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In November 2014, freelance writer, Musa A. Tijjani was among the huge crowd that watched Dr Bukar Usman’s DLitt investiture at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In this special report, he seizes the moment to comment on the special qualities of the awardee.
Dr. Bukar Usman: Honouring a Literary Colossus By Musa A. Tijjani
I sat there watching and listening when the citation of this personality was being announced at the Gym of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria by the MC. The occasion was the 37th convocation of this great university on Saturday, the 22nd of November, 2014. It was not the envy in me that informed my thoughts about this man I met at Bayero University, Kano recently, but the reality of his contributions, through his numerous works that have continued to illuminate the world of literature. No wonder the premier University found it befitting to honour this literary colossus in such a manner it did. Born in 1942 in Biu, Borno State, Dr. Bukar Usman has since school days, found himself caught in between his good upbringing which later shaped his adorable life style and the literary passion about his immediate environment, his nation and the world over. Added to his earlier Dr. of Literature among other honours, the Dr. of Letters bestowed on him by the ABU is another feather to his already colourful cap of accomplishment. To have such a personality in the literary world is a great honour and gift to humanity by God Almighty: for his works in various Nigerian languages, his native language and Hausa particularly, followed by the English as a foreign language – have painted an alabaster of a being so selflessly committed to contributing to beneficial knowledge for the development of his country and beyond through literary works. It is an understatement to say Dr. Usman, OON, has recorded so much both in the literary world and service to humanity. He, like any great men or women, has established himself in such a wonderful position that he becomes unarguably one of the frontline fountains of knowledge in Nigeria and internationally. To me, he has been able to establish himself among accomplished great men and women who made it through dint of hard work, commitment and selflessness because of his penchant to serve humanity through his good works. To date, his outstanding contributions to education with over 30 publications, in different languages and folklore to his humble name, can also be found in one of his pet projects – the Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation – through which we saw the sponsoring of some secondary school students in pursuit of education, donation of funds for research in Language, Literature and Culture to undergraduate, masters, and PhD students of Bayero University, Kano and Cairo University, Egypt in addition to donation of funds for researches on folktales of some languages in Nigeria, among many others. Dr. Usman is an outstanding personality whose record of honours by both government and institutions within and outside the country cannot easily be matched by any of his contemporaries. One could still argue that, given his background as a well-cultured son of his parents and one whose rigorous grooming right from childhood saw his development from cradle to fame in the world of knowledge, Dr. Usman is simply a towering example worthy of emulation and a pick of the pack any time, any day. Indeed, the numerous national and international honours he received while in the service of the nation in various capacities as a public servant and as an ardent supporter of the education of the young ones were well – deserved. As one of the longest serving officers in Nigeria at the cabinet/presidency, the longest serving Director – General and later Permanent Secretary in the Federal Service, Dr. Usman’s contributions in virtually all sectors of national and institutional developments cannot be over emphasized. One striking and interesting aspect of his life is that he is a globe trotter with a purpose. Not only that Dr. Usman has traversed the width and breadth of the African continent, Europe and Americas, his philanthropic gestures are so wonderful that one can say without contradiction, he is a modern day globe trotter with a unique disposition, a man whose philanthropy in the field of knowledge – seeking and adding value to education knows no bound. His penchant for knowledge as well as his desire to excel in various fields of human endeavour have never been mooted with pecuniary consideration attached. He writes to keep himself active with discerning engagement of the mind in order to help the world of knowledge and the development of humanity for progress. What therefore, Dr. Usman has done and is still doing in the sphere of beneficial knowledge, is inexhaustible. Call him a literary colossus, a man of knowledge, a philanthropist per excellence or a mover and shaker in the literary world; you are not being economical with the truth. Tijjani writes from Kano |
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