A belated birthday felicitation to My Boss and Mentor, Anas Kolmani Dan Amanan Akko, Dan Amar Gadawo

By Muhammad Nasir Yaya 

In this life, there exist some folks who do not just endure hardship, they transform their pain into a source of healing for others; they walk through their own storm, battle their own fire, and yet return back not-hardened but, softened with wisdon and compassion. To call these people mentors, in my view, they're underrated. They are God-sent and, therefore worthy of being celebrated. If Allah the Almighty wishes you good, He makes you come across them, thereby opening a new page in your life. 

I did not know, nor relate with Anas Kolmani before 2019 (only heard of him), though one of my friends Amb Abubakar Bello Ardo happened to be his mentee. Late 2020, however Dan Amana had an accident along Gombe-Abuja road which as a result, sustained a serious injury on his neck. Immediately after they returned him back to Gombe, my friend and I decided to visit him at his residence. To my own thought, it's just a visit to mourn, not knowing that it is an opportunity to meet a gentleman whose seminal ideas are both inspirational and fruitful. My first encounter with him was indeed an unequal.

His first impression spelt the type of person he is; compassionate, open-minded, supportive, a down-to-earth, serious-minded with wealth of experience in politics; within and outside academia. His vision to promote quality education in our community is not adopted. It is born of sincerity. His outstanding personalities make him standstill- always giving and contributing his own quota to both societal, academic and national development. While others chase the visible, he invests in the invisible: character, conscience, and connection. He treats with humility, listens with intention, and he gives with a patient that has no clock.

It is not amaze that when a man sees beyond himself, he begins to reflect the devine. Three years down the line through his mighty Dan Amana Education Foundation, Kolmani distriabuted over One thousand (1000) free JAMB Forms and sponsored over 500 students with scholarship. He is not just successful, he is significant. Because success gathers, but significant gives. And Dan Amana gives his time, his thoughts, his treasure not to show off but to show up for others. 

What sets him apart is his philanthropic efforts to bridge the educational gap by providing opportunities for less and privileged talented individuals to access quality education. To him, every human being regardless of their story, deserves quality education. Every effort, no matter how small, deserves recognition, that is why people trust him not out of obligation, but out of resonance.

Dear, Sir, Dan Amanan Akko as you add up another year of your life, we honor your remarkable contribution to education and community development. Your act of goodness, no matter how silent it is, holds power to change many people's world. 

We are grateful to Almighty Allah for blessing us with this outstanding personality and mentor per excellence. May He put Barakah in everything you do Sir. And may He increase you in good health, very long live and prosperity. 

Happy belated birthday My Boss. We celebrate you now and always..

_Muhammad Nasir Yaya writes from home. He can be reached via, mohammadnasiryaya@gmail.com