I have a lot to say about this quintessential personality, great teacher, strategist and a real kind and generous brother.
I first met Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman in 2016, not in-person, but in the literature through his scholarly work “ Assessing Democratic Governance in the Nigerian Fourth Republic, 1999 -2014.”
The paper as I read did not just offer me the ideas and information I was seeking; it, more importantly, gave me an insight into Ogbo’s taste of scholarship. After I read a few other works of his subsequently, I was able to discern a persistent pattern of scholarly style and finesse in his works.
Without mincing with words, Prof Usman is one of the big influences on my aspirations towards writing. Besides being a mentor to many, Prof Usman stands out as a typical Nigerian indigenous scholar, who is both globally competitive and locally relevant. What is particularly interesting about Prof’s scholarship is that he obtained all his degrees in Nigeria. Yet he has not, in any way, been limited or diminished by our local circumstances in his march to academic excellence and achievement.
Professor Usman’s rising as a technocrat in the academia has been unprecedentedly rapid and grand. He had been a Head of Department, Director, Dean Student Affairs, and has served in more than 30 committees at the Senate and faculty level at Kogi State University, Anyigba now Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba. In spite of these challenging responsibilities, he has remained committed to his prime calling to teaching, research and academic resourcing.
On the 7th April, 2020, the young promising academia was appointed as Ag. Rector, Kogi Polytechnic Lokoja and was subsequently confirmed on the 12th February, 2021 based on his outstanding achievements.
Professor Usman is a man of average height but with a heart that is bigger than Mountain Everest, offering his guidance, encouragement, and sometimes pushing hard for many of us (mentees)to keep up the ‘good fight’.
A distinguished scholar and a great teacher in the field of politics, mentor and inspiration for generations of newly established, emerging, promising and aspiring scholars, a rare combination of humility, humanity, critical voice of reasoning and advocacy, an administrator of repute, a strategist and peacemaker, passionate human, community development expert; a strong believer and cheerful giver, a loving husband and father.
In all, Professor Usman is a critical voice of reasoning and advocacy. He often forms his opinion on issues based on experience, consultation, critical engagement, superior argument, reasoning, and conviction, with little or no prejudice. His core value is built on humanity, honesty, openness, and mutual respect. He does not shy away from supporting the course he believes in.
Today, I celebrate a scholar who in the hallowed halls of wisdom and the academia, where minds converge, stand as a beacon, a sage, and a guiding light.
A man that when you win his trust, it is hard for anyone to manipulate you before him, which personally I have witnessed.
Congratulations and happy birthday my dear mentor and benefactor!
I celebrate you profoundly!
– Abdulkadir Bin ABDULMALIK
Mentee
