I have always believed in a simple philosophy: choose your mentors deliberately, be selective about who inspires you and follow those whose lives genuinely motivate you. Standing beside one’s mentor is the practical expression of belief and mine has been shaped profoundly by Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman.
On 14 January, 2026, I witnessed a moment that transcended routine academic tradition. What was scheduled as a formal inaugural lecture at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) became, in reality, a historic celebration of identity, scholarship and communal pride. On that day, my mentor, Prof. Usman did not merely deliver a lecture; he elevated an entire community onto the global intellectual stage.
For the people of Angwa Ogebe in Ankpa, it was far more than an academic ceremony. It was the public crowning of their most illustrious son: The first man from Angwa Ogebe in Ankpa to earn an MSc, the first to obtain a PhD, the first to become a Professor and now, at 53 years old a Chaired and Distinguished Professor.
The overwhelming presence of sons and daughters of Angwa Ogebe transformed the event into a cultural and intellectual festival. Their attendance sent a powerful message: one individual’s excellence can redefine the global perception of an entire community.
From that day, I said to myself that Angwa Ogebe was no longer just a place on the map; it had become a symbol of academic possibility and intellectual distinction.
The timing of the lecture carried an almost poetic symmetry. Exactly 37 years earlier, a young Usman had published his first scholarly article on corruption. On this very day, he delivered the 37th Inaugural Lecture of FUL, titled: “Corruption Vs. Corruption: Unpacking the WURU WURU of Anti-Corruption Crusade in Nigeria” for his decades of academic reflections.
What unfolded was nothing short of intellectual mastery. He dissected the contradictions, manipulations and systemic deceptions embedded in Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade. He did not merely analyze policy; he exposed the moral and institutional gymnastics behind it.
I say without exaggeration that Federal University Lokoja had never witnessed such a convergence of intellect, authority and tradition. The atmosphere was dense with ideas; intense and unforgettable.
In attendance were:
102 Professors (within and outside Kogi State),
8 Vice-Chancellors (serving and former),
Over 40 Traditional Rulers, including the paramount rulers of the Igala kingdoms, Koto, Ankpa and the Maigari of Lokoja.
So overwhelming was the turnout that even 300 additional chairs placed outside the hall proved insufficient.
The political and administrative presence was equally formidable: the Deputy Governor of Kogi State (representing His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo), the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, and other top government functionaries were gathered; not out of obligation but out of acceptability and love.
On a deeply personal note, it fills me with pride to say that I was raised by a teacher (My Late Dad) and fortunately mentored by a Chaired and Distinguished Professor whose name now resonates across Kogi State and Nigeria as a whole. He taught at both my undergraduate and post graduate level of education.
He exemplifies the true meaning of leadership, tolerance, sincerity, humility and selfless service and today he stands as a fulfilled man of substance and impact.
That day, I did not merely feel pride; I felt history.
– Abdulkadir Bin ABDULMALIK
abdulmalikabdulkadir@gmail.com
