By Ali Abare, Lafia
The Merriam Webster dictionary defines a philanthropist as one who makes an active effort to promote human welfare : a person who practices philanthropy, with the latter being an act or gift done or made for humanitarian purposes.
This definition aptly fits none other than His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, who since his assumption of the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2019, has continued to demonstrate his unfettered disposition to reach out to the less privileged members of the society.
It is generally agreed that without philanthropic leadership, our communities risk losing the basic humanitarian values they were built upon. By being a passionate champion, personally providing for the immediate needs of the less privileged in the society, Engineer Sule is not only fulfilling a cardinal principle of Islam, but is also serving as a catalyst and changemaker for the greater good of Nasarawa State.
Social historians generally agree that leadership in philanthropy doesn’t depend on your financial status because every individual, regardless of age, status, or position, can be a philanthropic leader. But that it all begins with a deep desire to make a difference for the greater good.
In a world of increasing tension it seems we need philanthropic leadership more than ever, and here comes, Engineer Sule. Even though many will readily agree that he has since been identified with this trait, even before his sojourn into politics, it’s however pace setting when as a sitting Governor, who is in total control of the purse of the State, instead prefers giving his hard earned wealth in service to humanity rather than deep his fingers into the common till.
For many and unlike Engineer Sule, it’s far safer to fritter public funds, even when carrying out personal responsibilities. Not Engineer Sule. For him, it’s Sadakatul Jariya to give out his personal wealth for the cause of the less privileged in the society. It’s of course too common to see a person in authority using the privilege of his office to carry out personal goals.
Engineer Sule has reached out and is still reaching out to those in need, particularly sick persons who could not afford quality healthcare because they could not afford to pay the cost of medical care. He has paid for the medical treatment of uncountable less privileged members of the society at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia.
Only recently, while on his way back from an official engagement in Abuja, he detoured into the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he made a personal donation of N10m as part of the N35m needed to carry out an operation to separate a conjoined twins.
At every given opportunity, Engineer Sule is willing to reach out, so long as he will bring succor to the less privileged. This is even more so especially that he seem to regard the State as really financially handicapped, which explains his links with other good spirited individuals, who use their personal wealth, to execute government projects. Recall that one of such, a close ally of the Governor, spent close to N40m to renovate the Government Girls Science Secondary School Garaku. Another philanthropist friend, recently sponsored 20 students to study outside the country.
Just this Saturday, in his countless magnanimous disposition, Engineer Sule personally donated N3m to the Lawn Tennis Federation.
The list is endless. It however suffice to say that, being a philanthropist and Governor, Nasarawa State stands to benefit immensely from this spirit of charity.
Of course, there are a lot of important reasons to support charity during our lifetime and just as many reasons to plan for supporting those causes in the future to ensure our communities continue to thrive for future generations. By each of us nurturing philanthropic leadership, we will make even more of an impact in our communities – now and for future generations.
Abare is a Special Assistant on Media to His Excellency, Engineer Sule, Executive Governor of Nasarawa State.
