By Balogun Omeiza David
There are moments in the history of a people that deserve not just applause but immortalisation. There are days that should be written in gold because they remind a nation that greatness is not an accident but the product of vision, diligence and selfless service. Such was the commissioning of the Barefoot Renewable Energy College (BARECKS) at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara; an ivory tower built by the former Governor of Kogi State, Alh. Yahaya Bello CON. This monumental project of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) under the visionary leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha (DAM) as Director General is one that will last a thousand years on the mouth of the people.
The institution, adjudged as Africa’s first purpose built college dedicated to practical renewable energy education, research, innovation and workforce development, stands today as a towering testimony that when purposeful leadership meets patriotic commitment, what seems impossible bows before possibility. The landmark project, modelled after India’s globally acclaimed Barefoot College, was commissioned on behalf of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, by the Vice President, His Excellency, Kashim Shettima, GCON.
Indeed, it was a red letter day not only for Kogi State but for Nigeria and the African continent at large. It is a golden fish of a project that has no hiding place. Great achievements announce themselves without the beating of drums.
One name echoed across the gathering like the sound of a victorious trumpet blown by warriors coming home with the the spoils of war. That name is that of Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha, a man I simply now refer to as DISTINGUISHED AMONG MEN (DAM).
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The time has come for us all to give a damn to DAM, not in the ordinary sense of the phrase, but in recognition of a man whose footprints have become too large for history to ignore. Among the Ebira people is a timeless proverb that says, “When a child is born, the prayers of his parents and the entire community are that he will one day point the right hand to his father’s house.” Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha has fulfilled that sacred expectation. He has journeyed into distant lands of knowledge and returned with treasures capable of feeding generations. DAM is to be likened to the proverbial hunter among the Ebiras who we were told ventured into the forest and returned home with an elephant, his exploits have become meat for the entire community. Another profound Ebira proverb that perfectly describes what DAM has done says, “The camel prays to give birth so that its waist may stretch.” In other words, true fulfilment lies in producing something beneficial to society.
Through BARECKS, he has stretched the developmental horizon of Nigeria, positioning the country among forward looking nations embracing renewable energy as the future of sustainable development. Without mincing words, this singular achievement has placed Nigeria firmly on the path of catching up with the advanced nations of the world in renewable energy technology. It has equally demonstrated that the present administration placed a round peg in a round hole by entrusting the leadership of the Energy Commission of Nigeria to a man whose vision is larger than personal ambition.
Yet, BARECKS is only one chapter in the remarkable story of Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha. His passion for humanity has never been hidden under a bushel. Simply put, he is a light that cannot be hidden under the table. The top of the mountain is where his light belongs and we are seeing the illumination already. Through the DAM Foundation, countless students have smiled again through scholarships that have rescued dreams from the valley of hopelessness. Many young entrepreneurs today can beat their chest and testify that his helping hands gave wings to their business aspirations to fly. His interventions have continued to prove that wealth is not measured by what one keeps but by what one gives.
Equally commendable is his uncommon love for basketball. His choosing this kind of sport is not by mistake. DAM stands tall, agile and fit with a handsome face that can be visible to any mortal millions of miles away. At a time when many young people could easily become willing tools in the hands of mischief makers, Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha has consistently deployed sports as a bridge of unity, discipline and hope. Basketball has become more than a game in his hands; it has become a vehicle for youth empowerment, friendship and peace-building. We are all aware of the proverb that says, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”, DAM perfectly understands that productive engagement is one of the strongest antidotes against social vices and he wields the power of this understanding not only among his own people but even to the wider world.
Sadly, many occupants of public offices see leadership as an opportunity to feather their own nests. They behave like gluttons whose stomachs know no satisfaction. They become cankerworms and caterpillars, consuming everything within reach without remembering that life itself is transient. Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha has chosen a different path. He has refused to be counted among those who build personal empires while their communities decay. Rather, he has shown that leadership is stewardship and that true greatness lies in lifting others. He remains a creature of God who understands the language of compassion and the sacred duty of alleviating the burdens of those around him.
The Holy Bible reminds us that to whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, the exploits of DAM should challenge every son and daughter of Ebiraland who belongs to the cream of society. Home is where the roots are planted. Wealth, influence and connections become truly meaningful only when they return to bless the land that nurtured them to become the much admired “iroko tree.” As the Ebira wisely say, “When the head becomes bushy, it must be brought home to be barbed.” No matter how high one flies, home remains the place where one’s true identity is preserved.
It is therefore time for our accomplished sons and daughters to stop turning deaf ears to the cries of their people. The suffering in our communities should prick every conscience. This is the hay they must make while the sun shines, for there is a time for everything under the sun. The opportunity to impact lives is today, not tomorrow. After all, a stitch in time saves nine and charity is said to always begins at home.
Special commendation must equally go to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for embracing the global vision of renewable energy. The world is rapidly moving away from dependence on fossil fuels, and nations that refuse to prepare today risk becoming spectators tomorrow. By supporting initiatives such as BARECKS, the President has demonstrated that Nigeria is determined to take its rightful place in the emerging green economy.
Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha has written his name with indelible ink on the sands of national development. His legacy reminds us that true honour does not come from titles but from service; not from accumulation but from distribution; not from noise but from genuine impact on the citizens. The time has truly come to give a damn to DAM. We are to gladly celebrate a man who is genuinely DISTINGUISHED AMONG MEN (DAM). May his shining example inspire many more patriots in Ebiraland, Kogi State and Nigeria at large.
