Zuwaira Gambo: The North’s champion of the poor
The war on terror has not only shown the villainous extent some fellow Nigerians can go, it has also brought out the best of the Nigerian patriots. And so, my friends all, while we eulogise the officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces for their gallantry in the war on terror, we must also be mindful of the sterling roles of the civilian men and women who braved the odds to ensure that victims of terror, especially the vast majority of the internally displaced persons are catered for. One of such brave individuals is Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, veteran journalist, philanthropist par excellence and true champion of the displaced people of the North East. For those who have been far removed from the horrors of the theatre of war in the Northeast, the roles played by individuals like Zuwaira Gambo may not be fully appreciated. Away from the epicenter of terrorist activity, one cannot fully grasp the very horror daily faced by the victims of terror.
But for those who have had the misfortune of living their daily lives at the centre of Boko Haram atrocity and internecine insurgency, the dreg, the depth of suffering is real and when some individuals brave the odds to bring succor to them, you can best imagine the gratitude that swells from their souls. This inspired my devotion of this column today to the appreciation of the often unsung gallantry of women like Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo. What is particularly soul lifting is Zuwaira’s daredevil humanitarian forays to the very centre of the counter-terrorism battle, seeking out the oppressed, harassed and utterly vulnerable women, children and men. At a time when most people for the sake of personal safety would rather be at home, Zuwaira could be found around the camps of the IDPs in Borno and other North Eastern states, using personal hard earned funds to provide essential relief goods for the people. I am sure this is one quality the Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari saw when she recently appointed Zuwaira as the Secretary of the Wife of the President’s Committee on the Distribution of Donated Items (WIPCOMDI). Zuwaira Gambo is not new to philanthropy.
For the past 10 years, even long before the exigencies of the suffering of the people of the North East drew her closer home, she has been immersed in charity work. This informed her establishing, in 2010, a foundation called Hope Initiative for the Vulnerable and Marginalized (HIVAM). Hajiya Zuwaira has through the impressive programmes of the foundation, especially the intervention projects, brought succor to the lives of many and provided great breakthrough opportunity for many. Take for instance the Almajiri and beggars of Mpape, FCT who used to roam the streets begging for alms to enable them procure daily meals. Not only did Hajiya Zuwaira’s foundation build them a new home to discourage them from begging, provision was made for their daily upkeep even as they are encouraged to study or learn vocations. From childhood, Zuwaira appeared to have been tailor-made for philanthropy. Professionally as a Mass Communication expert, Zuwaira has progressed from a desk editor, feature writer and columnist at Daily Times to being the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor of Niger State. This media background and the extensive journeys it entailed must have equipped her to better understand the very essence of the human condition, how it is better handled elsewhere and how the system that worked in other lands can best be applied to the Nigerian situation. On the go, Zuwaira is really an inspiration to watch. Everywhere she goes, Zuwaira has never hesitated to draw attention to the appalling condition of the displaced people of the North East.
That is why she has voiced total support of the push for the establishment of a North East Development Commission in the mould of the NDDC as a way of doing justice to the untold suffering and losses of the people of the North East due to the felt clutch of terror. Believing that nothing can be too much to compensate or assuage the suffering of the people of that region in the hands of terrorists, Zuwaira sees the establishment of the Commission as a great step forward in the process of healing the scars of war and terrorist atrocity. According to her, “I am really inspired by the action of the wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari in giving her full backing and voice to the creation of the North East Development Commission. I also encourage the great men and women of the National Assembly to ensure the passage of the bill.” Away from giving a helping hand to the victims of terror, Hajiya Zuwaira still finds time for the less privileged in other towns and cities like Minna, Maiduguri and Kwaya Kusar, her home town where she set up vocational training centres for indigent women and youths. Also, through her scholarship scheme, numerous indigent youths have been given education. Hundreds of students in tertiary institutions like Unimaid, ABU, and polytechnics in Kaduna Mubi, Damaturu, Bauchi etc, are in school today courtesy of Hajiya Zuwaira. For making a great difference in spite of the odds, you cannot but doff your hat for Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, philanthropic Amazon of Northern Nigeria
No comments:
Post a Comment