Penultimate Th ursday night, Alhaji Abdulhameed Musa Ujah, former chairman, Strabag, and immediate past chairman, SMEDAN, left this clime for the great beyond, the fi nal destination of humanity, after a protracted illness. His janaza was performed on Friday after Jumaat prayers at the national mosque attended by a tumultuous crowd of mourners from all walks of life. He was buried according to Muslim rites at the Gudu Muslim Cemetery near Apo, Abuja. A man of few words to whom action speaks louder than voice, the doyen of Nigerian youths, as he was popularly called, was a doer who impacted positively on everyone who crossed his path. He was a great mentor who desired to see his mentees rise far above his accomplishments which to him remained a source of joy rather than envy.
His benevolence knew no bounds as he was such a cheerful giver who never said no even when the demand seemed unreasonable. As a community leader and a devout Muslim, Ujah had impacted several lives through his humanitarian and philanthropic activities. Th e widows, the less privileged, indigent students, youths and the downtrodden, for example, have all benefi tted from his magnanimity. He had also made voluntary contributions worth several millions of naira in providing scholarships, boreholes, human capacity building as well as the setting up of skills acquisition centres. One distinguishing characteristic of the deceased is his uncommon modesty as manifested in his dealings with people of all ages and diff erent socio-economic status.
He related closely with people irrespective of tribal, religious and political diff erences. He started and ended every day with a smile despite obvious challenges. Musa indeed, meant diff erent things to diff erent people, to his children, he was the best dad in the world as they all chorused, “We wouldn’t have been who we are today without his kind words and wise guidance, always urging us to be better and fi ght harder”. To his siblings, they concur, “he was such a dependable brother to us right from the cradle, showing us the way, lightening our burden and shouldering our entire responsibilities like any responsible brother would do”.
And to the common man on the streets of Abuja and the entire FCT and beyond who have immensely benefi tted from his philanthropy, he was a good Samaritan who without being asked, off ered his shoulders for them to lean on in their time of need. In sum, what all the above attestations by his friends, family, former colleagues and associates denote is that the man was indeed a jolly good fellow who loved everybody and is loved by all. As the great titan sojourns to the fi nal destination of all mortals, I join his family, friends and associates to pray to Almighty Allah (SWA) to grant him an abode in the best paradise-Jannatul Firdaus. Ibrahim Mohammed and Salamatu Haruna (Mrs.) No. 3 Ap
