By Abdulrahman Abdulrahim

One universal consensus about leadership is that it is a process through which a person influences and motivates others to get involved in the accomplishment of a particular task. When asked about great leaders the world has produced, people readily reel out the names of the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela etc. These are leaders that are admired because they put themselves to serve purposes that are larger than themselves in life.

Prof. Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem (OFR), Talba of Ilorin indeed belong to the category of great leaders who lay enduring foundations of untiring selflessness which impact positively on the lives of multitudes.

Born not with a silver spoon in his mouth, Prof. Oba underwent his educational pursuit diligently both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. From the St. Malachy’s College in Minna where he trained as a teacher to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and the Universities of Sheffield and Kent, both in the United Kingdom where he studied at the Post Graduate levels, Prof. Oba AbdulRaheem exhibited profound and excellent scholarship abilities. Interlaced with Western Education, Prof. Oba also dutifully acquired Islamic Education that undoubtedly is responsible for his humble character and righteous faith in destiny.

His impeccable academic career spanning over three decades saw him achieve sterling experience in teaching and University administration. Prof. Oba gave priority attention to an all important meaningful thing which will forever make a difference in the lives of thousands of youths of Kwara State origin – Human Capacity Building. A man of great courage and vision, Prof. Oba Abdulraheem will be credited as the ‘architect’ of the admissions of thousands of Kwaran youths to Bayero University Kano while he served at various times in varying capacity as a senior officer in the institution. He was known then to have even aided several others to gain admissions to other Universities in the North – ABU, UDUSOK, UNIJOS, UNIMAID etc. A lot of Bayero University alumni would testify to his fatherly disposition when they were students back then in Kano. In fact, his residence on the campus then was more or less the home of all Ilorin students.

Prof. Oba would stand out tall and above as usual when in 1997 he became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin. His ground-breaking tenure saw the University overcome the scourge of cultism, attain unprecedented physical and infrastructural developments and perhaps most importantly become the most stable in the Nigerian University system. Since his days at the helm of Unilorin, the University has maintained a high level of standard that is acknowledged by all. Upon completion of his tenure, Prof. Oba was later to serve as Chairman of the Governing Council of the State Polytechnic over a period of two years where he carried out massive reorganization of the institution. Thereafter, he was yet again called to service as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Interim Governing Council of the newly established Kwara State University.

Indeed, Prof. Oba AbdulRaheem in my opinion has played the numero uno role in changing the social dynamics of his home town, Ilorin, and by extension Kwara State in general. I dare say unequivocally that no Ilorin indigene dead or alive has been a source of such monumental influence on the future of the youths as Prof. Oba. He has brought hope in times of despair and created real value for people to enrich their lives, first and foremost. If a University education is a critical component of human development worldwide, providing not only high-level skills necessary for every labour market but also the capacity to make important decisions which affect entire societies, then Prof. Oba will be aptly described as iconic.

When Prof. Oba attempted at occupying the Governorship position of the State in 2011, he would be quoted at various times to proudly declare that he hearkened to the call of the people and not because of an ambitious desire. No wonder his conduct after the zoning of the position to another Senatorial zone further endeared him to the people. Indeed Prof. Oba’s selfless disposition has always seen him undertake any endeavour for the benefit of God and Man.

His sojourn at the Federal Character Commission over the last 5 years has enabled equity and fairness in the distribution of the vast resources and potential of the country. His charismatic leadership style has made the Commission visible in the consciousness of Nigerians and there is an increased awareness about the mandate of the Commission. Now there is a reinvigorated effort to see that each State of the Federation and the FCT are equitably represented in all National Institutions, public enterprises and Organisations.

Whether you love him or hate him, Prof. Shuaib Oba AbdulRaheem’s positive impact on the lives of Kwarans cannot be wished away. Certainly history will judge him as an icon, a mentor and a great leader. May the Good Lord continue to preserve him.