JIBRIL DUKKU: A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND INTEGRITY
It was Claude Campbell, a former English professor at the University of New York who once noted that “To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die.” This connotes that while man lives and dies, some live forever. They remain forever in the hearts of people through their contributions to the growth of the society while they lived. From the point of their demise, till eternity, they will be remembered for their compassion and the leadership they offered whilst alive.
Alhaji Jibril Halilu Dukku (Bappah), who passed on to the great beyond last Friday afternoon in Gombe, after an illness that proved terminal, lives. This is because of the impact he had on humanity throughout his lifetime sojourn as a teacher, administrator and community leader. In a teaching career that saw Jibril Dukku rise to the position of Chief Planning Officer of Education, he nurtured intellectual growth and fostered critical thinking by instilling the thirst for knowledge in students thereby empowering them to become lifetime learners. With certifications from the famous Katsina Teachers College and the Dundee College of Education, Scotland, the late Dukku made immense contributions in shaping the values and moral directions of students and prepared them for future challenges.
More so, in a career in administration that saw Jibril Dukku rise to the position of Permanent Secretary in the defunct Bauchi State civil service, he upheld the ethics and regulations of the civil service thereby improving its effectiveness and efficiency. During their time, the civil service was glorious not because of any other reason than the mere fact that they were committed to discharging their duties with passion and sincerity. Jibril Dukku was particularly always at his best. As a good administrator, he had a teamwork spirit with the ability to handle new challenges and learn new things.
And because the reward for hard work is more work, Dukku answered yet another call to duty when in 1984, former Bauchi State Military Administrator, Major-General Sani Sami (rtd), the present Emir of Zuru, appointed him at several times, Commissioner for Health and that of Works and Transport. Dukku contributed immensely in the achievements recorded by the Sani Sami administration in the former Bauchi state. The regime is remembered, amongst others things, for completing the projects it inherited, rehabilitated the Bauchi Specialist Hospital and boosted the agricultural and sports sectors.
The Sani Sami administration ended abruptly in 1985 when retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida ousted the Major-General Muhammadu Buhari led-regime in a coup. It was at that time that the late Jibril Dukku retired from public service. He returned home to continue with his role as a teacher and community leader. He became a mentor and adviser to the younger people. He provided valuable guidance to the people of his community. As a pool of knowledge and experience, the late nonagenarian was resourceful in many ways. He never hesitated to share his experience with anyone willing to learn from him.
Bappah was humble and down to earth. He welcomed anyone who visited him. For the times I visited him, he graciously engaged yours sincerely in extensive conversations. Through our conversations, I realized his Islamic public library was so dear to him. So jokingly, I requested that he should give me one of his books. Bappah outrightly said it was impossible. He went on to note that the library is for the public. So “you can go in there, read any book, leave it in the library and go.” He then told me of how Satan succeeds in making Islamic scholars commit sins. “They borrow books and refuse to return them,” he narrated while smiling.
Given Bappah’s affection for his library, I wish to submit that in partnership with the Islamic Studies Department of the Gombe State University, a Jibril Halilu Dukku Public Library be established as sadaqatul jariyah for him. This will serve as a way to immortalize him aside from the fact that he will be rewarded in his grave, by Allah (SWA) should anyone benefit in any way from the library. Late Jibril Halilu Dukku’s legacy is one of service and integrity. He was a true gentleman, seasoned administrator and educationist.
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May his soul find eternal peace.
Mukhtar Jarmajo, Abuja
