The Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar CFR, and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers. Alhaji Abubakar, the spiritual leader of Nupe race is also the Chancellor of the University of Ile Ife, Osun state and Ekpoma University, Benin.
He succeeded the late Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Sanda Ndayako, on September 11, 2003. He was born on September 12, 1952, in Bida, Niger state, and hails from one of the Ruling Houses of Bida Emirate (Usman Zaki). He was born into the family of Late Alhaji Abubakar Saganuwa Nakordi Nupe and brother to the 11th Etsu Nupe, Late Malam Musa Bello. His mother, Late Hajiya Habiba Bantigi Ndayako, is the daughter of the 9th Etsu Nupe and Sister to late Alhaji Umaru Sanda Ndayako (the 12th Etsu Nupe of Nupe Kingdom.)As a military officer, his last military posting was the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, where he was  Director, Foreign Operations, before retiring as a Brigadier-General in September 2003. Before his appointment as the Etsu Nupe, HRH was the Kusodu Nupe.