The minister of defence in Hausa pre-colonial political system is

In the Hausa-Fulani pre-colonial emirate system, the emir governed with the assistance of titled officials who held specialised responsibilities. The Madawaki was the commander of the cavalry and served as the equivalent of a minister of defence or war chief. He was responsible for organising and leading the military forces of the emirate, particularly the cavalry, which was the principal fighting arm.

The other titled officials had different roles:

• Galadima - the senior councillor and administrator of the capital city, sometimes regarded as the emir's chief minister or deputy.
• Sarkin Pawa - the head of the butchers' guild, a trade-specific title rather than a military or administrative one.
• Dogari - the palace guard or bodyguard of the emir, responsible for the emir's personal security rather than the defence of the emirate as a whole.

The title Madawaki derives from the Hausa word for horse/cavalry, reflecting the holder's primary function as the military commander.