By AUWAL AHMED IBRAHIM, GORONYO
I decided to write this article on behalf of parents, staff, people of Kaduna State and students of Kaduna Polytechnic on the compassionate gesture made by the Kaduna Polytechnic Governing Council Chairman, Dr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro OFR, SAN, LLD, FCIArb, FloD for donating lifetime allowances to pay school fees of indigent students of the institution.
This will surely contribute to fulfilling the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, towards promoting education and fulfillment of dream in education for all students irrespective of gender or economic status.
In a letter, dated September 9, 2024 addressed to the Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic, the Governing Council Chairman stated that his allowances should be utilized for the payment of admission fees, support and academic fees of any indigent student in his name, and evidence of payment should be forwarded to his office for records.
This kind of assistance only comes from an anointed one, a humanist, nationalist and uncorrupted leader who has the country and the people in the deepest heart, and I am sure these attributes will lead all the staff and the students of Kaduna Polytechnic to the progressive path. While, it is good to say thank you when good is being done or offered, it is also recommendable for others to appreciate and also pray for the person who has offered the gift. This will ignite the spirit of others to emulate for more dividends.
I must say thank you to the Kaduna Polytechnic Governing Council Chairman, Dr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro SAN, LLD, FCIArb, FloD, OFR in the language he understands very well; “E ṣeun sir” !
The gesture of Dr. Pinheiro SAN reflects on what an American philosopher, Peter Singer said a few days, and I consider his words as the building blocks for a great nation because the words enchanted me to appreciate the generosity of Dr. Pinheiro OFR.
Philosopher Peter Singer said, “If you saw a child drowning in a pond, you would jump in to save them. No second thoughts, no concern for ruining your fancy clothes (or, nowadays, your phone). This scenario may seem unlikely to occur in real life, we actually encounter it daily. Implicitly, we constantly choose between spending money on material, often unnecessary things (like fancy clothing) or donating it to save people — especially children — from dying of preventable causes. They may not be drowning right in front of us, but the result is the same, and we have a duty to pull them out of the water. To face that moral obligation, we all should give at least 10% of our income to life-saving charities instead of spending nearly all of it on ourselves.” But for the love God has for Nigeria, we have one that has bequeathed everything he earns to save the drowning children of Kaduna Polytechnic. Indeed, Kaduna Polytechnic is blessed.
“Baba rere,” we say thank you for what you have done to the students of northern premier school of Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna legacy. Your compassionate gesture took my mind to the giant contributions of our founding fathers of this dearest nation in searching for the best mechanism to unite the people and develop the nation.
Through Dr. Pinheiro SAN I witnessed exemplary leadership aiming at rekindling the hope and vision of Obafémi Jeremiah Oyèníyì Awólówò, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Sardauna Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, Oyinkansola Abayomi and Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay in uniting the nation and uplifting the people of the country through sacrifices for the people to achieve their common right in the pursuance of education. These nationalists helped in shaping and reshaping the future of Nigerians through the act of sponsorship and scholarship for Nigerians irrespective of tribes, religion, and region.
As a member of the Institution, I heard staff praying for Dr. Pinheiro OFR, SAN and his family, I overheard the supplications of students to God for him. They were calling his name in fervent prayers, and I say amen to all the recitations. I am sure the Lord will descend those fortunes we beseeched on to him, as the Hausa proverb says, God answers the prayers of those in happiness.
“The Lord will hide Dr. Pinheiro from the wickedness of all evils, God will continue to illuminate his ways like the shining star above the sky, forever he will remain a blessed one. Peace will reign in his house, comfort, and progress will surround his office, and light will always shine his way to greater fortunes in this life. “Olorun le bukun fun ọ!” (may God bless you!), AMEN. I heard many praying.
A history is made in Nigeria because few ever done such a gesture you did, this kindness is engraved on our hearts, written with gold inside the books of history, documented for many generations to come and read, the testimony is written in the book of Power and God has become the Witness and Surety of the promise. The history is written that Dr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro SAN has donated his lifetime allowances to the indigent students of Kaduna Polytechnic.
History will never forget your humanist gesture for the sake of empathy and sympathy you have for the children of the poor. While, I am sure this will create everlasting joy in the hearts of the parents and students of Kaduna Polytechnic. The gesture will help in promoting peace, tranquility, and progress in our workplace and the state.
Dr. Penheiro you are great achiever and a humanist par excellence, an angel descended to the people of Kaduna state to guide and lead the people of Kaduna Polytechnic to the righteous and prosperous path. Undoubtedly, your act becomes the symbol of Samuel Ladoke Akintola, the renowned nationalist who worked and sacrificed everything including his life for the nation and the people. Your first step of action in your administrative responsibility and the gesture of donating lifetime allowances to students convinced every person in Nigeria that you come to Kaduna Polytechnic to amend and not to dilapidate, come to give and not to take and come to build and not to destroy. The people of Kaduna Polytechnic are sure that you and Dr. Sulaiman Umar, the Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic, will synergize to uplift and develop Kaduna Polytechnic to its dreamline vision.
Se s’ale oun e je Seike i, (He who leaves a good legacy behind will be fondly remembered for his generosity) and Dr. Penheiro will forever be remembered for eternity, I am sure Kaduna Polytechnic will surely derive the benefits from your good administration as you come with passionate vision to develop the Institution with integrity and uncorrupted manners as you are very well known in doing it right in every given assignment.
Dr. Pinheiro is a legal practitioner, peace advocate and human rights defender owing Pinheiro and Company an entity of the Penheiro Legal Practitioners chamber in Abuja, Lagos, Port-Harcourt, began his law career in 1987 is affiliated with many legal professional bodies, delivered many papers to combat corruption and steer the country to a prosperous path, read wide in Nigeria and outside the country. Dr. Pinheiro OFR, SAN is serving as the prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In his dedication and successful legal sojourn, he has acted as Sole Arbitrator and Lead Counsel in and to various panels. In further recognition of his outstanding contributions to legal practice in Nigeria and to humanity generally, Dr. Pinheiro, SAN was in 2023 conferred with the prestigious national honor of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR).
It is my singular honor and privilege, to recommend Kaduna Polytechnic to immortalize Dr. Penheiro, Kaduna State Government to celebrate this humanist act, Zazzau Emirate should identify his effort with a turban title, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation should recognize the gesture for an award and Students Union Government (SUG) of Kaduna Polytechnic should not let this honor gets under the water. Dr. Penheiro deserves accolades and awards for saving drowning students of Nigeria who are domicile in Kaduna Polytechnic. Surely, the gesture of Dr. Penheiro will forever continue to make impact on Kaduna State, Northern Nigerian and the country at large.
May you live long for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians, as you progress in life may the Lord keeps his guards around you and lift you to the zenith position of Nigeria. Amen. A dara fun ẹ́ tabi ìré ó! (Best wishes Sir!)
Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo is a lecturer of Mass Comm Dept, Kadpoly and can be reached via auwalgoronyo@gmail.com
