Salaudeen Latinwo

Salaudeen Latinwo (born 1943) was part of the first set of people to be recruited into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in 1963, under the watchful eyes of the first Nigerian Chief of Air Staff, Colonel Gerhard Kahtz (GAF). The Nigerian Air Force was formally established in 1964. From 1963 and 1966, Latinwo attended Basic military Training in Uetersen, Western Germany where he trained as an Air Force officer. Latinwo was the administrative officer, Flying Wing NAF base, Kaduna, Kaduna State from 1966 to 1967. In 1976, Latinwo attended Command and Staff College, in Jaji, Kaduna. In 1980-1981, Latinwo was the Commander Station Service Wing NAF, GTG, Kaduna. In 1984, Group Capt. Salaudeen Adebola Latinwo was nominated by his very good friend and the new Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Ibrahim Mahmud Alfa and appointed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, the then Head of State as the new Military Governor of Kwara State. A position he held until August 1985. When Major-General Ibrahim Babangida took power in 1985, Latinwo was appointed as the new Director of Administrations at the Nigerian Air force Headquarters until he was finally retired from the Nigerian Air force on December 31, 1985.^[1]

In 1999, Group Captain S.A. Latinwo (rtd) and other retired military officers became power factor in Nigeria.^[2] In 2001, when President Olusegun Obasanjo approved the composition of the boards of Federal Government Parastatals, Group Captain Salaudeen Adebola Latinwo (Rtd) was named as a board member of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).^[3]

In 2008, Group Captain S.A. Latinwo (rtd) was nominated by the then Governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki and approved by President Umaru Yar'Adua as the Chairman for Kwara State for the National Committee on Mineral Resources and Environmental Compliance (MIREMCO).

Early years

Salaudeen Adebola Latinwo was born into the famous and mega rich Aliu Onaolapo Olatinwo family of Offa, in Offa local government of Kwara State in 1943. Latinwo is one of 43 children of 10 wives of his father Aliu Olatinwo.

Latinwo began his early education in 1952 at St. Marks Primary School, Offa, Kwara State. He proceeded to Offa grammar school for his secondary education. In 1961, Latinwo joined the Northern Nigeria Civil Service where he worked for the next two years. During his time at the Northern Nigeria Civil Service, Latinwo participated in a programme for people to become executive officer. After the programme, Latinwo learned about vacancies and recruitment for people to become the first set of officers for the Nigerian Air Force. The then Sultan of Sokoto searched the Northern Nigeria Civil Service for people like Latinwo who were competent academic, physically and medically fit to join the Nigerian Air Force. Latinwo was recruited into the Nigerian Air Force in 1963 to represent the northern part of the country.

In 1971, Latinwo got married to his only wife, Mrs. Mercy Latinwo (née Aganga). He has four children. His first son is being groomed as a future Governor of Kwara State.

Latinwo is the brother-in-law to the former Nigerian Minister of Finance Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga

References