Day Adamawa community honoured its professors, surgeons

For a moment, Mayo-Kalaye village   near Jada, the headquarters of Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State, took on the form of a huge communal village. Sound of pestles hitting mortars could be heard from many homes as housewives made frantic efforts to pound yams for their salivating families who were equally anxious to grace […]

For a moment, Mayo-Kalaye village   near Jada, the headquarters of Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State, took on the form of a huge communal village. Sound of pestles hitting mortars could be heard from many homes as housewives made frantic efforts to pound yams for their salivating families who were equally anxious to grace the event of the day.

From various sections of the historic village famed for its undulated hills could be heard beats from traditional musicians who had since the wee hours added to the hustles and bustles going on.

For the people of Jada, last Saturday was a special one; a day that sons and daughters from far and wide  irrespective of tribal and religious inclinations came home to pray together, compare notes on developments in the town and celebrate excellence.

To them, that day was a homecoming of sorts. It was the day the people would, for the first time, be honouring its shining stars with merit awards, which is the highest title ever conferred on any indigene. Thus, the excitement of the people could be appreciated as they made frantic preparations for the day’s event since they wanted to secure vantage sitting positions in order to see the dignitaries and guests from far and wide expected to grace the occasion.

In fact, Mother Nature was kind to the people that day. As early as 8:00 a.m., the sun began to shine with flaring ardour although it was in the height of harmattan season.

The warm weather was thus to accentuate the celebration for an event slated for 10.00am, just as the venue of the celebration was already filled with gaily dressed, Jada sons and daughters with their guests as early as 9:00 a.m. With the arrival of the guests, the pulsating village became more alive

The communities were spurred by non-recognition of any of their shining stars by President Goodluck Jonathan in the national awards, including Professor Auwal M. Abubakar, a pediatrics surgeon, who led the team of experts on a 15-hour operation for the successful separation of conjoined twins at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Others honored includes Professor Abdullahi Liman of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, Professor Emmanuel Camble, dean faculty of Education University of Maiduguri and Dr Theresa Ize Otu an Igbra by tribe but born in Jada, among others.

They regretted that despite their contributions to humanity and national development the would have been awardees were conspicuously not recognized in the national awards which many described as ‘’jamboree’’.

Those who spoke at the occasion opined that the likes of Professors Auwal M. Abubakar and Liman Tukur and Professor Emmanuel Camble deserved to be honoured nationally, they alleged that there could be manipulations and preferential treatments in the national award process,’’ You can see even some of the named awardees like Professor Achebe and others rejected the awards,’’ they argued.

Professor Abubakar, born in Mayo-Kila village has been an external examiner to many medical schools across the country and recently was the team leader for the successful separation of conjoined twins at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and had won the award of the Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) in Paediatrics surgery.

Like Professor Abubakar, Professor Abdullahi Liman Tukur a onetime executive chairman of Adamawa state Primary Education Board was born in a village called Kilbawo and had won several awards within and outside the country. So, also Prof. Emmanuel Camble (Dallatun Mbulo) he was born in Pola. He held several is exalted positions and is presently dean faculty of Education, University of Maiduguri.

As a mark of unity in diversity, the community recognized and honoured Dr Theresa Ize Otu, Ebira by tribe but who was born and educated in Jada. Dr Otu hails from Kogi state. Theresa was described as standing out as a meticulous and dependable champion of excellence.

Others honoured were Dr Mahmoud Yahya, Air Vice Marshal Ahmad Iya Abdullahi, Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmad Bamanga, Alhaji Chubado Muhammad Jada, Alhaji Yahya Bobboi and Comrade Umar Abana who had an excellent career in the Nigerian Ports Authority and retired as Manager, Ports Operations and Management.

Setting the tone for the event, the chairman of the occassion Alhaji Muhammadu Koiranga Jada, Dallatun Jada, commended the organizers for celebrating merit and excellence.

He urged other communities to emulate them as according to him, ‘’every community has their unsung heroes, people who work hard at their jobs and in civic endeavors, not for recognition but for the general good.’’

In his remarks, the President Jada Progressive Association the organizers of the event, Malam Abubakar S. Bello said it was aimed at a group of hardworking professionals, many of whom are involved in charities, civic groups and other philanthropic endevours, regardless of tribe and religious affiliations.

“The purpose is to recognize people in the community who have gone above and beyond when it comes to giving back,” said Bello.

“We’re trying to say thank you, in some small way. These people have continually given off themselves, their time, their talents to unity in community service, ‘he noted.

“These people don’t look for recognition, but they certainly deserve it,” JAPA President has said.

In their acceptance speech, the awardees who dedicated the 2011 Golden Merit Award to the people of Jada, promised to work more on the transformation of the area into an investors’ haven and one that would be a cynosure of all eyes. They thanked the people for the honour and recognition of their little achievements and assured them of better days ahead.

“To whom much is given much is expected,’’ said Professor Liman Tukur, one of the recipients.

One of the benefits of the awards is leitting members of the community know that there are people out there they can reach out to, Tukur added.