Lalong’s template for peace

The question of whether individuals shape history or history shapes individuals has remained a recurring decimal in the life of Rgt Hon Simon Bako Lalong, Governor of Plateau State. As he rose amidst thunderous applaud to address the first combined convocation ceremony of the Plateau State University, Bokkos as Visitor and the Executive Governor of […]

The question of whether individuals shape history or history shapes individuals has remained a recurring decimal in the life of Rgt Hon Simon Bako Lalong, Governor of Plateau State.

As he rose amidst thunderous applaud to address the first combined convocation ceremony of the Plateau State University, Bokkos as Visitor and the Executive Governor of Plateau State, one could not but marvel at the twist of faith.

At the same venue 12 years ago, Lalong was on the same ground to witness the foundation laying of the institution performed by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State.

Lalong’s own life and the metamorphosis of the Plateau State University, Bokkos, have remained intertwined. As the then Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, he re-engineered the legislative process that gave birth to the ivory tower under the Joshua Dariye administration. Having seen the institution at the prospects of its infancy, Lalong witnessed the painful trauma of its abandonment by his predecessor, Jonah Jang and is today central to its rebound as a fledging institution under the respected Prof Danjuma Sheni. The extent to which he embodies the history of the University can be gauged with the overwhelming support he received from Attahiru Jega, a Professor and former Chairman of INEC, who accepted to be the Pro-chancellor of the institution.

Lalong has joined the ranks of great philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle who believe in the potency of education as the most powerful instrument of social change. His deployment of massive resources to fast track it’s academic and structural development is yielding bountiful harvest. Youths have found conducive avenues to acquire the golden fleece and become responsible members of the society, with little or no time to indulge in vices inimical to the society. No wonder peace has returned to Plateau.

Hear Lalong: “Ours is a promise to create opportunities not just for those with the money and influence, but for every Plateau citizen who desires to have meaningful and productive life”.

The educational empowerment of the youths will no doubt further broaden viable choices and make them competitive in the direction of innovative creativity the world is heading towards.

 

Yakubu Dati, Jos, Plateau State