This piece is to celebrate versatile information manager and veteran journalist per excellence.
Comrade Muhammad Garba is not borne out of sheer vain glorious imaginations but a great opportunity to write about meek media personality.
Even though, the awardee needs no introduction to the media circle and country at large, the awardee is a veteran journalist.
Comrade Garba’s journalism career began in 1989 with Triumph Publishing Company Limited, Kano as a reporter and served in various positions as Sub-Editor, Chief Sub-Editor, Group News Editor, and Deputy Editor.
The award conferred on him, according to the Nigeria Union of Journalists President, Chris Isiguzo, is in recognition of Mohammad Garba’s assiduous work in promoting journalism over the years affirming that he had worked to promote Press Freedom which is one of the key drivers of democracy globally.
Malam Muhammad Garba held various responsibilities that include Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1993, and Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Umar Ganduje between 1999 and 2003. This is a great recognition for him being a media practitioners who have distinguished himself to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria.
Comrade MG Started his union activism as Chairman of The Triumph Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano State. He later broke the jinx and became the NUJ president.
Of his resilience and determination, he became President
of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA), President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) and also member of the Steering Committee of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in Dublin, Ireland.
Nevertheless, honour given to whom is deserved, the recent award on the Kano State Commissioner for information, MG member State Executive Council is well deserved which must be celebrated considering his contributions to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria.
When in 2015, Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje formed his State Executive Council with Comrade Malam Muhammad Garba to captain the affairs of Ministry Information, Youth, Sport and Culture, his appointment was applauded as that of round peg in the round hole being a versatile information manager.
Similarly, as the Chief image-maker of Kano State Government, he has impacted on the positive development of transforming it to what is obtained presently in terms of Public Enlightenment and Awareness; Sensitization and mobilization of members of the public on government programmes among other information processes.
It is on record that, Kano state government was able to contain all the pressure during its most trying moments because Muhammed Garba handled the situation with a sense of maturity and professionalism.
Since then, he had distinguished himself as a chief image maker of the Ganduje’s administration policies professionally and silencing other social critics with tendencies of political view or alliance to other opposition camps. .
He facilitated free flow of accurate, factual, and balanced information between the Government and the citizenry to understand the administration’s policies in mobilising the people to understand programmes and policies of the government.
It is apparent that he had delivered above expectation and that has been attested by many citizens of the state. One may recall a testimonial statements made by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Information and Internal Affair Commissioner professionalism and loyalty at the Nigerian Guild of Editors Biennial Conference held in Kano, said “more than thirty years of our relationship I had close closely with him as my Press Secretary and state Commissioner of Information in all these capacities proved himself as core journalist and never found him wanting of any responsibility assigned to him and performs it diligently”.
CMG’s score card as Chief Spokesperson; as a man of his words state government mouthpieces fulfilled his pledge on staff career progression.
His concerns for the
career progression for the staff of the information Ministry has changed the old narratives for the staff of the ministry to end their working carrier either as deputy director for lucky ones or officer grade level 14, because the ministry had only two available directorship in Ministry that is Information and Public Enlightenment. It was under his stewardship, numbers of staff in the ministry had progressed to Directorship and Permanent Secretaries in the other ministries.
This is first in the history of the ministry, and the staff remain elated.
From 2015 to 2019, as State Government Standing Committee Chairman on Empowerment, Ganduje’s administration efforts in addressing unemployment among youths and women in the State which was one of the administration’s policy since its inception in 2015.
Through his active participations in screening, no fewer than 50,000 youths and women had been empowered on various skills acquisition programmes across the 44 local government areas of the state. One may recall, it was Kwankwaso’s administration that unceremoniously closed down Daily Triumph Newspaper, one of the leading newspapers in the country which has produced several prominent journalists, Presidents of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)
Others had break stints in the academia, state and federal civil service among others. Provided electronics appliances and other required working tools in the various Ministry and parastatals, the Governor’s press crew members, and the creation of 44 Censorship Board liaison offices in each local government area of the state.
Achieving his unforgettable feat in revitalising State Owned Newspaper Triumph newspaper, the paper returned to newsstands by the present administration to ensure that late Governor Rimi’s legacy stands the storm’s wind under his stewardship .
It is apparent that he had delivered above expectations and he is identified as a dedicated public servant that one would admire for his patriotism. Muhammed Garba has indeed made his marks in the annal of history of Kano State and the country.
His rise to the peak has not been as easy as it may look, but his resilient and dedication to see that all he wished for the benefit of the masses come to reality and has made him a unique individual that history will always remember.
One thing even his critics can’t take away from him, is that, he harbours no ill feelings or animosity against anybody. Comrade sees no one as enemies, treats all nicely, a disposition that has made him the toast of every Media practitioner and others, across the country, commands a lot of respect within and outside the State.
He remains a selfless public servant and an uncommon Triumphant in the Triumph family who thinks more about the other person’s feelings, proves to be an undisputable ambassador of the newspaper by ensuring that the organization has been revitalized by the present administration, after the newspaper was brutally and unceremoniously closed down.
His attitude to work has a profound influence on many people as he handles every job with dispatch. There is no better way to confirm this than his regular presence at his office and the unprecedented record he has achieved in his stint as commissioner.
He adheres opens door policy which portrays him unambiguous manifestation of a man who has nothing to hide. As I celebrate my mentor who assisted me greatly to learn the art and practice of journalism being one of his sub-editors while he was a deputy editor in the then Daily Triumph, wishing him more sound health and wisdom for him to continue to deliver on the mission for a greater Kano State.
Dukawa writes from Kano and can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com
