By : Idris Abdul Isah Arewa Trust Newspaper, Abuja [08035130045]
The importance of man’s history detailing characters and characteristics cannot be disputed, especially the one many considers to be an achiever and commands the respect of the society, cannot be overemphasized.
Alcaeus (C620-580BC), Greek lyric poet, once said: “Brave men are city’s strongest tower of defence”. Also, according to William Hazlitt, A British essayist 91778-1830), “The world judges men by their ability in their professions, and we judge ourselves by the same test, for it is on this that our success in life depends”.
Indeed, Professor Umar Dambatta is on the wings of destiny and finding happiness in doing what he has been led to do by his creator. The former Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, will continue to be a reference point, not only in Nigeria Telecommunication sector but globally for the monumental edifice he has left behind on the sands of time and indeed a very big pair of shoes for anyone to occupy as he is leaving the service.
Professor Danbatta, is one of the men in our society who write their names in kindness and mercy in the heart of thousands they come in contact with, that can never be forgotten. The names and the good deeds of such men will always shine as stars of heaven. In addition to his excellent civil service responsibility, he is one of the great men who believes in doing well and leaving behind a monument of virtue that the storm of life can never destroy.
Professor Danbatta were among those who set the standards that opened up the space for other younger and aspiring Northerners. In his days in the academic, he made significant contributions to the academic and administrative development to the tertiary institutions in the country.
Professor Umar Garba Danbatta born in Danbatta Local Government of Kano State, obtained his B.Eng., MSc degrees from the Technical University of Wroclaw in Poland and his PhD from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) UK, respectively.
The Distinguished Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission, served as a Lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Bayero University, Kano, for 32 years, where he taught courses in telecommunications engineering and electronics and held academic positions of Dean of the Faculty and Head of Department of different times.
After his appointment as the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in August, 2015, he has tremendously transformed the Telecom sector in the area of staff welfarism, physical infrastructural development, consumer’s empowerment and satisfaction, job creation, standard information and communication technology revolution, research, rebranding of the telecom sector, cordial relationship with stakeholders, increase in active mobile broadband penetration, efficient monitoring and value driven usage for the provision of different types of service delivery. NCC under Professor Danbatta is a recipient of several Awards and Recognitions both from local and international, for his credible achievement in the telecom sector.
Without doubt, the erudite scholar deployed his immense intellectual presence to impact positively on the environment at a time indigenous, albeit, quality manpower was in short supply. The nation he served meritoriously will continue to cherish his contributions in the field of intellectual dispositions. Professor Danbatta for a in the Public Service turns a career that is resplendent with landmark achievements. His achievement has become a veritable reference point to the younger ones in the public service. Suffice to say that in spite of his intimidating achievements in the public service. He was able to stabilized and focused the administration and management of the sector. The rancor and acrimony that was common place, all fizzled out under his leadership. The professional group development increased significantly under his watch. The professionals were happy to innovative and try new methods to improve efficiently and effectively.
To put his versatility in contents, Professor Danbatta, even with his high-flying life in the public sector, did not lose sight of his background. He was close to his roots and was instrumental to the foundation of educational growth of his people, and have helped in no small measure in ensuring that the past is not lost in the frenzy of modernity.
Professor Danbatta was described as a giant, even among the Legendary generation of indigenous academia in the county, and the story of his life is saturated with many firsts, golden steps across the realms of academic, administration and humanitarian services. The renowned professor, has always served Nigeria meritoriously and bestowed on all Nigerians a sense of pride with his indelible breakthroughs and innovative approaches to the administration of tertiary institutions he has served. Nigeria was indeed blessed to have him as both a patriot son and as a worthy global representative in his fields of endeavour.
In service, he respects constituted authority, including his colleagues and junior ones and maintained a lifestyle of a dynamic leader.
Leadership traits have always been in him and whether group or team he may find himself, he gradually becomes the leader of the team and work as a team player, an added advantage that has given him leverage in all his undertakings.
A leader like Professor Danbatta is not arrived at easily. His ability to make every team member feel valued and belong is a rare quality that he has attained. He has been the driving force of the Nigerian Telecommunications Commission successes. Truly, he is a rare leader to miss at when he is needed most in the telecom sector. As one of the greatest essayists, that come from Scotland, says that: “No great man lives in vain, for the history of the world is the history of great man….”
It is obvious that, if there is life in office, there must be life after office. There is no phenomenon that is as elusive as power. Though death can put an end unto power, exit from office can also be as a result of incidence of ill-health other than death. Power is therefore temporary in nature. You may go to bed with power, before dawn, power may have deserted you. Though, political power may be the most important instrument of getting whatever you want in the whole world, it is the most unreliable. If our leaders know this, perhaps, they will exercise power with caution, trepidation and fairness. Any political career spanning for years must come to an end, not as a result of death or ill-health, but it must give way to effusion of time. Its time has finally expired. My point here is just illustration of the transient nature of life and power.
As a completely detribalized Nigerian, honour came home from afar for Professor Danbatta, when the National Association of Oduduwa Students, a pan-Yoruba Students Union, made him the ‘Icon of Communications Development’.
Professor Umar Garba Danbatta is an embodiment of Excellence, an epitome of humanity and Leader Par Excellence. He is happily married with awesome children.