When the child that would be later christened Andrew was born on May 20, 1966 to the family of Mr. and Mrs Elias Bogoro, no comets were seen. At his burial on February 16, 2023 in Gwarangah town of Bogoro local government area, Bauchi state, a large crowd of sympathisers, comprising politicians, traditional rulers, clerics and university vice chancellors, representatives of the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Adamu Rasheed.
Also in attendance were representatives of the Bauchi Emirate, members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, delegates of Governor Bala Mohammed, friends of the late Andrew and associates of Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro who turned up in large numbers to bid a final farewell to one of the Bogoros.
As early as 8am of Thursday, February 16, traffic leading to Gwarangah became heavy as thousands of sympathisers trooped to the Bogoro’s family compound to pay their least respect to the memory of one of the Bogoros whose life proved a great lesson on how to live a worthy life. Security and local vigilante had hectic times controlling sympathisers.
Dressed in resplendent white, members of the Bogoro Family, led by the former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof Suleiman Elias Bogoro, who is not only a patriarch of the family but also considered by the Zaar Nation as a Mentor and Leader, was on hand to receive those who have come from far and near to commiserate with the family.
By10:30am, the ambulance carrying the remains of Andrew made its way through the crowded road leading to where the funeral service was to be conducted: Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) Gwarangah. Among clerics who were in attendance for the funeral service were the President of COCIN, Rev Dr. Amos Musa, and a former president, Rev Dr. Soja Joseph Bewarang.
Speaking during the funeral, the COCIN president spoke on the relevance of living the Christian life as the basis for others to emulate. Without love and dedicated service to the vision of the Christian faith, Rev Musa contended, humanity will be in jeopardy. In his words: “Listening to all the tributes from many speakers on the deceased, there was no doubt that Andrew lived a worthy life. The Bogoro Family is not only a blessing to COCIN, Gwarangah town, Bogoro, Bauchi State and Nigeria, but the world. The large crowd we are seeing today reflects the inspiring life lived by Andrew and the commendable role he played in the family before his death”.
The Sum-Pyam Gindiri, His Royal Highness Charles Mato Dakat, called on sympathisers to commiserate with the Bogoros to emulate the exemplary life of the late lawyer who loved and served people across national fault lines. According to the Royal Father, “Without mincing words, there is no doubt that the life of Andrew is now a lesson for those gathered here. There is no greater honour for the memory of Andrew than for us to be committed to love one another for peace to reign in our country”.
Described as someone deeply in love with his family members and associates, Prof Bogoro described his younger sibling as a “blooming candle in the wind” who was always full of confidence. The former executive of TETFund recalls that Andrew was always in the habit of expressing gratitude for unforgotten gestures he extended to him more than 20 to 30 years ago.
On the late Andrew, Prof Bogoro penned a tribute: “For me, you were the angel in the family. Each time, I talked with you, I always admired your exemplary sobriety , calmness and contentment…You were never avaricious…Each time I saw you, you reminded me of our Late Dad who lived most of his adult life and also died as Sunday School Teacher , eventually on 24th February, 2004”.
His widow, Veronica, moved many to tears when she described her husband as loving and caring for his children: “You made sure you always provided for the family and made us comfortable. You lived up to your responsibilities as a father and husband. I will live to remember your words: ‘There is nothing in this life’. You were a sincere person who stood by the truth”
Andrew’s daughter, Ngabchong, remembers her father as “the best dad in the world”. Her younger sibling, Amanda, reminisces the cherished moments “when you used to take me out. You are my best friend”.
The last born of the Bogoros, Bedwom, remembers his elder sibling: “You were often mistaken for being a weak man, gentle to a fault and too soft to sting. Little did people know that you stung in a manner that remains deeply impactful in the lives of many. You spoke less with great wisdom, you engaged strategically, yet you maintain an identity of a model”.
The journey for education attainment for Andrew started when, in 1974, he was enrolled into the Local Government Education Development (LGED) 1, Yelwa-Shendam. After the completion of his primary education in 1980, he proceeded to the United Faith Tabernacle College, Jarawan Kogi, Jos East, Plateau State, between 1987 and 1982.
He worked briefly with the Library Department of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi (ATBU) from 1990 to 1992. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gombe where he obtained the Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) in Business Education from 1993 to 1996. The quietest of the Bogoros would later attend the Post-graduate diploma and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from ATBU Bauchi.
His love for justice would make him enroll as a law student at the University of Jos in 1999. By 2007, Andrew had bagged LL.B (Hons) and Master of Laws (LL.B) degrees. He was filled with the unquenchable quest to serve the helpless from claws of injustice. In 2018, his desire to cap his Law studies by enrolling for a PhD programme in Law at the Nasarawa University Keffi came to reality. However, the Coronavirus pandemic, coupled with incessant strikes by university teachers, proved an albatross.
Before his death, he resigned from the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) where he worked between 2011 and 2022. Rising to the position of Senior Research Fellow, he attended many training workshops and undertook special assignments covering political events and wrote several research papers that were published in highly regarded academic journals that include ‘Ethno-Religious Conflict and Democratisation of Nigeria’ (Amani Journal of International Peace Support Training Centre, Kenya, Vol. 1, Issue 5, June 2017); ‘Curbing Corruption and Building Sustainable Peace in Nigeria’ (Wukari Journal OF Public Sector Management , Department of Public Administration, Federal University of Wukari, Nigeria, Vol. 2, No.2, June 2018).
The late lawyer’s leadership attributes did not escape public attention as he was elected the President, National Union of Zaar Advanced Students (NUZAAS) at FCE (Technical) Gombe branch from 1993 to 1994. The late lawyer was also elected as Vice President of the Fellowship Christian Students (FCS) FCE (Technical) Gombe in 1995. His absolute love for God never waned in his later years as he served the church in various capacities, including Secretary Ad-hoc Committee for the Purchase of Church landed property and member, Appeal Fund Committee of COCIN Academy, Abuja, permanent site.
The late attorney was never known to keep a full wardrobe as he took pleasure in measuring his wealth by the act of sharing his earthly possessions with those in need. Before his transition, he expressed the desire to be involved in evangelism. Because he was so concerned with the hereafter, he offered himself completely to the service of God and man. In serving humanity without noise and always thanking God for life, he never made noise over any act of kindness or good advice offered to those who came across his way.
The glorious moment for Andrew came when, two weeks into his transition, he told his elder brother, Prof Bogoro: “I am at peace with our Heavenly Father”. Left to mourn his death are his wife, Veronica and two children, Ngabchong and Amanda; his 94 year-old mother, Mama Salamatu, and his siblings, Prof Bogoro, Rachel Dingis, Dr. Briskila Okafor, and Bedwom, who is a development worker and public servant.
Without a doubt, Andrew’s great life was not only sublime, but left indelible footprints to inspire others for greatness as shown in the words of the great poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
The greatness of Andrew’s life was anchored in service to humanity by lessening the burdens of life on others that came across his path. It must be the singular pride and honour for the Bogoros to have offered to Gwarangah, Bauchi, Nigeria and the world a committed humanist who lived his life for the service of God and Mankind.
Reef, an Abuja-based media practitioner, writes via [email protected]
