A fine gentleman clothed in humility. That best summarises the person of Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
On Wednesday, October 21, he was unveiled by the Council of States, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pending confirmation by the Senate.
On my first contact with him about seven years ago, I left with an impression that some people are more blessed than others. During that encounter, Yakubu came across like a man with an open future.
At that time, he was the executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
This man parades an uncommon intellectual might. Yet, he doesn’t flaunt it. He’s cool. He is the typical human example of deep water that runs noiselessly.
Articulate and focused, always walking around with a thought in the inner recesses of his being, Yakubu is likely going to be among the youngest chairman of INEC in the history of Nigeria.
Born in Bauchi State on Tuesday May 15, 1962, Yakubu trained as a Grade II Certificate Teacher at the Teachers College, Toro, in Bauch State. He then went to the University of Sokoto in 1980 where he graduated in 1985 with a first class honours in history.
From there, Yakubu went to the prestigious University of Cambridge between 1986 and 1987 where he bagged a Master’s of Philosophy degree in international relations.
He was immediately admitted to study for a PhD in history at the University of Oxford between 1987 and 1991.
He is a three time winner of the Overseas Research Students (ORS) Award by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of United Kingdom Universities, tenable at the University of Oxford; 1987-1989.
He has also won for three times, the Federal Government Merit Award, Faculty of Arts, University of Sokoto; 1983-1985.
Apart from a brief stint at the University of Jos where he was a graduate assistant, Yakubu has been at the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna since 1993. He has served as head of department and dean of the faculty of arts and social sciences. He was the pioneer dean of the post-graduate school of the NDA.
However, he has been an active participant in national discourse towards enhancing excellence in Nigeria’s educational system.
Besides serving at TETFUND, Yakubu has served as chairman, Presidential Technical Committee for the Consolidation of Federal Tertiary Institutions; chairman, Committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Public Universities; among dozens of others.
My second close encounter with Yakubu was at the 2014 National Conference where he served Assistant Secretary in charge of Finance and Administration. That seemed to me like his first major national assignment outside the academic community.
Although he delivered successfully on that assignment, he saw it as a bit of a distraction from his well articulated academic life.
To use the popular Nigerian expression, Yakubu is one man who does not like the wahala of politics and political appointments.
When I met him at the National Conference where I served as a media assistant (though officially as a rapporteur), I kept my distance; while planning for an opportunity to get close. That chance came quite earlier than I thought.
Every morning, I had the joy of delivering newspapers to him. It was a job I chose to do even if the sole aim was to make sure he saw me daily.
It worked when he got to know that I was the one churning out daily press releases on behalf of the conference.
One day along the corridors, he grabbed my hand with such warmth and friendship that sent excitement spilling all over me.
He asked how I could handle the press releases without causing any wahala at the conference despite all the tribally-motivated controversies.
When the National Conference came to a close, I thought it was all over until he called one day and asked me to meet him at a car wash. I did.
As we talked about Nigeria, I could sense the passion; I could touch the deep desire in him to see Nigeria grow in might as the United States of America and in unity as was dreamt of by the founders of the federation.
As we parted ways that day, he asked me to keep in touch. It was a greatly cherished invitation. If only he knew how happy I felt to be so honoured.
Strictly apolitical, Yakubu keeps an amazing low social profile. He has extraordinary ideas on how things should be done.
Anytime I called, I kept telling him that someday, sooner than later, he would be appointed to a higher position.
My thought at that time was that he would be made a minister. He would just laugh and dismiss the prediction as a mere fantasy.
Just about a month ago, I called him twice, he did not answer. Then he called back the following day; with apologies. We chatted briefly and I repeated my prediction to him.
You can therefore imagine my disappointment when nominations were made for ministerial appointment and his name was not there. I felt bad. I felt disappointed; but I kept hope alive.
Today, I have been justified. My belief is that Yakubu will bring to the INEC the same urgent enthusiasm and unquenchable passion that he has shown in his previous national and academic assignments.
It’s going to be tough no doubt; but Yakubu himself is a template for success. I’m tempted to believe that whoever dreamt of him as INEC chairman has not made a mistake.