By David Odama

Maikaya Development Foundation came into existence on the 29th of January, 2015 through the registration of its activities with the cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Founded by Alhaji Musa Muhammed Maikaya, the Ciroman Toto, the foundation amongst other things came on board with the sole intent of touching lives through education, empowerment of women, youth, providing health care services, promotion of peaceful coexistence, development of sports through competition among other activities.

The foundation under the watchful eyes and close supervision of the founder, has in the last ten years embarked on numerous projects such as providing opportunities for less privileged young men and women wishing and willing to acquire education, skill acquisition, sponsorship of competition, caring for the vulnerable among other areas.

The foundation has not only demonstrated it’s resilience and commitment in the education of the youth, ensuring that peace reign supreme, remove the budden of the parents by off setting school fees of numerous students and the provision of school materials.

Formation of the foundation by the president and founder, Alhaji Musa Muhammed  Maikaya started during his NYSC days at the age of 23 when he looked back and discover that some of his contemporaries were left behind due to the inability of their parents to cater for their educational needs.

As a determined, committed and focused young man with a philanthropic build in him, Maikaya has over the years rolled out scholarships to deserving students at various levels of studies across Nasarawa state and beyond as well as deploying his humanitarian disposition to the health sector and other socio economic activities in Nigeria.

Young Alhaji maikaya who saw the challenges faced by some of his colleagues, could not only use his NYSC allowance then to pay school fees for some of them, but ensure that they do not see their situation as the end in life.

“I was fortunate to be a corp member in November, 1995 at the age of 23 and I recognized that there are people we started school and life together, they couldn’t go beyond primary and secondary education and since then I dedicated my NYSC allowance, which was increased to N960 at that point. To me, it was giving back to the society as well supporting those my friends to see how they can realize their educational attainments.

Also when I started work I ensured certain percentage of my salary go in the same direction. It wasn’t because I had enough but actually struggle to get there. As children luckily we got there. Incidentally, it wasn’t just my thought. There were like minds, there were people who had the same feeling and the consensus was let’s register this as a foundation that’s how we have the development of this foundation.

Initially when we started, we started in Toto but the foundation as it is today, on tertiary it’s across the state and among the directors, am the only one from Toto. I don’t actually participate in the selection. Incidentally it is across the state, I don’t even know them, those related to me I sponsor them personally from my pocket as a responsibility of a relationship which is different from the foundation.

We also go to the institutions and see how we can add value to them. Of recent there was a state secondary school we took over the laboratory, development also provided furnitures, (desk and chairs). I think that was the one we received letter of commendation from the state Ministry of education through the foundation commending our efforts. We reach out to correctional centres and all the facets of the society to see where we can add value. That’s the history of this foundation.

Concerned by the prevailing challenges in the country, Maikaya foundation have supported government initiatives in the areas of poverty alleviation, provided support for agricultural research, hosted a number of sports event as a panacea to promote peaceful coexistence among communities, as well as empowered youths and women in many communities through financial aid and skills acquisition programme

“There are challenges but what comes to us too as a challenge is that we have more numbers than we expect and it now give room to others to recognize that we are in difficulty, other people who came up know that Maikaya foundation came up and everybody Bowens

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Maikaya Development Foundation, Alhaji Muhammed Musa Maikaya knowing that sports development was key in nation building, bring peace and cohesion, challenged the Federal, State and Local governments to pay more attention to sports development as a panacea for curbing youth restiveness in the country.

Maikaya said the nation would have been better than what it is if all the tiers off government were paying glorious attention to sports development.

The Philanthropist averred that youth restiveness would have been reduced to a manageable level if sports as a unifying factor was encouraged, through completions that can bring the youths who are left to be used as instrument of destruction in the hand of most politicians.

No wonder therefore, some notable Nigerians described Maikaya foundation taking sports to the next level as the foundation for discipline and a great weapon to curb youth restiveness in the country.

Governor Abdullahi Sule who could not hide his feelings at the grand finale of the recently concluded Maikaya foundation sponsored football competition in Toto, poured his happiness and commendation on the organisers of the competition for identifying and using sports to keep the youths focused.

“I am here, and fully involved because as the Chief Executive of the state, I recognized the place of sports in the development of mankind and indeed creating an atmosphere for peace, development and transformation to thrive.

we believe that sports is the foundation for discipline; for human race especially the youth, as without sporting activities we can’t be physically fit, as it serves as an avenue for the youth to take advantage of.

“For us, we will support any initiative that drives the essentials of having our youths focused and for us to have a healthy nation,” Governor Sule stated.

Governor Sule, represented by the state Commissioner for health, Pharmacist Ahmed Sports Development: Maikaya Foundation tasks federal, states to curb restiveness through sports

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Maikaya Development Foundation, Alhaji Muhammed Musa Maikaya challenged the Federal, State and Local governments to pay more attention to sports development as a panacea for curbing youth restiveness in the country.

Maikaya said the nation would have been better than what it is if all the tiers off government were paying glorious attention to sports development

The Philanthropist averred that youth restiveness would have been reduced to a manageable level if sports as a unifying factor was encouraged, through completions that can bring the youths who are left to be used as instrument of destruction in the hand of most politicians.

The State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, congratulated Maikaya Development Foundation, for their commitment to nation building, impacting on the society.

Governor Abdullahi Sule represented by the Commissioner of Health, Pharmacist Ahmed Baba Yahaya said the enthusiasm and passion shown by the Philanthropist in the development of the state, lifting the residents would continue to radiate in the minds of all in the state.

Expressing his impression with the performance of the Maikaya Development Foundation, the governor explained that such a massive achievements has place him above his peers.

“I am very much aware that this great man is known for his philanthropic activities, touching lives, you can see the demonstration from people who came from far and near to grace the finale of football tournament.”

The governor assured that his administration will always give full support to any spirited individual or organization with a vision of adding value to the State’s economy status more especially in the area of youth development.