Colonel Rasheed Alade Shekoni built his career through Nigeria’s established military education system. He attended the Nigerian Military School in Zaria where he received both academic instruction and military preparation. After completing his studies there, he proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna. The academy serves as the central training ground for officers in the Nigerian Armed Forces and has produced many of the nation’s senior military leaders.
Through years of service and professional development, Shekoni rose through the ranks and became a Colonel. His military career placed him within the senior officer cadre at a time when Nigeria’s political landscape was heavily influenced by military governance.
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Administrator of Jigawa State, 1996 to 1998
In August 1996, during the period of military rule under General Sani Abacha, Colonel Shekoni was appointed as the Military Administrator of Jigawa State. His administration lasted until August 1998. This period marked an important stage in the state’s early development following its creation a few years earlier.
The Birth of the Dutse Specialist Hospital
One of the most recognized contributions of his Jigawa administration was the initiation of the specialist hospital project in Dutse. This facility was conceived as a major healthcare center for the state capital. The hospital’s construction began under his leadership and became a defining symbol of his tenure.
After the initial development, the hospital remained unused for an extended period. A nationally published report in 2009 documented that the hospital stayed idle for ten years before rehabilitation work began. Despite this long period of inactivity, the foundation established during Shekoni’s administration allowed the project to eventually evolve into a major public health institution.
Transformation into a Federal Teaching Hospital
Years after his departure from office, the hospital underwent significant rebuilding and expansion. On 21 October 2022, the Federal Government officially took over the facility and upgraded it to the status of a teaching hospital. It became the Rasheed Shekoni Federal University Teaching Hospital and was assigned to support medical and health science training for the Federal University Dutse.
This transition elevated the institution into one of the most important medical facilities in the region and connected its origins to Shekoni’s early infrastructural vision for Jigawa State.
Administrator of Kwara State, 1998 to 1999
In August 1998, Colonel Shekoni was redeployed to Kwara State as its Military Administrator. His appointment coincided with the transitional government led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar who guided Nigeria toward the restoration of democratic rule. Shekoni governed the state through this critical period until the return to civilian administration in 1999.
Infrastructure and Public Development
Public records associate several development efforts with his administration in Kwara. These include the completion of the Adinimole Housing Estate in Ilorin, a 360 unit residential project that became one of the notable housing developments of the period. His administration was also reported to have contributed to improvements in water supply systems, upgrades in water treatment capacity, the reactivation of the Agba Dam in Ilorin and enhancements in road networks in partnership with federal bodies.
These efforts reflect the broader pattern of military era governance in which infrastructural projects played an important role in shaping the everyday lives of citizens.
Return to Civilian Leadership
On 29 May 1999, Colonel Rasheed Shekoni formally transferred authority to Mohammed Alabi Lawal who became the elected civilian governor of Kwara State. This marked the end of his period in office and aligned with Nigeria’s national return to democratic governance after years of military rule.
Legacy and Historical Significance
Colonel Shekoni’s service in Jigawa and Kwara contributed to foundational development in both states. In Jigawa, his decision to initiate a specialist hospital in the capital eventually led to the establishment of a full federal teaching hospital decades later. This transformation created a medical center that now serves patients and students across the region.
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In Kwara State, the housing projects and infrastructural improvements linked to his administration became part of the developmental landscape that served the state during and after the transition to democracy.
His tenure is remembered as part of the final chapter of Nigeria’s military administrative era, a time when appointed military officers served as state leaders while laying groundwork for the future return to civilian rule.
Author’s Note
Colonel Rasheed Alade Shekoni’s administrative contributions in Jigawa and Kwara States show how certain initiatives can outlast the circumstances of their creation. The specialist hospital he began in Dutse grew far beyond its original form and eventually became a federal teaching hospital that serves as a center of healthcare and medical education.
His role in infrastructure and housing in Kwara also reflects the pattern of development undertaken during Nigeria’s military era. While political systems shifted and leadership changed, the projects initiated during his tenure continued to shape state growth long after he left office. His story highlights how public service, when focused on foundational development, can create lasting institutions that continue to serve new generations.
References
Rasheed Shekoni, Wikipedia
List of Governors of Jigawa State
List of Governors of Kwara State
Daily Trust Newspaper, August 2009
Federal Ministry of Information, Statement on Hospital Takeover, 2022
Rasheed Shekoni Federal University Teaching Hospital, Background
