John Nmadu Yisa-Doko

Who was John Nmadu Yisa-Doko?

Air Vice-Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko, GCON, CFR was Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 1975 to 1980. Air Vice Marshal Yisa-Doko was appointed in July 1975, he was the first Air Vice Marshal and Indigenous Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Air Force . He retired in April 1980.

The emergence of Air Vice Marshal John Nmadu Yisa-Doko can be said to have signalled the maturation of the NAF. He was not only the first officer of NAF origin to become CAS, but also the first to attain the rank of Air Vice Marshal. He was appointed CAS on 29 July 1975.

He was amongst the first batch of pilots recruited to serve in the newly formed Nigerian Air Force, and was sent to Ethiopia for training as a pilot. He was given command over the first air platoon formed, when the German technical assistance team had concluded their mission to form the NAF.

He played an active part during the Nigerian Civil War as Officer Commanding NAF flying wing, and then as the senior officer in charge of operations.

EDUCATION

Air Vice Marshal Yisa-Doko started his education at St. Peter’s School, Doko in 1947 before moving to St. John’s School, Bida in 1951 where he completed his primary school in 1955.