By Comrade Usman Abdulkadir Taleeki
On today’s column, I am taking a short break from the turmoil of national affairs to share something more personal. You may call this a more localized version of Farooq Kperogi’s Notes from Tokyo, where he gave a personal account of his experiences and reflections on life and society. I am writing mine from the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, so I have titled it Notes from the Capital. It is both a personal narration and a reflection on values that matter: mentorship, leadership, and gratitude, things that define the human side of development.
About a month ago, I wrote a column titled The Generation That Eats Its Successors, where I lamented how mentorship and opportunities for the younger generation have almost disappeared. Many of our elders who once benefitted from mentorship, guidance, and exposure through public or institutional goodwill no longer feel obliged to offer the same to those coming after them. In previous generations, talented youths were identified, nurtured, and guided by those who had climbed the ladder before them. That chain of knowledge transfer sustained professions, institutions, and leadership continuity. Sadly, that culture is eroding in today’s Nigeria.
Yet, as I mentioned then, there are still a few who act like true fathers, people who are genuinely willing to guide and uplift young people who are ready to help themselves. The man I am about to talk about is one of those rare figures. This is not something I merely heard; I have seen it happen, and as the saying goes, seeing is believing.
Late last month, I was among ten young investigative writers selected from across Nigeria for a fellowship after a rigorous screening process. The program offers structured training, mentorship, and possibly a grant at the end of the exercise. It was designed to raise a generation of writers who can combine intellectual curiosity with ethical storytelling and analytical thinking. However, participation required me to relocate to Abuja, specifically to the central part of the city where the fellowship activities would take place. Truth be told, this was not the first opportunity of its kind I had received, but accommodation and feeding in Abuja had always been the greatest hindrance. The cost of living in Nigeria’s capital city, particularly for young professionals without strong financial backing, remains one of the greatest barriers to access and growth.
This time, I decided I would not let the opportunity slip away. I picked up my phone and sent a message to Abubakar Malami, SAN, explaining my situation and seeking his support like a son would to his father. In a society where many leaders are unreachable and dismissive, it takes courage to reach out. Within minutes, he replied, assuring me of his full support and advising me to proceed immediately so I would not miss any moment of the program. Since my arrival, I have received one of the warmest receptions of my life, the kind that would ordinarily cost a fortune. That gesture alone reinforced my conviction that genuine mentorship is about more than words; it is about action rooted in empathy and belief in others.
A few days later, I was having a conversation with his Personal Assistant, my elder brother Sir Nafiu Lugga. He told me how he and two other colleagues first met Malami during the early days of his law chamber. Malami invested in all three of them, offering mentorship, guidance, and resources that shaped their professional growth. Today, Nafiu himself stands as a pillar to many, just as he was once mentored. That is the chain of mentorship every progressive society depends on, where those who are lifted go on to lift others, creating a sustainable cycle of growth and empowerment.
I have heard many similar stories, testimonies from people whose lives changed because of the man’s kindness and accessibility. These are not exaggerated tales of patronage; they are accounts that remind us that leadership is about humanity, and that compassion still exists even in the corridors of power.
I also recall reading Traversing the Thorny Terrain of Nigeria’s Justice Sector, where Malami mentioned people who helped him when he was still rising, like Mr. O. E. Enumah, who gave him the privilege to practice law under him during his NYSC in Nnewi, Anambra State, and Kabiru Tanimu, SAN, under whom Malami and two friends sought pupillage before founding his own legal firm. He even mentioned that former Attorney-General Mohammed Bello Adoke once assisted him with office furniture and law books when he was starting out. Such recollections are rare among public figures, yet they show humility, gratitude, and an understanding of how success is never achieved in isolation.
The point here is simple: many of our elites today were once assisted by others or benefited from public support, yet they refuse to extend the same kindness to the younger generation. They forget that every generation thrives only when the spirit of mentorship is preserved. But Malami did not just receive; he gave back. He lifted others and continues to do so. His approach to human relations demonstrates that leadership is not about domination but about service, the kind that empowers others to find their own strength.
If the assistance I have received from him ends here, I will still never forget it for the rest of my life, because it has already made a difference in my growth and career journey. The experience has reminded me that a single act of support can renew one’s faith in society and can change the course of a young person’s future.
So today, I write this note comfortably from the capital, grateful for a man who played a vital role in making this possible. Thank you, sir, for the countless lives you have touched and for the many silent impacts that may never make the news but continue to inspire. I pray that someday I will have the opportunity to work closely with you, and perhaps, write a book titled Moments with Malami, to document the lessons, the kindness, and the vision of a man who has become a symbol of mentorship in modern Nigeria.
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Opinion