ILERIS: CITAD Hosts Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Commonwealth in Gombe

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) invited a former Nigerian diplomat, Ambassador Habu Ibrahim Gwani, to its monthly discussion on leadership and youth development titled ‘Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS)’.

ILERIS is an initiative of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) aimed at enriching the lives of young people through mentorship and inspiration.

ILERIS: CITAD Hosts Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Commonwealth in Gombe | Images: Original, Muddathir Salihu

Accomplished personalities from different backgrounds and professions are invited on monthly basis to speak to the participating youth about their lives, challenges, obstacles, successes, careers, etc with a view to unpacking some hints for the participating youth to copy and apply in order for them to also succeed in their endeavours and careers.

The discussion, which took place in the National Library of Nigeria, Gombe State, on 30th March 2022, was attended by youth and elders, who were opportune to be inspired by Ambassador Gwani through his speech about life experience and struggles, Today Post NG learned.

Ambassador Gwani took the audience back to his early life, from a tender age to studies, his vast years of experience in Nigeria and abroad, and his broad contribution to the community in and outside the country.

He opened up to the youth on the steps to success in life, saying any visionary youth must be focused and determined to make a difference in society.

In his speech, he described the struggles, challenges and rejections he went through before standing where he is today and achieving his goals was just the result.

The main secret of his life, he said, was being honest and trustworthy. Similarly, he attributes his behaviours to having parents who do not tolerate dishonesty and idleness in life.

He also called on the youth to look at his life and build upon their destiny, believing that only “a good boy becomes a good man”.

He also called on the youth to embrace technology in making their daily activities lives more manageable, especially in research and writing.

He finally called for massive writing, lamenting the scarcity of books and writings on the history of Gombe and Nigeria at large.

Confirming Ambassador Gwani’s speech, Professor Saleh Abdu described how he attended the same secondary school as Gwani, saying his life was truly inspiring since then.

After the discussion, the special guest of honour, and the Director of CITAD, President Dr Y Z Ya’u donated many books to the Nigerian Library, Gombe for the benefit of the people of Gombe State.

The Coordinator of the National Library, Gombe and the Host of the event, Mr Abubakar Yakubu received the books and expressed his gratitude to CITAD. He also explained how the library would distribute the books to 26 other National libraries around the country.

Commitment and Strategy, Keys to Success in Life – Dr. Yahuza Ishaq Muhammad Jama’are

A successful, impactful and beneficial life is built around commitment and strategy, this affirmation was made by Dr. Yahuza Ishaq Muhammad Jama’are, the Special Adviser to Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Hon. Bawa Wase at Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) organized by the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) in Jama’are, Jama’are local government of Bauchi state on Thursday. Dr. Yahuza was the guest speaker at the monthly inspiration and mentorship parley for the month of February, 2020. CITAD holds the monthly interactive in it’s quest to have young people become productive and beneficial members of the society through mentoring by successful people through getting the stories of the accomplished personalities told to the youth so that they adjust their approaches and manner of confronting whatever endeavor they choose in life.

Welcoming the guest in his opening remarks, representative of the Executive Director of CITAD, Hamza Ibrahim noted that the monthly youth inspirational and mentorship initiative was started by CITAD in 2016 and it holds in Kano, Jigawa and Jama’are respectively. He added that CITAD believed that accomplished personalities in the society are good resource to shaping young people’s lives, he emphasized that without guidance and direction to the teeming youth, societies will not harness the true potentials of the young people they have, that is why personalities such as Dr. Yahuza are brought on monthly basis so they can inspire the youth with their successes, challenges, struggles, etc, Hamza added.

The guest speaker, Dr. Ishaq who is also Chief Lecturer at College of Education Zuba in Abuja spent an hour and half unpacking his profile taking the participants through his educational, business and community service journey carefully pinpointing the challenges and the strategies to surviving and remarkably turning the challenges into opportunities, his success and accomplishments, unforgettable moments and the secrets to results in all his struggles, etc. As proceeded, the guest paused, took a breath and remarked to the participants, “commitment and strategy are keys to success in life”, explaining the quote, he recalled how he secured five university admissions abroad and one in Nigeria on finishing his secondary school. I got admission to study in Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Kuwait as well as University of Jos in Nigeria immediately I finished secondary school even though I grew up as an orphan, but commitment, determination and strategy to studies greatly aided me, so, whatever you do in life have goal, be focused, develop a strategy, value learning, be versatile, creative and innovative, don’t be defeated by pessimists, keep moving, you will eventually succeed, Dr. Yahuza Ishaq Muhammad Jama’are challenged the participating youth. Completing the story of getting five overseas university and one Nigerian university admissions, the guest said after consultation he chose to go to Kuwait but the early 90s Gulf War stalled his ambition, but he never gave up, he eventually went to University of Jos and upon graduation he was retained as a graduate assistant following academic record while in the university. Dr. Yahuza spoke on several issues relating to education, pursuing business, engaging in farming activities drawing comparison to give a sense of direction to the participants and hints to success and overcoming challenges.

After the guest speaker’s presentation, the participants engaged him in questions and comments session with most of the participants admitting how they have been inspired with the story of the guest speaker. In particular, a participant said as an orphan he shares many things in common with the guest speaker and he has been losing hope, but, the guest speaker’s story has alleviated him of his pessimistic view of pursuing things in life. The guest speaker responded to lots of questions and comments thrown by the participants. Thirty eight (38) young people attended the February edition of the Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS). The session closed with vote of thanks by Hamza Ibrahim, presentation of CITAD’s publications to the guest, closing prayer and a group photograph.

Report of Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series with Wamban Dutse, Alhaji Mustapha Aminu

On Thursday the 30th of January, 2020 the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held its first edition of 2020 Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) in its Dutse office, Jigawa state which comes every two months in the state. The event is an initiative of CITAD aimed at enriching the lives of young people through mentorship and inspiration. Accomplished personalities from different backgrounds and professions are invited to speak to the participating youths about their lives, challenges, obstacles, successes, careers etc. with a viewing to unpacking some hints for the participating youths to copy and apply in order for them to also succeed in their endeavors.

It can be recalled that CITAD had last year invited Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, Former Commissioner and former Permanent Secretary, Jigawa state, Professor Amina Bashir, Dean Postgraduate Schools, Federal University Dutse and Hajiya Fatima Widi Jallo who is also a former Commissioner ministry of Women Affairs, Jigawa. In this month edition the Centre hosted Alhaji Mustapha Aminu, mni Wambai of Dutse and former Head of Service, Jigawa state. Alhaji Mustapha who many described as an absolute reformer, technocrat, simple and jovial was the person responsible for reforming the Jigawa state Civil Service when he was the Head of Service in the state, a position he held for 8 years until the time of his retirement.

Wambai of Dutse who was born in Yola in the old Kano state did his Primary and Secondary schools in Yola from there he proceeded to Bayero University, Kano where he read Political Science. Speaking about his academic performance, Wambai mentioned that during his Primary Education he was the top of his class from form 1 to form 7 while in secondary school, it was either first, second or third positions throughout. Wambai was also the best graduating student of Political Science during his undergraduate studies. Explaining the journey of his civil service, Alhaji Mustapha stated that he started as a grade level 07 in the old Kano state before the creation of Jigawa state. He was an Admin Officer, Assistant Director, Deputy Director, Director then to Permanent Secretary Council Affairs and Government House. Alhaji Mustapha was also at one time Clerk of the Jigawa State House of Assembly before he roused to the position of the state’s Head of Service.

Alhaji Mustapha Aminu is a very simple and jovial person who believes that simplicity is one of the components of success in life. Advising the audience about the importance of simplicity in life, he said that if you are simple people you will do things to you that you never expected from them. He also stated that patience is the key to success in life, in whatever you do you need to be patient because there are things that do not come easily and as quick as we want them. He went further to discuss about the importance of education in life where he stated that whatever you want do in this life you need education. Emphasizing about the importance of education, he mentioned that women education is the key to any societal development because any society that its women are not educated that society will never progress. He advised that men especially in Northern Nigeria should support and encourage their women in the area of entrepreneurship and education as that is the only way they will liberate them from poverty. Citing an example with his mother, the guest said his mother used to shouldered many responsibilities in their family while they were growing up because she was an entrepreneur. Speaking about school unionism, Wambai said the students then were very organized, focus, fearless and have the country in their hearts while nowadays the students have turn to political dogs going from one office to another collecting money from politicians.

Discussing about his achievements especially when he was the Head of Service. Wambai said some of the legacy he left is the reformation of the Jigawa State’s Civil Service, the introduction of e-payment in the state which is the first in the country and most importantly its includes State House of Assembly Members and Judiciary even when they fought very hard not be included.

While talking about life’s challenges, Wambai mentioned that there is no life no matter how good it is that doesn’t have challenges. Narrating his experiences, Alhaji Mustapha mentioned that he used to trek from their house in Gwangwazo to BUK which is more than seven kilometers and he encountered many obstacles while reforming the civil service in the state from different angles.

Closing the session, the former head of service cautioned the youth to avoid money politics and laziness. He encouraged the youth to imbibe reading culture, to be resilience, hardworking and prayerful. He also called on government, wealthy individuals in the society to initiate more mentorship programs just like the one CITAD is doing.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of CITAD, who was represented by the Centre’s Senior Program Officer, Malam Isah Garba said that CITAD has been organizing this kind of lectures for long in its offices of Kano, Jigawa and Jama’are and the initiative comes as a result of Political Economy Analysis done by CITAD in Northern Nigeria and found out that majority of the youths are lacking in this area which made many of them to become redundant even after graduation. So, the essence is to create employers of labor, wealth creators, and entrepreneurs and have a knowledge driven youth society.

Be very good in what you do and you will succeed, Dr. Adamu Ahmad Abdullahi tells youth

Youth have been advised to be versatile, thoughtful and knowledge-seeking in order to equate themselves with the reality of the 21st century. This was one of the numerous inspirational tips thrown to the teeming young people earlier today at the last episode of the Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) in 2019. ILERIS is a monthly inspirational and mentorship engagement Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) organizes mainly for the youth. Earlier this month, CITAD hosted an academic, Arc. Prof. Abdullahi Abubakar of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria at a similar gathering at it’s headquarters in Kano.

Today’s ILERIS took place at CITAD Jama’are office where a renown personality from the community, Dr. Adamu Ahmad Abdullahi was hosted in a three hour interactive session with young people from around Jama’are local government. Dr. Ahmad, a traditional title holder of Sa’i in Jama’are emirate is presently a director at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), he spent quiet sometime to talking to the youth about his educational journey, community service, life struggles, hard and best times, challenges and keys to overcoming the challenges, accomplishments and tips to recording the accomplishments, what makes a successful person and how one can be successful in whatever they do in life.

The session began with opening prayer after which welcomes and opening remarks were made by the Executive Director of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Engr. Y.Z. Ya’u. In the welcome remarks, Ya’u began with a background of the monthly event, he said CITAD started it in 2016 out of it’s passion for shaping young people’s live so that they become great achievers and by extension impact positively in their societies. He noted that for the period of years that CITAD initiated the monthly inspiration and mentorship event, it has hosted a number of renown personalities from different walks of life who have installed zeal and hands-on direction of either choosing a career, profession or pursuing successful business through tapping from the wealth of experience and stories of the academics, businessmen and women, leaders, clerics, activists, pundits, etc it has engaged. Y.Z. observed that youth are pillars of building societies as such they need to be properly guided so that communities and the nation at large will be proud of them.

Born in 1957, the guest speaker, Dr. Ahmad Adamu Abdullahi started his presentation with a brief on what and where he studied, his happy and sad moments and how he handled challenges and obstacles. He said the keys to achieving success in everything one does are perseverance, commitment adaptation adding that the youth of today must embrace and leverage information and communication technology as hardly anything is done without it. After his presentation, the participants engaged him in comments, questions and answers session where different questions were asked and comments made. Responding to a particular question put to him by a graduate of economics participant, Dr. Ahmad said there are opportunities and prospects everywhere, what the youth need is perseverance and determination, he cited numerous successful businesses and entrepreneurs that according to had gone through hard time times and endured and that is reason they are role models for many today, so, he added “be very good in either your profession or business and you will succeed”.

More than fifty (50) youth attended the event. The session ended with a closing prayer, vote of thanks and presentation of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) publication to the guest speaker.

Have focus in everything you do, surround yourself with positive-minded people – Prof. Abdullahi Abubakar

As we bid farewell to the year 2019, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has featured Arc. Prof. Abdullahi Abubakar of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria as it’s guest speaker for December 2019 edition of the Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS). CITAD introduced ILERIS four years ago to inspire, mentor and shape particularly the lives of the young people to become achievers in their lives through hosting successful on monthly basis to have an interactive discussion with them.

The session began with opening and welcome remarks by the Executive Director of CITAD represented at the ILERIS by Training Coordinator, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi Yakasai, he welcomed and appreciated the guest for finding time to come and share his wealth of experience with teeming participants. Malam Ahmad said the monthly session began about four years ago and has featured different reputable personalities and they have greatly inspired lives and endeavors of the participants.

The guest speaker, Ar. Prof. Abdullahi Abubakar spent close to two hours talking to the participants on his life’s journey showcasing his educational, leadership and community service activities, in that he gave a robust view of how he has succeeded in educational endeavor and his style of leadership, he made references to how commitment, determination, passion and zeal greatly helped him record successes. He said without focus in what one does, goals may be unachievable.

Comments and questions were asked after the guest’s presentation and many participants commended the guest for sharing his experiences and admitted being inspired. A participant who is a writer, Khalid Imam said was positively moved by the guest story, he gave a copy of a book he authored to the guest adding that the guest’s success stories and determination won him the book. CITAD also presented the guest with some publications as a gesture to appreciate him.

CITAD Hosts Prof. Muhammad Tabi’u As February ILERIS Guest

By

Sagiru Ado Abubakar

The Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has on Saturday 18th May, 2019 hosted Prof. Muhammad Tabi’u, Department of Islamic Law, Bayero University, Kano as Guest Speaker of the month. Professor Muhammad Tabi’u, SAN is a Professor of Law at Bayero University, Kano, and has extensive expertise and experience in the fields of law and development. He has also provides high level consultancy services to DFID and EU for the management of its justice reform programme in Nigeria (from Access to Justice [A2J] to Security Justice & Growth [SJG], Justice for All [J4A]) and Managing Conflict in Northeastern Nigeria (MCN). In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Engr. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u welcomed and thanked the Guest Speaker for honoring the invitation in the holy month of Ramadan saying that we are banned in the holy month for drinking and taking food items but not ban from taking knowledge. He then said that ILERIS is youth development program initiated over the last 3 years and serve as an avenue to provide youth with skills, ideas and inspiration. It requires bringing people who are successful in life to interact with staff, interns and associates of the organization with intention to learn from their own life style.

In his presentation, Prof Tabi’u said that he was born in Gumel over 60 years ago and recalled that they started their primary education under shade tree almost a year, then later classroom was constructed with cornstalks. For Prof. Tabi’u, going to primary school was not negotiable as first male child in the family and his father was then responsible for taking children to school. This led to his father to set an example from his own child at early years.  He was one of the smallest children in the school but inspired a lot of people in term of performance. He was a monitor since in primary school and appointed secretary of the Young Farmers Club, the position he held due to his ability to write and read English Text Books. He was appointed Science Prefect in secondary school, the position invented purposely for him and served among senior colleagues. Prof. Tabi’u said that he doesn’t like to be a leader, but pushed and forced to be appointed.

Prof. Tabi’u encouraged the participants to be truthful. He empathized that in every leadership positions he held he tries to inspire trust. According to him, you must adopt and inspire people to know that every position of leadership you hold is for the people not thinking that the credit is for you alone. He added that leadership is one word with different understanding. From political background it seems a chance for accumulating more wealth and by any means.

Prof. Muhammad Tabi’u highlighted some of the challenges he faced when he was Antony General and when he held the position of Executive Secretary, National Human Right Commission under a military leader.  With mindset people like him they took the law that setup the commission and drew the attention of the government concerning human right violation in the country. With this effort, during the administration of General Abdussalam Abubakar they were able to liberate in a period of month over 10,000 people in detention across the country especially political prisoners.

Lastly, Prof. Tabi’u charged the participants on teamwork, admitting that all his achievements in life came under teamwork. In his closing remarks, the Executive Director thanked the guest speaker and said that he has two things to take back home from the presentation. One, you never get tire with engagements. Without engagement you will not make progress. Secondly, result doesn’t actually come in a day, it takes some many years.

The November Edition of Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series with Sheik Ibrahim Khalil, The Chairman Council of Ulama, Kano Branch

Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has today organised its monthly Inspiring Leadership Interactive Reflection Series (ILERIS) which took place today 28th November at the head office in Kano. The organization hosted the well-known Islamic scholar as well as politician, Sheik Ibrahim Khalil who is also the Chairman Council of Ulama, Kano branch.

In his opening speech, the Senior Training Officer, Malam Ahmad Yakasai who represented CITAD’s Executive Director, Dr. Yunusa Ya’u, explained to the guest the purpose of the ILERIS which was to go beyond the classroom trainings, to invite successful persons who attained achievements from their own struggles, to tell youths how they made it, to share challenges they have experienced and how they overcome it. He further explained to the participants that CITAD has been inviting inspiring mentors from the Civil Society members, academicians, civil servants, politicians as well as from private sectors. However, CITAD in this case invited a mentor with unique personality of being an Islamic scholar, a politician and at the same time a businessman. He urged the participants to listen carefully and tap from the knowledge of the Sheik.

Sharing his life story with the participants, the Islamic scholar who addressed himself simply as Ibrahim Khalil explained that during his childhood, he had a conflict of interest between what he chose to study (Islamic education) and his family’s choice (western education). This has however, delayed his completion of study as he had to study Islam before going back to school to acquire the western education. As a result, Malam Ibrahim has acquired a lot of Islamic knowledge and is popularly known across Nigeria as one of social Islamic scholar.

During his school time at BUK where he studied at the faculty of Education, he had always been the oldest among all his colleagues as well as lecturers, but his lecturers always treated him with utmost respect as he happened to be lecturer’s teacher in terms of Islamic religion learning. The sheik also respected each one of his lecturers and never did anything to undermine them or make them feel uncomfortable with his presence. Similarly, whenever he wanted to correct one of them, he used a case study politely and indirectly in such a way that they wouldn’t feel uncomfortable especially in the presence of their other students.

Inspiring the participants, the sheik further explained that our destinies are written by ourselves and therefore, we have the sole responsibility of remaining either rich or poor and good or bad. This was because everything that will facilitate self fulfilment and achievement has been provided by the Almighty God and humans are capable of achieving whatever they desired for. He stressed that “Time Management” and appropriate “Plan” make a better life.

Speaking about his self-principles, the sheik explained that he does nothing without having a good understanding on it, adding that knowledge and philosophy has always been his guide even in his daily life and has respect for persons with sound knowledge and philosophy.

When asked about his politics, the explained that he’s in politics to make a positive impact in people’s lives as most politicians go into politics to enrich themselves.

The sheik described himself as a scholar, a farmer, a politician and a businessman.

Report OF THE Jama’are Maiden Edition of Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) Held on the 24th November, 2019 at Council Chamber of Jama’are Local Government Secretariat

The Centre for Information Technology and Development CITAD organized the first edition of the Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) in Jama’are. In this maiden edition  CITAD hosted His grace, Yariman Jama’are and the District Head of Jama’are (Hakimin Cikin Garin Jama’are), Alhaji Nuhu Ahmad Wabi Mni (Former Permanent Secretary Bauchi State Government) as the  Guest Speaker.

The event started at about 10:30am. In his welcoming address the Executive Director of CITAD who was represented by the Ag. Program Coordinator, Malam Isah Garba, who in his welcome address, thanked the guest speaker for honoring CITAD’s invitation to be the first guest speaker at the maiden edition of ILERIS which henceforth will be holding monthly. Malam Isah enumerated briefly the reasons why CITAD came up with the initiative which according to him started some four years back in CITAD’s  head office in Kano which later taken to  Dutse office and now Jama’are office. Thus; to avail the opportunity for youths to have one on one contact with who excelled in one area of endeavourer or the other (Royal Fathers, Academicians, Politicians, Business Personalities and Women Leaders etc) thereby bringing the youth to hear from these people how they started the travails they went, their challenges and how did they overcome the challenges and lessons to be learnt in all. Therefore, giving them a  priceless chance of being mentored non gratis; to inculcate the spirit of reading culture and values in young people which is seriously degrading and to serve as a source of inspiration for the youths as  future leaders.

In his speech, the guest speaker started by making some clarifications on the concept of leadership, administration and management and the role a  leader plays in the process as source of inspiration and one who (in the process administration) exact a great deal of influence on the his followers/fellows subordinates.

Alhaji Nuhu, then went on to share with the participants his biography. An excursion into his life’s story, narrated a journey which started at birth into the Fulbe Jama’are Royal Family. Born and brought up as a scion, will all the pleasures  of this life at his disposal, Yarima had to follow through the normal route to greatness like any other son in  Jama’are Land first by attending primary school, for his primary education. He then proceeded to then Government Secondary Schoo, Azare presently called Government College, Azare (popularly known as Kuranga College) thence, he finally navigated to the famous University of Jos for his degree program which he finished in  1984. He served under the compulsory one-year national service scheme (NYSC) in 1985 and immediately after that he joined the Bauchi state civil service from which he retired as a permanent secretary four years ago.

Yarima discussed how they were given (as students) all what it entailed and required for running an effective school system by the government of those days. He admitted that t, that the treatment they were given at primary school can be regarded as a pampering! (not exaggeration in anyway). He however admitted that ‘what we had in primary school was even doubled in secondary school’!

Discussing on leadership issue, Yarima lamented the degeneration in the quality of leadership and expressed hope that things will change, for the ‘change is inevitable’. Comparing the then civil service and the presence one, he said that those days you are given jobs and promoted because you are qualified for it. But today, in terms of jobs, the children of the poor are left with the wanted, he averred.

He also discussed on the issue of values and morals which are witnessing serious crisis of proportion and magnitude in our society. He narrated how greed robbed many of their morality and conscience, an unfortunate scenario that is abound in both private and public life (among both politicians and civil servant). He gave many anecdotes on his travail in the civil service in his attempt to control and check his and others greediness for wealth tendencies.

Ahmed  maintained throughout his years in the civil service, but an attitude which cost him frequent transfer and being at logger head with the people who are comfortable with the status quo. At the end Yarima find solace in one tactic which was his deliberate choice to be posted to the so called ‘quiet, less busy and non-lucrative MDAs’ where the possibilities of meetings such elements were quite slight. He sought to be posted to the busy but less lucrative Civil Service Commission (CSC) and at a point relocated to Sharia Commission (SC). According to him people were taken aback by this probable farce comedy, how possible a senior permanent secretary, who was just coming back from the VIP executive training at Kuru Jos will choose to work in the Sharia Commission, an institution which even the government was forced only by public pressure to establish and which since its establishment has been battling with acute underfunding problem. It is unfortunate that SC has not being given the money to implement/enforce the Sharia which is its core mandate. Yarima said that what guided his philosophy throughout his stay in the civil service was his determination to maintain his integrity, in fact, ‘my integrity was more important than the money I could gather…’ he maintained.

He also shared with the participants his experiences of working within the traditional institutions after three and half decades of working in the mainstream civil service. According to him traditional institution is different from civil service for it is less bureaucratic, there were no orders and circulars, no promotions and it is less organized.

Yarima tasked the young people to take entrepreneurial and small businesses very important for the era of waiting for government jobs is gone. So the idea that we only go to school to work in the government is a very wrong one, we go to school majorly to be able to think out of a box. Hardworking is the key to success; in fact, laziness brings poverty (Lalaci Shine Talauci) the guest speaker averred.

Yarima further maintained that he reached the highest level in the civil service not because of the fact that he was born into the royal family but the key secret of his success in life laid in hardworking and the will of God. In effect, Yarima is a typical case of a scion who decided to work as hard as the son of the poor could, he  didn’t took  the slightest of pride in being of royal blood.

It will be easy for Yarima to commit class suicide than many princes and heir apparent of his caliber. His tendency of keeping to the time is superb for he came to the venue at exactly 10:00am when majority of the participants were yet to arrive.

Jigawa Youth Interfaced with Honorable Fatima W. Jallo

On the 26th of November, 2019 the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Dutse office hosted Honorable Fatima W. Jallo on its third edition of bi-monthly Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS). ILERIS is an initiative of CITAD aimed at `enriching the lives of young people through mentorship and inspiration. Accomplished personalities from different backgrounds and professions are invited to speak to the participating youth about their lives, challenges, obstacles, successes, careers, etc. with a viewing to unpacking some hints for the participating youth to copy and apply in order for them to also succeed in their endeavors.

It can be recalled that the Centre had in June this year hosted Honorable Hadiza Abdulwahab, former Permanent Secretary and former Commissioner in Jigawa state and in September, Professor Amina Bashir, Dean School of Postgraduates Studies, Federal University Dutse was also at the event. Hajiya Fatima, a veteran Journalist and former Commissioner Ministry of Women Affairs in Jigawa state discussed her experience in life and the challenges she faced while growing up. As someone who has been well respected in the field of journalism and attained the position of Special Adviser and later Commissioner in her state surprised the audience when she said that “I don’t have a degree”. Fatima like other great entrepreneurs and scholars in the world; Zuckerberg, Gate and others was a dropped out student of Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna.

Hajiya Fatima who was born in Lagos in 1962 where she completed her primary education before moving to Government Girls College, Dala (GGC Dala), was also at Kaduna Polytechnic. Initially Fatima wanted to study Nursing after her graduation from secondary but due to perception (people in Northern Nigeria took Nurses as prostitutes) people had on the course then influenced her father to not allow her to study the course. Immediately she dropped out from Kaduna Polytechnic she went back to Lagos to start working with NGOs before meeting Mr. Bode Alalade, an air personality with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) who saw broadcasting qualities in her and advised her to enroll in Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Lagos, there she had her Diploma in Broadcasting. In her broadcasting days, honorable Fatima worked with African Independent Television (AIT), Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN), MITV before moving to Jigawa Radio Cooperation.

At Jigawa Radio Cooperation, Mrs. Fatima held many positions before she was called by former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki to serve as Special Adviser (SA) on Jigawa State People’s Congress (JSPC), then as a Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs under the administration of Alhaji Sule Lamido.

Hajiya Fatima is a philanthropist, believer of equity, justice and equal chance to every human no matter where he/she comes from. It is this belief that made her to adopt many Almajiris in her area. While discussing with audience at the event, Hajiya Fatima said one of her adopted Almajiris is a Custom Officer now and the other one is in Jigawa state Polytechnic studying Architecture. Mrs. Fatima believe that it is only when we take every child as our own then our society will be free from social vices like kidnapping, arm robbery, rape, drug abuse an others.

According to Honorable Jallo one thing that makes you to excel in life is dedication, hard work, honesty, believing in yourself and prayer. At the end of her discussion she advised the youth in the gathering to encourage and support their sisters and daughters in pursuing their education, the youth to be self-reliant, seek for knowledge and be respectable to their society.

During the questions and answer session an SS1 student of Government Day Science Secondary School Gadadin raised an important question where he asked the guest about how and what people in his age bracket can help in the development of Nigeria.

Small and Medium Enterprises are the Bedrock of any Economy – Professor Amina Abubakar Bashir

Prof. Amina Bashir of Department of English, Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa, on Thursday in Dutse advised students in the tertiary institutions to engage in entrepreneurship activities. Prof. Amina Who is the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, gave the advice while speaking at an Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) organized for youth in Jigawa state by Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD). The Dean explained that the gesture was to avoid being unemployed even after graduation.

According to her, acquiring entrepreneurship skills would equip the students to be self-employed by starting and managing their own businesses, as well as eventually become employers of labour. While point out the importance of small scale businesses and medium enterprises, she noted that they were the bedrock of any economy and acquiring entrepreneurship literacy will assist in tackling unemployment and reduce restiveness among youths through the provision of functional skills.

She also advised the students to engage in various skill acquisition programmes being carried out by various governments and non-governmental organisations in order to be self-reliant, noting that all it takes is determination and perseverance and never to give up; this is because sometimes with small problems you think the world is coming to end. And remember that one important thing about life is that you have to do things for yourself; nobody will do it for you.

While advising the participants about the reality of life, she drew the attention of the participants that white-collar jobs were no longer available, hence the urgent need for them to embrace skills acquisition programs for self-reliance. So the only way out is to equip yourselves with education and training that promotes employment generation and wealth creation.

Taking the participants through her background at the event Malama Amina said she was born in June 1960 to the family of 5 in Fika Local Government present Yobe state and she was the youngest in the family. Professor Amina at her early age attended Central Primary School Guru then proceeded to Saint Patrick Secondary School in Maiduguri and then to Government Girls College Maiduguri where she finished her secondary School education and obtained her first degree at the age of 19.

In his remarks, the CITAD programme coordinator in the state, Mr. Ali Sabo said that the exercise was aimed at enriching the lives of the students through mentorship and inspiration; it’s our belief that through this programme, students will be empowered. CITAD believes that bringing accomplished personalities to interface with young people will surely help in inspiring them to be successful people that society will be proud of.

At the end of the program questions and comments were entertained from the participants.

By
Ali Sabo

CITAD Hosts District Head of Rogo, Bauran Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Mahraz as Guest Speaker of August ILERIS

For the first time in three years, since the inception of the Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS), the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has today hosted a traditional leader, Alh. Muhammad Mahraz Karaye, the District Head of Rogo and Bauran Kano as Guest Speaker of August 2019, ILERIS. In his opening remarks, Engr. YZ, Ya’u, the Executive Director of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) said that CITAD used in the history of ILERIS to host people from academia, civil servants, entrepreneurs etc to the monthly lecture series to provide youth with skills, ideas and inspiration but today and for the first time in the history of this event we are hosting a traditional leader. According to him, people with robust experience in life are not only restricted in the academic environment or from the civil servants. He then said that you can stimulate youth by either providing them with skills to build their life or to bring somebody to encourage them and learn from his own life style.

In his speech, Alh Muhammad Mahraz said that he was born in Karaye town in 1954 and attended Karaye primary school. He then proceeded to Birnin Kudu secondary school in 1969. Going to Birnin Kudu those days according to Bauran Kano is far journey because of the difficulties attached to the journey and remoteness of the area but he managed as a royalist to attend the school. After accomplishment of the secondary school he secured admission in Zaria, Kano and Ogoja. He wished to study in Ogoja but was advised by Sarkin Dawaki Mai Tuta, late Alh Bello Dandago to study at home town. He studied NCE in History/Education in 1974. At that time NCE students undertook National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he served together with present senator and former governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau at Higher School Ececeni, Umo Dike, Imo State. He was discouraged by the family members not to go due to the growing tension of the civil war then, but successfully completed the scheme together with Malam Ibrahim Shekarau.

Bauran Kano said that he has four wives and 16 children. He was employed first at Kumbotso Teachers Collage in 1978 after establishment of the school. He also served as Vice Principal at Harbo Junior Secondary School, Jahun Jigawa State.  He was Assistant Chief Inspection Officer of Education in charge of Hadejia Local Education Authority, Assistant Director, National Primary of Education, Kaduna and once a Team Leader in Ondo State. He was turbaned as Barden Karaye and District Head of Karaye by late Alhaji Ado Bayero emir of Kano in 1996. He said that he is a farmer who used to harvest about 70 to 150 bags in a year. “I used to hire a land for farming in my own district area, I never own a land to maintain my dignity”, he said.

He finally decried about the state of insecurity in the entire north. He decried about the problems of kidnapping, drug abuse, robbery, cultism, cattle rustling, prostitutions, homosexual and spread of fake news and rumors and finally attributed them to the problems of corruption. The lecture ended with CITAD publications presentation to Alh Muhammad Mahraz Karaye, by CITAD’s Program Coordinator Malam Isyaku Garba.

By

Sagiru Ado Abubakar

CITAD Hosts Prof. Muhammad Tabiu As May ILERIS Guest

By Sagiru Ado Abubakar.

The Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) of the Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has on Saturday 18th May, 2019 hosted Prof. Muhammad Tabi’u, Department of Islamic Law, Bayero University, Kano as Guest Speaker of the month. Professor Muhammad Tabi’u, SAN is a Professor of Law at Bayero University, Kano, and has extensive expertise and experience in the fields of law and development. He has also provides high level consultancy services to DFID and EU for the management of its justice reform programme in Nigeria (from Access to Justice [A2J] to Security Justice & Growth [SJG], Justice for All [J4A]) and Managing Conflict in Northeastern Nigeria (MCN). In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) Engr. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u welcomed and thanked the Guest Speaker for honoring the invitation in the holy month of Ramadan saying that we are banned in the holy month for drinking and taking food items but not ban from taking knowledge. He then said that ILERIS is youth development program initiated over the last 3 years and serve as an avenue to provide youth with skills, ideas and inspiration. It requires bringing people who are successful in life to interact with staff, interns and associates of the organization with intention to learn from their own life style.

In his presentation, Prof Tabi’u said that he was born in Gumel over 60 years ago and recalled that they started their primary education under shade tree almost a year, then later classroom was constructed with cornstalks. For Prof. Tabi’u, going to primary school was not negotiable as first male child in the family and his father was then responsible for taking children to school. This led to his father to set an example from his own child at early years.  He was one of the smallest children in the school but inspired a lot of people in term of performance. He was a monitor since in primary school and appointed secretary of the Young Farmers Club, the position he held due to his ability to write and read English Text Books. He was appointed Science Prefect in secondary school, the position invented purposely for him and served among senior colleagues. Prof. Tabi’u said that he doesn’t like to be a leader, but pushed and forced to be appointed.

Prof. Tabi’u encouraged the participants to be truthful. He empathized that in every leadership positions he held he tries to inspire trust. According to him, you must adopt and inspire people to know that every position of leadership you hold is for the people not thinking that the credit is for you alone. He added that leadership is one word with different understanding. From political background it seems a chance for accumulating more wealth and by any means.

Prof. Muhammad Tabi’u highlighted some of the challenges he faced when he was Antony General and when he held the position of Executive Secretary, National Human Right Commission under a military leader.  With mindset people like him they took the law that setup the commission and drew the attention of the government concerning human right violation in the country. With this effort, during the administration of General Abdussalam Abubakar they were able to liberate in a period of month over 10,000 people in detention across the country especially political prisoners.

Lastly, Prof. Tabi’u charged the participants on teamwork, admitting that all his achievements in life came under teamwork. In his closing remarks, the Executive Director thanked the guest speaker and said that he has two things to take back home from the presentation. One, you never get tire with engagements. Without engagement you will not make progress. Secondly, result doesn’t actually come in a day, it takes some many years.

Prof. Dahiru Yahya: The Story of Poverty and Achievements

This month’s CITAD Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS), 27th February 2019, had one of the epitome of scholarship not only in Northern Nigeria but in the country at large. Professor Dahiru Yahaya is a true definition of what a scholar is. An academician who spent more than half of his life contributing to academia, Prof. Dahiru Yahaya is the first person honoured with festschrift in Bayero University, Kano.

Mallam Dahiru reads in more than ten languages. When he wanted to read German works he learnt Germain. To read french philosophers Prof. Dahiru went France and learnt French. He moved to Spain and learnt how to speak Spanish. He became curious of Turkey and Ottoman Empire so he learnt Turkish. Prof. Dahiru is multilingual who speaks many local Nigerian languages and reads in many foreign ones. He cultivated Arabic, English, Hausa, French, Spanish and Turkish as research languages.

When Professor Dahiru speaks his words are as carefully spoken as those of Socrates. He condemns with Nioetchez’s style and criticise in Aristotelian syllogism. Though not Marxist but Prof. Dahiru believes revolution must be done to push the progress of history. He doesn’t preach feminism but believes women are equal to men. He is polygamous from polygamous family with more than 20 children that excel in many fields of life.

The story of Prof. Dahiru Yahya is a story of poverty which for him is a great source of inspiration and motivation. He was born to a very poor family in Dawakin Kudu to a father who preferred to send him to conventional school despite pressures from outside not to do so, and a mother who was his teacher at home. He was born on 30th June 1947. He attended Dawakin Kudu Junior Primary School and Wudil Senior Primary School in 1960. He had School Certificate Education at Birnin Kudi Secondary School, Kano in 1965. He received Bachelor of Arts degree in History (Special Hons) at Abdullahi Bayero College, ABU in 1970. He had his PhD at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Prof. Dahiru Yahya is a fountain that waters wisdom. His source of inspiration is Islam and the revolutionary progeny of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He contributed to teaching and research, and used many calligraphies and scripts from many parts of the world. His record of employment started from working as Social Welfare Assistant under the Northern Region Government Kaduna, Administrative Officer, Kano State Government and the joined University system from 1970 up to date.

He attended many International conferences and contributed to Higher Education, National constitution development and government policy. He earned many awards both from within and outside the country. He chairs Bala Usman’s position at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Mallam Dahiru wrote many research papers, books, articles and pamphlets.

At the ILERIS, Professor Dahiru Yahya advised youth not to take poverty as stumbling block to aiming higher positions. He said poverty is an opportunity to sharpen your brain as hunger helps in living a spartan life and sharpening brain. He gave the story of his life to the youth in attendance as a life lived in penury but got opportunity to move to many levels of achievements. Many questions were asked and answers were given.

Before Prof. Dahiru Yahya took the microphone, the Executive Director of CITAD Mallam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u introduced the ILERIS attendants to the Prof. Yahya that include students of tertiary institutions, staff of different organisations, youth leaders, journalists and people with disabilities. The Head of Human Resource Department of CITAD Mallam Ado presented organisational publications to the Mallam Yahya and the ILERIS closed with prayer and general picture.

CITAD ILERIS: Epigrammatic Narrative with Mallam Isa Ahmed

The monthly Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series organised by Centre for Information Technology and Development, was held, this month, at the CITAD premises on 29th January, 2019, with Mallam Isah Ahmed, a retired Permanent Secretary “who served at Projects Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport” and retired May 2011. 

Mallam Isah Ahmed was born on January 2, 1958 in Tudun Wadar Dankadai, Tudun Wada local government of Kano state. He attended primary school in 1972 and continued with secondary education where he had his West African School Certificate from GSS Rano, Kano state. He then attended Bayero University, Kano, where he had Bachelor of Science (Sociology) in 1982. 

Mallam Isa Ahmed obtained other qualifications from different institutions both within and outside Nigeria from 1986 till 2010. He also attended numerous workshops and symposia from 2004 to 2011. He traveled widely and takes reading as his primary hobby apart from his key skills in capacity building, data collection and evaluation, project implementation, public service reform and budget reform policy advocacy and implementation. 

At the CITAD ILERIS, Mallam Isa Ahmed, identified key challenges that are facing Nigerian youth in a paper he presented : “A Just Epigrammatic Narrative”. He explained that rapid population growth in Northern states versus the limited educational opportunities are among greatest threats to the development of of the North. He added that the falling down of the level of reading culture among the Northern Nigerian youth, as many of them are taken away by social media gossips, help in deteriorating of the intellectual efficiency of the university graduates. Mallam Isa said it is a greatest shame not only to the students but to the schools to see a university graduate that couldn’t write a simple composition without uncountable grammatical mistakes. 

Examination malpractice, according to the Mallam Isa Ahmed, added insult to the injury. The poor efficiency of working class today is due to the poor graduates university and colleges produce due to the high level of examination frauds and malpractices. He added that some of the threats that youth face today include limited public sector employment opportunities versus pauperised private sector, substance abuse by mainly the youth and the abuse of e-culture. 

To curb these menace Mallam Isa Ahmed advised that government, individuals and entrepreneurs should invest in education to instil reading culture among the next generations. Invention and innovation should be promoted especially in this digital era by skills acquisition, self actualisation and the feelings of existence so as to contribute to the national development. Optimism should be used over pessimism to overcome fear of political inclusion. Youth should remove bigotry and stereotyping from their hearts and ensure tolerance by throwing away primordial sentiments. 

Questions and answers session followed after Mallam Isa concluded his presentation by quoting Albert Einstein who said “Madness is doing one particular task or mistake repeatedly and expecting a different result.” By this he meant that youth and government have to change the way they do things if they want see different outcome. He recommended some texts to read for further readings including Michael G. Z’s Seizing the Future and the Oxfam’s Inequality in Nigeria : Exploring the Drivers. 

Earlier before the Mallam Isa Ahmed presented his speech, the Executive Director of the CITAD Mallam YZ Yau welcomed him and urged youth to copy from the elders like Mallam Isa who reached to the pinnacle of excellence by serving people and state religiously. He added that CITAD brings this interactive session so as to exchange ideas between elders and the youths. Among the people that attended the ILERIS were students of universities and colleges, staff and interns of CITAD, staff of NSITF, members of press and teachers from different schools and institutions, among others. CITAD publications were presented to the guest and general picture was taken after the event.