By Jerry Ocheme
In the life of every great officer, there comes a time to hang the boots — not because the passion fades, but because the time to serve in new ways has come. For Air Vice Marshal Kabir Muktar Umar (Rtd), that moment came in 2025, marking the end of a glorious chapter in military service and the beginning of another in humanitarian impact.
After 32 years of distinguished service in the Nigerian Air Force, the soft-spoken but resolute officer bowed out gracefully, leaving behind a trail of discipline, mentorship, and excellence. Yet, in retirement, his sense of duty did not wane — it simply found new expression.
Born and raised in Kano State, AVM Umar’s journey into the Air Force was driven by passion and patriotism. From his early days as a young cadet, he demonstrated uncommon zeal, a deep respect for order, and an enduring belief in service to fatherland.
Over the decades, he rose through the ranks, serving in strategic formations such as the Air Training Command in Kaduna, the Nigerian Defence Academy, the Headquarters Nigerian Air Force in Abuja, and the Air Force Base in Kano. His professional record reflects years of diligence, courage, and consistent contribution to the development of the Force.
Colleagues describe him as a “firm but fair” leader — a mentor whose humility matched his high standards. He was known to invest time in nurturing younger officers, always reminding them that leadership is about character and compassion as much as it is about command.
At 60, when the time came to retire, AVM Kabir Muktar Umar embraced it not as an end, but as an opportunity to serve in a different capacity — this time, among his people. What followed was a decision that would touch lives and redefine his post-service legacy.
Determined to give back to his roots, the retired Air Force chief leveraged on the Chief of Air Staff’s Quick Impact Projects (QIP) initiative to initiate the renovation of two hospital blocks at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Gwagwara, in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Before his intervention, the facility, which served thousands of rural dwellers, was in total disrepair. The wards were leaking, the beds unusable, and the structure nearly abandoned. The situation, as community members described, was “a shadow of a hospital.”
But through AVM Umar’s vision and personal commitment, the health centre underwent a transformation that renewed both the structure and the hope of the people. The renovated blocks — comprising a pediatric ward and a general ward — were fitted with hospital equipment, drugs, and reagents to enhance service delivery.
Speaking during the commissioning, AVM Kabir Muktar Umar revealed that the project was his way of giving back to the people who shaped his early life and a tribute to his late father, whose principles of humility, service, and integrity continue to guide him.
“For me, this project is a way to thank my people for their support over the years and to immortalize the memory of my late father,” he said with emotion. “He taught me that true wealth lies in the number of lives you touch.”
On October 23, 2025, the newly renovated health facility was commissioned amid pomp and gratitude. Senior officers from the Nigerian Air Force, dignitaries from the Army, Navy, and other security agencies, as well as government officials, converged on Gwagwara to witness the event.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, represented by the Chief of Civil–Military Relations, AVM Ibikunle Daramola, commended the initiative, describing it as a noble act of patriotism and foresight. He noted that the project aligned perfectly with the Air Force’s civil–military cooperation drive, aimed at strengthening relationships between the military and host communities.
“The Nigerian Air Force takes pride in officers like AVM Kabir Muktar Umar,” Daramola remarked. “His commitment to the welfare of his people even after retirement reflects the very essence of national service.”
The Kano State Governor, represented by the Special Adviser on Donor Agencies, also lauded the retired officer’s effort, urging other well-meaning indigenes to emulate his example. The state government, he said, would continue to support initiatives that complement its healthcare delivery objectives.
Family members, friends, and community leaders also spoke glowingly of the impact of the project. For them, the gesture was more than philanthropy — it was a reaffirmation of hope and leadership rooted in empathy.
“Before now, our hospital was in ruins,” said one community elder. “Today, because of our son, mothers and children can access quality care right here in our village.”
For a man returning to live among his people, Air Vice Marshal Kabir Muktar Umar has demonstrated that retirement can be another form of service. His action has rekindled trust, inspired the youth, and earned him profound respect across social and professional circles.
Indeed, his legacy reminds us that true leadership is not measured by rank, but by impact — and that the highest form of patriotism is service to humanity.
In his quiet, dignified way, AVM Umar continues to prove that service to the nation begins in uniform, but continues in the heart. His example stands as a moral compass to both military and civilian leaders — that greatness is found not in the medals worn, but in the lives uplifted.
As the philosopher William James once said, “The highest use of life is to serve others.” For AVM Kabir Muktar Umar, that truth now lives on in the hearts of the people of Gwagwara — a community forever transformed by his vision, compassion, and service.
