict resolution mechanisms to address local disputes, including farmer-herder clashes, complementing the efforts of government security agencies. This proactive approach has been vital in maintaining stability.
Inclusivity: His leadership style promotes inclusivity, making all inhabitants, regardless of their background, feel a sense of belonging, which is crucial for collective security.
Advancement in education and youth empowerment
Leveraging his background, education has been a major priority.
Institutional aupport: As the Chancellor of NSUK, he actively champions the university, which serves as a major hub for intellectual and economic activity in Keffi.
Skills acquisition: The Emir has established or strongly supported skills acquisition centers for women and youth, often urging partnerships with bodies like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the university’s Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC). This addresses the critical modern issue of youth unemployment by offering practical, marketable skills.
Cultural preservation and international linkages
While embracing modernity, the Emir has remained a strong custodian of the Keffi Emirate’s cultural heritage and customs.
Cultural promotion: He has worked tirelessly to preserve and promote traditional festivals, customs, and values, ensuring that the identity of the Keffi people is not eroded by globalization.
Global networking: His international educational and professional ties have been beneficial in attracting attention and fostering relationships. The engagement with institutions like the University of Dundee is a clear example of how he transforms personal academic history into a cultural and educational asset for the Emirate.
Recognition and advocacy
His efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, he was awarded the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), a testament to his immense contributions to community development and leadership. Furthermore, he has been a vocal proponent for a constitutional role for traditional rulers in Nigeria’s governance structure, arguing that their closeness to the grassroots makes them indispensable partners in security and development.
The 15th Emir of Keffi, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III, and his predecessor, Alhaji Muhammadu Chindo Yamusa II, have both made significant contributions to education and peaceful coexistence in their domain and beyond.
Initiatives and contributions to education
The royal family of Keffi has shown consistent dedication to promoting education as the foundation for development.
It could be recalled that the late Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Chindo Yamusa II, was personally committed to educational advancement, having been a teacher, headmaster, and Education Officer before his ascension to the throne.
Chancellorship: He served as the Chancellor of Nasarawa State University (NSUK), Keffi, a role that provided a platform for him to advocate for academic excellence and institutional growth.
Advocacy: He frequently stressed the need for education as the bedrock of development and urged parents to enroll their children in schools.
Mentorship: He was recognized as a mentor whose love for education inspired many of his subjects to pursue higher education, leading to the rise of numerous scholars and professors from his domain.
Initiatives by the current Emir, Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III
Chancellorship and academic role:
Following in his father’s footsteps, the current Emir is also an accomplished academic, as mentioned earlier (holding a Ph.D. in Energy Law), and serves as the Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo, and the Chancellor of NSUK. This academic background strongly influences his focus on education.
Skills acquisition and empowerment:
He established a skills acquisition centre in Keffi to combat unemployment.
He actively partners with institutions like the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) of Nasarawa State University to extend vocational training services to the host community, urging them to collaborate with his established centre.
He promotes entrepreneurship and farming among the youth as alternative paths to self-employment and development.
Advocacy for youth and parents
He consistently advises youths to embrace education and entrepreneurship and to shun crime and violence.
He urges parents and guardians to monitor their children’s movements and behaviors closely to curb social vices.
Contribution to peaceful coexistence
Just like his father, Dr. Yamusa III has also leveraged the traditional institution’s influence to maintain and promote inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony.
Advocate for unity in diversity:
He is widely recognized as a peace ambassador who always prioritizes the unity of Nigeria irrespective of ethnic, political, or religious differences.
Inclusive leadership:
He actively appointed non-indigenes to the emirate council as a deliberate step to foster peace and unity within his domain, ensuring all groups felt represented.
Curbing insurgency:
He is one of the northern leaders who publicly speak against the Boko Haram insurgency and always appeals to Nigerians to support government efforts to fight terrorism and social vices.
Fatherly counsel:
He is known for offering fatherly counsel and advice to those in authority on peace and unity, contributing to national development.
Additionally, Emir Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III takes the issue of inter-faith harmony seriously, just as his father did.
He constantly preaches tolerance and peaceful coexistence among his subjects and Nigerians at large, urging them to live in peace irrespective of their differences.
He has called on religious leaders, particularly Islamic preachers, to avoid provocative or inciting sermons that could lead to public disturbances.
He has been involved in peace initiatives, such as advocating for a research centre at NSUK for the restoration of peace in schools and communities through partnerships with bodies like the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA).
Community vigilance and security
He has taken a strong stance against criminality, calling on his people to expose criminal elements and their hideouts to security agencies, demonstrating an active role in community security.
He emphasises adherence to the law and order, as well as respect for constituted authorities.
Sustaining positive values:
He often uses religious festivals, such as Eid-el-Fitr, to encourage Muslims to uphold the positive lessons of Ramadan—such as love, unity, and forgiveness—to promote peace.
Conclusion
The first ten years of Dr. Shehu Chindo Yamusa III’s reign have demonstrated that tradition and progress are not mutually exclusive but rather synergistic forces. By deploying his academic and professional acumen to amplify the inherent authority of the Emirate, he has steered Keffi toward a future that respects its past while wholeheartedly embracing the modern world. His legacy is one of a scholar-king whose practical focus on peace, education, and economic empowerment has secured a decade of significant, positive change for the people of Keffi. His journey thus far is a masterclass in how Nigeria’s traditional institutions can remain relevant and pivotal in the 21st century.
