Ishaku was born on 30 July 1954 to Mr Ishaku Istifanus and Mrs Naomi at Lupwe in
Ussa Local Government Area of Taraba State. He is the fifth of ten children from his family, all of whom are members of the
Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria. The young Darius was enrolled into St Bartholomew's Primary school, Wusasa,
Zaria, in 1961, and graduated in 1967. He then proceeded to famous St. Paul's College Kufena, Zaria, for his secondary education, in 1972 and passed out in flying colours, obtaining West African Examination Certificate (WASC). He secured admission into the school of basic studies in prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in the same year (1972), for his advance Level education which was then a requirement for gaining admission into the university, and he passed out in 1974. He proceeded to the
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) where he studied and obtained a Bachelor's and a master's degree in Architecture, he went further to obtain an additional master's degree in Urban and regional planning. Darius is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA) and also a fellow of the
Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (FNITP). ==Political career==