[3] He attended St. Mary’s Secondary School, Fadan Kaje and St. John College, Kaduna, and then was admitted to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
He rose to Permanent Secretary in the Kaduna State civil service, heading the Ministries of Health, Works and Transport.
In 1990, Yakowa transferred to the Federal Civil Service until the administration of General Sani Abacha appointed him Commissioner in Kaduna State from 1994 to 1997.
He said statements to that effect were "bizarre and mischievous" and said the government was making special efforts to provide social amenities in the area.
[11] Yakowa successfully ran for election as Kaduna Governor in the 26 April 2011 polls on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.
[12] On 15 December 2012, Yakowa died in a helicopter crash along with the former National Security Adviser General Owoye Andrew Azazi (rtd) while flying from Bayelsa State to Port Harcourt.