By Ibrahim Sulaiman Jama’are
This should ordinarily be considered a belated piece by one of the protégés of the man YZ. This is because, it was on September 2nd, 2020, exactly twelve days ago, that Y Z Ya’u, my mentor clocked 60th. But, celebrating a quintessential scholar and a committed development worker such as Malam YZ Ya’u shouldn’t be only yearly on the occasion of his birthday.
Malam YZ Ya’u is a mentor par excellence, a mentor who understands the psychology of his mentees. Malam will think for you, encourage you and tell you (both directly and indirectly) those words that pushes: ‘yes, you can do it’.
He taught us to be Nigerians, not Northerners. I often liken the belief of Malam YZ in the unity of this country to that of our yesteryears nationalists such as the great Malam Aminu Kano and his disciples. Malam is a very hardworking and committed scholar whose dedication to scholarship is exemplary. His very mien has always been a veritable source of inspiration for us.
The concern of CITAD, anyone who’s familiar with its activities can observe, is now tilting towards research. Though the centre is not university-affiliated, it is transforming into a research outlet churning out research reports in different areas of human development. This is in addition to the roundtable discussions on the variety of issues that border of intellectualism. Muazzam Institute of Philosophy which started since 2018 ranks as one CITAD’s feats. All these are, undoubtedly, indications of Malam YZ Ya’u’s unsurpassed commitment to scholarship.
What informed this character and approach of Malam YZ to issues is certainly his concern for humanity. That humanism in him further shows in his being a development worker and a comrade inspiring others. To say that such a personality has, @ 60, touched many lives, particularly that of young people, is to make a gross understatement. As such, Mallam is an achiever.
On this note, I join others to pray to God Almighty to increase his good health, wisdom and God’s blessing to his family. May he live much long!
