By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo
On 27th August, 2024 Hajiya Habibat Olayanju Gambari, who had been a member of staff of National Examinations Council (NECO), retired from public service after serving meritoriously for the number of years required.She exited the Council as an Assistant Director at the Registration Department.
It is imperative to note that many had retired before her but Allah has not given me the grace or guidance to write about them. So, this piece for her was not preempted or planned; it just occurred to me to pen down something for her, because of my personal experience with her. She was an industrious member of staff of the Council and a well wisher as well.
If I come across her we wouldn’t depart in a jiffy because we would discuss important issues ranging from matters that affect our community, Kwara and the nation at large. She is a very frank woman and she doesn’t pretend at all. Fulanis, by nature, are bashful, so one may not be off track to say she is well behaved and that’s why you can’t notice her. Interestingly ,that is also expected of an average woman who is well cultured.
She is disciplined and would go around for you if you needed her assistance. If Hajiya found herself in the midst of settling dispute, she wouldn’t look at your face, she would speak the truth no matter who was involved. She is equally generous. One would advertently scold her, if she acts otherwise, because she is a princess from Ilorin Emirate. It is expected that anywhere in the world, princesses are usually generous.
My own account of who Hajiya Gambari is can’t be sufficient without the input of others. Mallam Aminullah Abubakar Imam Eleyinla of Arabic Units of the Council has this to say about her ”
Hajiya is very humble, kind, and generous, very loving wife when the husband was alive, obedient to her parents, especially the mother who just died about 4 months ago. She is a lover of Ilorin and its cultural heritage. She is very religious and prayerful. She loves mingling with people, mostly especially the indigenes of Ilorin Emirate. Hajiya Gambari is a pioneer member and one of the elders of Ilorin Indigene Quranic Forum, Minna ( Women wing)
To corroborate what Eleyinla said, Hajiya did not lag behind when it comes to anything that has to do with Ilorin Emirate.As indigenes of Ilorin Emirate in NECO we usually have our annual prayers in Ilorin at the end of every year. The 2023 prayers session was held at the residence of Mallam Sharafadeen Akorede of Kwara State Office and Hajiya attended it.
In the same vein, Mallam Abdulhamid Duro Sanni, a Deputy Director at the NECO North Central Office, Ilorin also described Hajiya thus: “She is an easy going person, religious, disciplined and hardworking but don’t cross her red line because she is very blunt. She would tell you the truth on any matter that comes up.”
Similarly, here is what Mrs Cynthia Arinze of the the Directorate of Special Duty said about Hajiya Gambari: “She is very friendly, fashionable ,and prayerful. Aunty Habibat is very matured. She is a woman of integrity. Take her for her words any day any time.
Mrs Deborah Adekoya of Registration department also described Hajiya Gambari as a person who is calm, loving and selfless.
Mallam Kabiru Abdullahi Karaye at the Northwest Zonal office of the Council in Kano also described her thus, She is straightforward , hardworking, religious, God fearing, and kind hearted .She was always Punctual at work.”
Mrs Folasade Adenike Oladimeji of Ekiti State Office also shared her experience with Hajiya “I worked with Hajiya Habibat during the last SSCE. She is a true epitome of humility and a mother per excellent. She demonstrated her brilliancy and ready to work ability. She was so passionate about her work and carried everyone along. She left her own duties as an Administrator to join hands with the script counters and at the same time helped us to offload materials. That was the first time I saw a female senior staff doing such. NECO will definitely missed her. My prayer is that God will grant her sound health in retirement. She will live long to eat the fruits of her labour.”
I should not end this piece without acknowledging those who had retired before Hajiya Habibat Gambari. The first was late Alhaji Yusuf Dauda, who retired as an Acting Director in October,2018 and was the husband of Hajiya Gambari. He was disciplined and always reach out to people in addressing their challenges. He was two terms President of Handball Federation of Nigeria. He was also a former Chairman of Niger Tornadoes, a football club owned by Niger State Government. May Allah grant him mercy.
Mallam Ibrahim M. Baba (Imam Bolugi) also retired in October 2018.Prior his official exit from the Council,he was an Assistant Director at the Islamic Studies unit.He is a jolly good brother without any ill feelings against anyone.He related with people without prejudice,and a very hardworking figure too.His sense of humour has no match.
Alhaji Mubarak O. Ameen (Oniwasi Agbaye) also retired in November,2018 as a Deputy Director.He is calm and pious.Wishing him well in future endeavours.
Alhaji U. M. Abubakar, the then Zonal Director, North Central Zone, retired in March 2020. He was one time the Oyo State Coordinator of the Council. He is a man of good heart. When I joined the Council in 2010 he facilitated how Barrister Kamaldeen Adekilekun provided me with decent accomodation in Yenagoa. I remain indebted to him for the magnanimous role he played. Adekilekun and I today are best of family friends. May Allah perfect UM affairs
Furthermore, Alhaji Ibrahim Sa’ad Agboola retired as Lagos State Coordinator of National Examinations Council in 2021. Alhaji would be there for you no matter the challenge you encountered in the course of your duty. He always ensured that the right thing was done.He abhorred having anyone being maltreated and did not have a sadistic tendency against any of his junior officers at work, because he believed there should be smooth career progression for all. Above all, you wouldn’t be with him and had a dull moment. He is my good brother whom I hold in high esteem. I can remember when he was the State Coordinator in Ogun State, I cannot forget how hospitable he was to me and other staff. Earlier he was the Kwara State Coordinator before he was transfered to Ogun State. May Allah reward him.
To the latest retiree, again, this piece would be endless if I continue talking about her, because she is a woman of great iman and perseverance. She is a God-fearing personality.
Hajiya Habibat Gambari is the daughter of late Alhaji Othman Maigida Ishola Abdulkadir, the Hakimi (Daudu)of Lanwa and Bode Saadu. He was one of the eldest sons of the 8th Emir of Ilorin, Sheikh Abdulkadir Bawa. Her father is also an uncle to the 11th Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji(Dr) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari CFR.Allah ya ja zamani Mai Martaba.May his reign be long ,and continue to be peaceful and prosperous.
As a way of inevitably ending this piece, let me use the words of a famous American Politician, Senator Margaret Chase Smith. According to her, “Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.” This is also in tandem with the philosophy of the Registrar/Chief Executive National Examinations Council, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi. The number one NECO officer always admonishes that NECO staff engage in the right attitudes and acts all the time, because whatever we do make the image of the Council. The reality is that if you are doing the right thing as a civil servant or public servant you are invariably contributing to Nation building in your own capacity. Indeed, Hajiya Habibat Gambari has contributed hers, and she has retired with credibility. Wishing her the best in her future endeavours.
abdurraheemsaaddembo@gmail.com
