Garba @56: A Golden Toast For Kano’s Chief Image Maker
By Abba Dukawa
AREWA AGENDA – Some Men write their names in gold such that in the heart of thousands of people, they can never be forgotten. The names and good deeds of such men will always shine like stars.
Such individuals of unique characters are celebrated everywhere, an action which encourages them to reach their peak, thereby serving as a morale booster, guide and motivation to younger generation.
Despite the convulsion threatening the survival of the society, still one can boast of great men, though few, who stand tall in the society.
Nevertheless, there are few people here and there who are gradually changing the tides through diligence, professionalism and due process. This kind of public servant that excel in their responsibility need to be celebrated and one of such icon is the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Muhammadu Garba, especially as he clocks the golden age of 56.
I am celebrating this seasoned journalist of global repute. He is an excellent technocrat that takes up the challenges, faces commitments without hesitations as he approaches his assignments as Chief Image Maker Of The Kano State Government with dedications, humility and candour.
One thing even his critics can’t take away from him is the fact that he, harbours no ill feelings and animosity against his critics. Taking into considerations his antecedents and his contemporary activities, one will, without the fear of contradiction, argue that the honourable commissioner, in most instances, sees his critics not as enemies. Comrade treats them nicely, a disposition that has made him the toast of every media practitioners, staff of the state Ministry information and other peoples across the line. He is a man of valour who cherishes excellence and can hold his own among his peers. and is a man of substance whose administrative acumen is worthy of emulation especially his eyes for details and excellence.
A detribalized professional, Muhammadu Garba has the desire to get the best out of every situation, a philosophy that has really worked wonders, thereby catapulting him to the top. His attitude to work has profound influence on many people as he handles every job with dispatch. There is no better way to confirm this than his regular presence at his office and the unprecedented record he has achieved in his five years stint as commissioner. The open door policy he adheres to religiously is no doubt an unambiguous manifestation of a man who has nothing to hide.
I am certain that Comrade Muhammadu Garba provided much needed leadership in steering the affairs of the ministry and is able to redefine the work ethics with an eye on the yearnings and aspirations of the work force of his ministry and his colleagues. In the lives of many, birthdays are usually periods for sober reflections He commands a lot of respect from his colleagues and the peoples within and outside of state largely due to the way he articulates his ideas and thoughts each time he speaks as peoples listen with rapt attention.
I am indebted to my undisputable boss who mentored me and assisted me tremendously to learn the art of good and developmental journalism. I can remember being a fresher in the company when he took his keen interest in me. Despite his tight schedule, he had the time for me and freshers like me. He used to lecture me after which he assigned topics about which i wrote analytical article as it affected members of public. To my Presido a selfless public servant and an uncommon Triumphant in the Triumph family who thinks more about the other person’s feelings, I am wishing him sound health and wisdom to deliver on the mission for a greater Kano state as he clocks 56.
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To me and other Triumphant in the Triumph family, his greatest mark as the state commissioner of information was his commitment toward the revitalisation of the Triumph Publishing company which was closed down in 2012 by the former governor Kwankwaso administration.
Malam Muhammadu Garba proves to be a true Triumphant in the Triumph family. He is an undisputable ambassador of the newspaper by ensuring that the organisation is revitalized by the present administration after the newspaper was brutally and unceremoniously closed down. Perhaps, the decision of the commissioner to work assiduously in seeing to the actualization of the bringing back to life of the newspaper was informed by his awareness that Triumph Publishing Company is not just a newspaper publishing company but a training ground for journalists in the northern part of Nigeria. Therefore, to argue that the company had produced a number of journalists, who had made their marks in the profession and thus creating waves in all aspect of human endeavour is an under statement.
The Triumph Newspaper had produced prominent journalists across the country. Some Triumphant in the Triumph family rose to the position of permanent secretaries in the state civil service, others have held various position in the Federal Civil Service and others on the lists of Triumphant in the Triumph family had and are having great stints in the academia.
Malam Muhammadu Garba, a seasoned journalist with an experience that spans over three decades, started his career as a Reporter at Triumph Publishing Company and rising through the ranks to become Sub-Editor, Chief Sub-Editor, Group News Editor and Deputy Editor as well as member of Editorial Board of many National Newspapers. He began his Union Activism at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), as The Triumph Chapel Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), later elected two-term chairman of the state council of the union and was its Deputy National President, from where he contested and won the Presidency of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ in 2009 for two terms.
He was elected President, West African Journalists Association (WAJA) in Bamako, Mali and President, Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) in Casablanca, Morocco 2009 and was also elected member, Steering Committee of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in Dublin, Ireland.
Other Adhoc appointments held by Comrade include: member Board of Directors, Kano State Broadcasting Corporation 1995; Secretary, Hajj Operation, Kano State Government 1995; Member Board of Directors, 10th FIFA Coca-Cola Youth Championship Nigeria 1999 (Kano Sub Seat); Chairman Media Publicity Committee, Nigeria Union of Journalists 1999;Member Governing Board of the Nigeria Press Council; Member, Publicity Sub-Committee of the National Council on Privatisation. Other are Member, National Council on African Peer Review Mechanism; Member of the Federal Government Flood Rehabilitation and Resettlement Committee;Convener, Media, and Publicity, Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P); and Commissioner representing the Civil Society, Fiscal Responsibility Commission. Muhammad Garba was appointed Commissioner Ministry of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture in the state in 2015, and still retained his position in the second tenure of of the Ganduje administration.
However, Comrade Muhammadu Garba silently allowed the occasion of his 56th Birthday anniversary passed on in strict compliance with his natural humility and simplicity. To such a great and humble man, we wish you many happy returns.
Dukawa write from Kano and can be reached at [email protected]
Arewa Agenda is a Publication of young writers from Northern Nigeria towards Peaceful Coexistence and National Development through positive narratives
