I got a heartbreaking note yesterday, from a lady I have never met, who was a beneficiary of the 2011 round of scholarships.
I knew Godwin a long time ago. He was a brilliant and fearless journalist, and active pro-democracy voice during the darkest days of military dictatorship. Tragically he died in 2006, shot by unknown gunmen on his way home from the office.
Back then, all I could do was to help his family in the best way I could, by including his daughter in that year’s scholarship list for her postgraduate studies in Scotland. Back then I was mostly focused on helping young Nigerians go to study abroad, because we were all on the edge of exile anyway, and we thought it was best to send young people out to go see how freedom and democracy works, so they could come home and help make the country better.
I can vaguely remember one of my close staff and friend talking about Godwin’s other daughter applying for a scholarship in 2011, but because the scholarships were awarded on merit, all I remember was asking “Is she qualified”. I didn’t know she had been awarded the scholarship by the office. Not until yesterday.
My son sent me this note written by Godwin’s daughter, Ruona, and I was really touched by it. For very many reasons I cannot put down in words. I have given thousands of scholarships over the years, and read many “Thank You” notes, but this one stands out – not only because it thoroughly embarrassed me as Ruona intended, but because she has in her own decided to pay that gratitude into the lives of others by offering free journalism training.
Yes Ruona, I got to read your piece, and I’m truly touched. I also visited your twitter timeline, and saw someone’s testimony as being one of the beneficiaries of your training.
So I would tell you now that you owe me nothing. Instead I should say thank you. Thank you for being a great example to your generation, by offering voluntary service without compulsion. By investing in the lives of other people, you have laid a foundation for greatness in the future.
I wish you well in all you do, and pray that the sacrifice of your father and many other heroes never be in vain.
Yours,
Atiku
PS: Ruona’s note can be read here
Salam alaykum sir,please how can one make a contact with you on a personal issue?Thanks
Touching thou! His Excellency u have done quite well in the area of education of this country ! No doubt .God keep and bless your good works.
You are simply a role model myself in particular is always proud of. I’m taking my time to be blessed by God with your kind of Political orientation, approach and concept. You’re a leader.
Your Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar you have done excellent for our generation it is only God that will pay you back with Aljanna wishing you a long life & happy more returns of your bitrth day
I am also touched by this story,contrary to your emphasis on education,we are very certain that you are a stakeholder when it comes to education in this country.May you live long so that you will witness your good will (Amin)…
I too very impressed
Well done Sir, and keep up the good work. A real philanthropist!!! long live TURAKI
Thank you the great vice president!
Good day sir, i knw u can do more than that, in the only qura’n God said giver’s never lack, as u try to do these may almighty allah ll crown ur effort n continue to bless u. Sir if u can try to create a site for the youth to registrar for the help
Yes, is great to be great if all Nigerians will act the way you doing poverty and hopelessness will not take the centre stage as the case is today. All developed nations of the world in one way or the other their citizens play major roles in the betterment of their peoples in the forms of foundations for the improvements of life not like ours where every body want to be comes a billionaire overnight where public funds that was meant for developments is always been diverted. Sir, with the coming of this your pet project and that of T. Y. Danjuma foundation hope is not totally lost in the country, Allah wallu.
Your Excellency, I have been a follower of your activities especially your determination to ensure democracy thrives in Nigeria and sometimes your tweets
I can honestly say that I have not seen wealthy individual and Politician that has compassion for this country and the less fortunate like you YOU!
You have been a source of blessings and encouragement to many regardless of where they come from
Allah bless your Excellency, and thank God that this country can still have leaders like you!
Sim V Mangga
Multafu Borno state
Thank you sir. How I wish I cud get such an opportunity just like Ruona. May Allah bless you abundantly Turaki. Jazaakallah!
This type of good deeds would never be in vain. The youths really appreciate your philanthropic work. Wish you all the best TURAKI
Thank you sir, for this wonderful and selfless service you are doing to the humanity,may The Almighty Allah guide you and protect you and give you anything you desire in this world and here after. Ameen.
I wish my Royal Father long life on the throne as he celebrates 25th year, OPOPOMAJA APOMO BI IKU! (THE OLUBAKA OF OKA LAND)
Peace & blessing of Allah be upon you Sir!
Your Excellency,
I request to be benefited from your philantrophic work in cash or kind, may Allah continue help you sir.
your excellency sir,
our former head of state,General Abdusallam Abubaka is my great pleasure to sincerely to honour a good humble leadership that make us to know trueth about democrazy in nigeria today thank you for making everyone proud,and also i want to imployed you to continue your good deed,may allah grant you peace and joy to feel your home (Amen) i want you to know that nigerian need you as a president again thanks.
Sir,i believe in u.i hv heard,nd seen ur goodwill for the people.it’s only God that can reward you.bt becareful always to know the kind of people you carry along in ur race of life(politcally nd other wise) tank sir..
Thank you sir, we make the deserved 2015 for leading help poorless and develop
Indeed if you plant a viable seed in a fertile land it will germinate and probably begin to bear fruit while you are alive. Carry on Turaki!
Thanks for your effort toward youth of this nation may Allah bless you with what you ask from almighty Allah.
A good one Turaki!
You gave stolen meal to demonstrate your generosity thereby denying the poor masses their merited stake of reward for hard work. For you Nigerians are those your loyalists because each time you deny the voiceless their share in competition just to settle your dogs’ descendants or affiliates it shows a democratic and true leadership gesture but I tell you the truth is precisely the opposite. As it indicate how undemocratic, uncivil, none-progressive and counter future-oriented you are by choosing to use the peoples mandate on you to cheat on the helpless whose anointing you enjoy. Remember that charity is not giving the dog just a bone but giving it when you need it as much as the dog do and if you are not aware, that using your public position to allocate the national resource against the set standard is criminal then I think you should be the one voting for me or my elect as your president. Maybe you have no idea of the people whose hard work, sleepless night, confidence in this country’s leadership and struggle you shoved to the dust just to favor your sycophantic loyalists…. you are a criminal, repent now or perish!!!
Wh a mindful investment into d lifes of leaders of tomorrom.thx u sir
A great shout out to our mentor!10 gbosa for Turaki Adamawa ,gbosa!gbosa!!gbosa!!!gbosa!!!!gbosa!!!!!gbosa!!!!!!gbosa!!!!!!!gbosa!!!!!!!!gbosa!!!!!!!!!gbosa!!!!!!!!!!.your work had started yielding result,the lord who had stared His good work in you will not stop till the end.no one can stop you ur excellency.
All I can comment as far as this article is to quote a portion of the bible that says ” Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have the glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.
But when thou doest alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth. Thine alms might be in secret but thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”
The good dreams u have for Nigerian youth will surely make your dream come true, because who ever utilize the youth has secured unchallenged future , the time is coming that we are going to fight for you bcos u mean well to us, Go ahead Turaki Allah will guide n protect u Amin .
i am so impressed that something like this is going on through the benevolence of our former VP. wow! More grease to your elbow. I humbly request get scholarship for my PG programme too. Thanks.
Dear Mr. Atiku, I have always held a rather disdainful view of you and other politicians that I believed further wasted this country’s future in line with the military. In particular, after my stint in banking and insights into the dealings on AP and Intel, I simply gave up on you despite the initial hype of your being a new breed.
However, upon coming across the write up “Thank you Mr. ATIKU” by this lady in the Thisday Newspaper (I think?) over the weekend, I could not help but begin to rethink my stance. I was indeed amazed that such a foundation exists in this country, owned by a Nigerian and is not infested with mediocrity and all sorts of shenanigans.
In my view, you truly deserve the thank you from her and all of us in this country. The great America of today only became what it is due to similar investments by similar visionary men (Carnegie, Rockefeller, Harvard, etc.). I guess there is still hope for us.
Thank you Mr. Atiku!
Thanks u sir.
https://www.mavinmis.blogspot.com/
That is what make u a legend politician,keep the Good work and that mark u a good footprint to our nation that wil be always recognise…just lack the access in meeting u sir so as further in the Nigeria politics as one of ur forch men..HON Gode .
I happened to be one of the beneficiaries of her free journalism workshop which took place at Fatai Atere, the headquarter of The Nation Newspaper this year and I learnt a lot from her.
She is really an embodiment of knowledge. Jazakunmullahu Khairan to you sir. May Allah Bless you abundantly
“Thank you for being a great example to your generation, by offering voluntary service without compulsion.”
I say the same… You are my role model