Yesterday, 10th December, 2024, while I was presiding over Management meeting at the State Polytechnic, Lokoja, I received the cheering news that Agih Micah Abdul, one of our life-long mentees, had successfully defended his PhD thesis.
The news was broken to me by his supervisor.
The attainment capped the zenith of mentorship involving the trio of Professor Hassan Isah (number 1 in the picture below), then Vice-Chancellor, Kogi State University (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) Anyigba, Professor Marietu Tenuche (number 2), then Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and current Vice-Chancellor of the University, and my humble self (number 3), then Departmental Examination Officer and now Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
Professor Isah appointed Professor Marietu Tenuche as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Administration at different times) in the University. She also became a Professor under the Vice-Chancellorship of Professor Isah.
Professor Tenuche is a Professor of Political Economy and Development Studies and a mother figure who has continued to inspire Agih (number 4) and my humble self.
Professor Isah, now a retired Professor of Chemical Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, recruited me into the University as an Assistant Lecturer in 2009. He also employed Agih into the fold of the academia as a Graduate Assistant in 2015.
The picture is, therefore, symbolic of chains of mentorship that began with the foundation laid by Professor Isah and nurtured by Professor Marietu Tenuche.
Today, that relationship has produced a young and vibrant progeny now addressed as Agih Micah Abdul, PhD.
It all started in 2011, when I was the 200 Level Adviser for the Department of Political Science of the University. It was that moment my path crossed with Agih Micah Abdul.
The relationship started on a rough note; but that is a story for another day.
Not long after, the lack of commitment on the part of the then Class Rep for the 200 Level prompted me to facilitate a change in leadership, and Agih was unanimously elected as the new Class Rep by his mates.
His election as Class Rep provided a platform for a relationship that has today, given me one of my biggest fulfillments in life.
As Class Rep, Agih exhibited traits of a team player and commitment to academic advancement. My conviction in his leadership qualities and personal relationship with people was further strengthened when the then SUG President, Yakubu Shaibu (Ebije) of the blessed memory, who was from the Department of Economics approached me and requested that I should assist as Level Adviser to ensure that Agih emerged as his successor.
As fate would have it, Agih became the SUG President in the 2013/2014 session. As President, Agih's sense of administrative and academic commitment became more pronounced. In spite of that, he remained humble and loyal to those around him.
This further convinced me to draw the attention of the then Vice-Chancellor on the need to engage Agih as Graduate Assistant, having graduated with Second Class (Upper Division).
I made the case for his appointment because, as his undergraduate project supervisor, I knew what he would bring to the table by way of academic prowess, and a value addition to the Department.
Immediately after his appointment, I encouraged him to enroll for his M.Sc programme in the Department. Agih did not disappoint as he enrolled for the programme and successfully completed in record time under my supervision. At the time he completed his M.Sc programme, I was already the Head of Department, after I had served as departmental Assistant Examination Officer and later Examination Officer.
The next charge I gave was for him to proceed for a PhD programme, but outside PAAU. As he was about enrolling for the programme at Nsukka, I received the news of my appointment as Rector of Kogi State Polytechnic, the same time Professor Tenuche was appointed as Vice-Chancellor, PAAU.
Within the period, I encouraged him to marry, and he did. When the opportunity came, we engaged the service of his wife in the Polytechnic.
Today, I am proud to congratulate Agih Micah Abdul for a successful defence of his PhD thesis.
I am more than fulfilled because he has chosen Political Economy and Development Studies, the field where our mother Professor Tenuche has excelled as a Professor; the same field of my recent professorial attainment.
No doubt, Dr. Agih has stayed true to the cause. While he has continued to demonstrate loyalty and commitment beyond words, he has also proved that his intellect and resourcefulness are undoubtedly strong.
My Dear Agih Micah Abdul, PhD, as I welcome you to the club of the revered terminal degree, my charge to you is that you should not allow the river of lifting others to dry. Hold the touch firmly and hand it on to those younger ones looking up to you today.
Today, Professor Isah the then Vice-Chancellor has retired meritoriously from active service, Professor Tenuche is a Vice-Chancellor, I am a Rector of a Polytechnic, and you just bagged your PhD, which is symbolic of epitome of mentorship that should not end.
Congratulations, and welcome aboard, my brother.
Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman
Rector, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja
