Opinion
Remembering Mr. TG Galadima: Tribute to My Dear Uncle,Baba Gyetam
“Those who are afraid of death will carry it on their shoulders.”
Spanish poet Federico García Lorca.
No fear in death! To me, you will always be Uncle T.G. A man of purpose, determination and focus.
You and the late Vice Admiral I. I. Ibrahim former Chief of Naval Staff (2011-2013???) were trail blazers in the field of education in the anals of the history of Gora people in Jaba and Kagarko Local Government Areas. You were both the first set of students to further your education beyond Secondary School. You both made it to the tertiary level. You move on to the famous Kaduna Polytechnic, now University of Technology while Vice Admiral I. I. Ibrahim proceeded to the famous Nigerian Defence Academy now a Military University. The rest is history.
Both of you became models to me personally.
Uncle T G, you took your education seriously and it paid off. You were, to the best of my recollection the first Gora man to proceed to the United Kingdom back in those days, to further your education. You made it in your professional work in the Textile Industry to become a Manager at a young age.
You took your work serious and it showed in your steady rise at work deserved recognition and promotions.
You will surely be missed but your legacy will live on. Dead comes to us all. John Donne suggests that the death of one dimishes us all. But death is not the end. In Christ, death is the end of a new beginning.
You are resting at the feet of Jesus. This should comfort Mama Martha and all the precious adorable grown children you left behind.
You were a man of strong character and a disciplinarian, rooted in the fear of God. You had intense and protective love for your children. You bonded well with each of them without offering preferential treatment to one, against the other. They were equal before you.
I have known Uncle TG since my primary school days. In 1975, I moved to Government College Kaduna and you and Auntie Martha invited me into your home and it became my home in Kaduna until I graduated from ABU and relocated to Jos, Plateau State.
You visited me during my secondary schools days in GCK. You encouraged me in my education and motivated me to do more. I did and by God’s grace it paid off. When I finished secondary school in June 1977, you helped me get my first job at the Kaduna Textile Ltd (KTL). My first salary was N95.00 this was big money back in those days. I saved from it and bought my first cassette player and recorder. Some of the money I saved from this earning, I took to my A levels in KCAST, Zaria. Later, I added to it and bought my first 6-Strings guitar, the same 1977.
When I was courting my wife to be, I brought her to Kaduna to introduce to my extended family. Uncle TG received her warmly. Along with other uncles, they went to Ondo to stand in for me. How can I forget these precious memories?
So, you are now gone? Such is life. God knows best and our times are in His hands. May the good Lord comfort and encourage Auntie Martha and the wonderful grown children and grand children you left behind. May God keep all comforted and encouraged in the family.
In a sense this tribute is a celebration of your life. Yours was not a wasted life. I can attest to it.
Funmi and my family mourn your passing but we are comforted in the fact that you have gone to a better place. Let’s take solace in this one fact. There’s resurrection day awaiting you.
‘O Death, where is your sting? . . . God, gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’
1 Corinthians 15: 55-58 (NKJV).
“If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Adieu Uncle T.G.
The Revd Dr. Gideon & Prof. Funmi Para-Mallam Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
On assumption of duty in January, 2025 , the new Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Boss and well grounded World Bank expert , Aisha Garba envisaged the need to reposition the Basic Education through interfacing with the critical stakeholders.
Amongst them is the office of the National Security Adviser , NSA, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu whose achievements in the last few years in the area of security has become distinct and outstanding.
Therefore, seeking to cooperate and collaborate with the office became germane and needful particularly the protection of lives and properties of actors in the promotion of Basic Education ranging from the pupils , teachers , workers and facilitators to enable it drive the new wave to curb Out of School Children OOSC in the country.
Aside providing the basic security arrangements for schools , the need to engage the security apparatus at the level of National Security Adviser NSA became needful, so as to address the sophistry of security problems in the country, to nip in the bud any unforseen circumstances.
With the high rates of kidnappings, abduction , banditry, cattle rustling, ritual tendencies among many other vices, the idea of bringing on board , the security architecture of the country in all ramifications will assist the commission to consolidate the implementation of Basic Education policies and programs, also introduce new ones .
Since pupils at the Primary, Junior Secondary and Secondary Schools are prone to such ugly development and security issues , the need to be proactive on the part of the commission became timely and desiring.
This led to the success story of the bilateral interface between the management of the commission and NSA, to streamline, perfect and chart a new course on the issue of security of actors in the Basic Education.
The visit described as timely and long overdue, discussed fruitfully the way forward and the immediate and long term intervention of both agencies in the area of collaboration.
According to the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba she stated by discussing” strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing educational access and security in Nigeria. ”
She further said” the engagement focused on strategies to address challenges such as the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions, and the promotion of equitable education for all children.”
“the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), on improving access to basic education and safety of safety schools across the nation. ”
“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” it added.
“UBEC boss had pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.”
“She said: “My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery. ”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region”.
Highlights of the program which included the engagement of both bodies with a commitment to ensure the introduction of security architecture in schools in Nigeria is achievable.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.