Nigeria @ 65: Nominations for National Awards to Unsung Heroes

 Nigeria @ 65: Nominations for National Awards to Unsung Heroes

By

Prof MK Othman

In Nigeria, ironically, some heroes who work tirelessly to develop their country often go unnoticed, unsung, and unappreciated outside their immediate communities and the people directly benefiting from their efforts. These individuals have a passion for serving humanity with their talents and hearts, regardless of bigotry or selfishness, and without expecting anything in return. Ideally, society should recognize these people with support and rewards to motivate them and inspire others to follow their example. However, they often remain unrecognized and receive little acknowledgment for their lasting impact. When I encounter such people, I look up their names, hoping to see titles like OFR, OON, MFR, etc., as national honors reflecting their contributions, but I often find no such recognition. 

The National Honors Awards were established in 1963 to recognize patriotism and achievement by individuals in their chosen fields, and are awarded by the President. These unsung heroes are motivated by a deep passion to solve Nigerian problems through increased productivity and rarely seek recognition with national or financial awards. Although few people fall into this category, they can be found in many communities across the country. As Nigeria celebrates 65 years, we should acknowledge the unsung heroes and their remarkable contributions to Nigeria's development and its people. We should also nominate them for national recognition.

Coach Oliver Berdeen Johnson, popularly known as "Coach OBJ," is the Technical Adviser of the Ahmadu Bello University Basketball Program and was, at one time, the Head Coach of the Nigeria Basketball Team. Over the last four decades, the ABU Basketball Team has gloriously elevated the name of ABU Zaria to the pinnacle of the global basketball arena. Even in the USA, the international headquarters of BasketballBasketball, the name of ABU Zaria rings a high-pitched bell, thanks to OBJ, who tirelessly trains youth in the tactical skills of basketball games and made them a force to be reckoned with. Coach OBJ trainees are everywhere across the globe where basketball matters.  In the basketball court, the fear of OBJ trainees is the beginning of wisdom.

Generally, those who leave their home countries for Nigeria, especially from the Western world, refer to themselves as expatriates. Coach OBJ, the US-born African American, sees himself differently. He calls himself a repatriate. For him, coming to Africa and Nigeria nearly six decades ago was a homecoming. Coach OBJ arrived in Nigeria in 1970 after a brief stay in Kenya and Uganda, where he played Basketball alongside the late Ugandan leader, Idi Amin, and other players. By 1970, he had a 21-day visa to visit Nigeria, just as the civil war there was ending. Within the first week of his visit, he saw things he had not seen in Kenya. The Nigerians themselves seemed to be in control of their own affairs. That endeared him to the country. "I am going to stay here!" OBJ exclaimed. In 1978, Coach OBJ came to ABU Zaria, where he fulfilled a long-cherished dream: building a winning team. To date, the ABU Zaria Basketball Team has won 14 men's and 10 women's basketball championships in the National Universities Games Association (NUGA), the most by any Nigerian university.

Over the last 50 years of his time in Africa, especially in Nigeria, Coach OBJ has become an enigmatic legend. He has produced incredible basketball players like Hakeem Olajuwon, 'The Dream' (NBA Hall of Fame), the first African drafted into the NBA, and ranked among the top 50 players of all time worldwide. He has also mentored the current President of the Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, whose team won the NBA Championship in the US, and Ejike Ugboaja, who was drafted out of Ahmadu Bello University as the 55th pick in the 2nd round of the 2006 NBA draft. Additionally, he has helped thousands of players leave Africa to play professionally for top teams worldwide. In 2001, Coach Oliver started the Basketball for Peace program, which has established over 50 basketball peace zones with facilities in 16 states of Nigeria. He has also authored a book on the history of Basketball in Nigeria.

Although Coach OBJ won several accolades, particularly from student bodies and the sports industry, he was twice nominated for an Honorary Doctorate (honoris causa) from Ahmadu Bello University but has yet to receive it. Can the Nigerian National Merit Award Committee consider Coach OBJ for a national award? It will be a well-deserved award for an icon like OBJ.

Another influential figure, quietly and positively impacting millions of Nigerians — especially smallholder farmers, women, and vulnerable groups — is Dr. Salamatu Garba Kano, the founder of Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN). WOFAN offers hope to the hopeless. The story of WOFAN's creation was featured in this column in February 2024 and is available on my blog. It is a heartwarming and inspiring story of how an act of kindness from one person can ignite a lifelong commitment to helping those in need.

Through capacity-building and entrepreneurship in agricultural value chains across 10 states, WOFAN has conservatively improved the lives of nearly seven million Nigerians. Over the past five years, WOFAN has impacted and empowered about 150,000 people annually, which is a significant achievement. The Integrated Community-led Network of Hope Scale-up (ICON2) project, currently carried out by WOFAN, aims to reach 675,000 individuals aged 18-35 over three years. The Master Card Foundation funds this ICON2 initiative in Nigeria. Participants are organized into groups of thirty. They gain access to quality inputs, labor-saving technologies, finance, extension, and market services, as well as entrepreneurial skills that are both employable and marketable.

The compassionate efforts of Dr. Salamatu Garba are also focused on educating young Nigerians through WOFAN's comprehensive schools, including nursery, primary, secondary, and Islamiya schools. These schools aim to create an inclusive, aspirational learning environment where children, families, staff, the governing board, and the broader community learn and grow together in an atmosphere of cooperation and tolerance.

The schools are open to all Nigerians without discrimination and have been made affordable for the general public. Considering the modern facilities and equipment in the schools, the modest school fee of N30,000 per term and free tuition at Islamiya in the commercial heart of Kano, along with support for the indigent and orphans, the schools were not established for profit but to help communities access modern education. The joy and contentment of Hajia Salamatu lie in harnessing the creativity and innovative talents of young Nigerians through education and exposure to technologically driven coaching and skill empowerment.    

Hajia Salamatu-WOFAN is a powerful force in the fight against family hunger and poverty, as well as the educational development of young Nigerians. She is a social justice advocate and an ambassador of peace who has made enormous contributions to achieving food security in the country. Her name resonates strongly among the millions of households of smallholder farmers across Nigerian communities and has earned her numerous accolades from beneficiaries, ordinary people, and community leaders alike. This year, she was crowned Kilishin Dogon Bauchi in the Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. She received praise and endorsement from His Royal Highness, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau. However, Hajia Salamatu deserves national recognition with a prestigious national award to motivate others to follow her example. Can the Nigerian National Merit Award Committee consider this well-deserving case? 

I am not done with the unsung heroes; I have three other names that deserve mention. To be continued next week.