Yesterday, the 16th of November, 2022 the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups, (CACSG) offered a press release to journalists demanding for the removal of Professor Muhammad Kabir the Director General (DG) of Nigeria Leather and Science Technology (NILEST), Zaria.
Every meaningful and responsible Nigerian must have a second thought on the issue to demand for more on why outside people are more concerned on Nigeria Leather and Science Technology,
(NILEST) than the insiders.
Another dilemma on this saga is referring to the DG as incompetent towards running the affairs of the institute, while his profile, versatility, experiences and history of public services has debunked the narration of the CACSG. Then, their is leakage somewhere.
The appointment of Professor Muhammed Kabir Yakubu was approved in the year 2021 and as a professor of textile science and technology with an in-depth and extensive research in textile industry, he has done his best in repositioning the research Institute for the good of the institute and Nigeria’s development.
Also, Professor Kabir is referred to as an excellent academician, erudite researcher, indepth thinker, versatile reader and a philanthropic scientist.
He is open to accepting challenges, regarded as a man of excellent records and repute in his administrative and academic services.
To point out a little about his academic excellence, he worked with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and also worked with Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 2009.
To forfeit the defamatory statement of the arewa coalition groups and their sender on non-productivity of the Institute, the group should be informed that over 500 students were enrolled in the year 2020/2021 session and in the DG’s zealous passion for the Institute, he invites stakeholders, associations, trade unions and government agencies for conferences and workshops to harness the virtues of the institute.
And, not only his associates, business partners and staff know about his competency but the President of the country.
To say nothing but the truth, Professor Kabir has blessed the institute with vigorous development and has projected a new direction for the realization of the institute to achieve its set objectives.
Nevertheless, his staff are happily working under his guidance and administrative policies that indicate fortunes for the institute.
In their false accusation, the, CACSG stated that, “the the key actors in the leather industry have lost confidence in the leadership of Prof. Mohammed Kabir Yakubu, and as such, they will not keep quiet as stakeholders and an organization poised to defend the interest of their region and it’s people.” Which are allegations that don’t hold water and vividly reveal the skeleton in their cupboard.
In view of this, the board and the staff of NILEST should not be diverted from their attention in discharging their selfless services by shunning the baseless accusations of any person or any group, but, this should be a challenge to them to uphold the values of their work against all odds.
While for the CACSG, they should know that Nigerians will never be misled with their purported information and their pay-masters because the people only are the testimony of NILEST progress.
Meanwhile, they should leave the person behind them to appear for us to understand what type of plans he has for NILEST.
Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim is a public analyst and a freedom writer that writes from Kaduna and can be reached on auwalgoronyo@gmail.com
