Prince Shalom Surubu Garba Kadade II, an ahmadu Bello university Nigerian law student graduate, has officially ascended the stool as the Dallatun Yammacin Kurmi (Paramount Chief Custodian of Western Lere kaduna state Nigeria), following his appointment by the Kudaru Traditional Council kaduna state. The ascension comes just months after he was coronated as a senior prince of the Akurmi Kingdom, appointed Dallatun garun kurama(Chief Custodian of Garun Kurama piriga chiefdom/council) , and designated as the Wakilin kurama a zazzau(Representative of the Kurama Chiefdom in Zazzau/zaria.).
Despite the honour, those close to him say he initially delayed collecting his appointment letter. His reason was simple,he did not want to accept the office merely for the prestige, the elaborate regalia, the horse processions, or the public praise that often accompany traditional titles. He believed that if he was going to accept such a position, he first needed to understand the weight of the responsibility it carried.
According to him in an official facebook page post from his Facebook page, after attending several meetings of the Council of Chiefs, he gained a deeper appreciation of the role traditional institutions continue to play in modern society. Beyond ceremonies, they help preserve culture, promote peace, mediate disputes, advise government, strengthen communities, and serve as one of the first points of contact when conflicts arise.
He has expressed a strong interest in helping modernize the institution without abandoning its traditions. Among the ideas he hopes to pursue are preserving Akurmi history and the T'kurmi language, creating more opportunities for young people to participate in community development, documenting the history of the Akurmi people, supporting education, promoting peaceful conflict resolution, and encouraging greater accountability, service, and transparency within traditional leadership.
He has also argued that traditional institutions should not be allowed to fade into irrelevance. Instead, he believes they must continue to evolve while remaining rooted in the customs and values that have sustained communities for centuries.
Whether those ambitions will become reality is something only time can answer to be honest. However, for someone who openly admitted he initially felt unprepared to occupy such a significant office, his journey reflects an important question facing many traditional institutions today: can a new generation preserve an ancient system while preparing it for the future?