Today, I celebrate a man whose friendship has been part of my life for more than 35 years, my dear brother, trusted friend and lifelong comrade, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, Country Director of CARE Nigeria.
Hussaini, my brother, whenever I remember our days at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), I remember not just our student struggles but the friendships, convictions and sacrifices that shaped our lives. We belonged to a generation that confronted military dictatorship, demanded the restoration of democracy and believed that Nigeria could become a more just and accountable society.
As Welfare Secretary of the BUK Students’ Union, your intellectual strength, courage and commitment to students’ welfare stood out. We worked together in the wider democratic movement through Women in Nigeria (WIN), the Campaign for Democracy (CD), the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and other progressive platforms. Those experiences gave us much more than political education; they created bonds that have survived decades.
I particularly remember how, after our NYSC, our mentor and senior comrade, Mallam Y. Z. Ya’u, facilitated our recruitment into Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP), led by our late comrade, Emma Ezeazu. You were posted to Jos, I went to Abuja, while our late comrades Joseph Mamman and Ruben Ziri were posted to Zaria and Minna respectively. Our colleagues Naseer Kura, Steven Aluko (Mardona) and Professor Omolade Adunbi joined the CLO. What a remarkable generation of comrades and what unforgettable memories!
Looking back, I am proud that our youthful activism was not the end of our commitment to society but the beginning of a lifetime of service.
Hussaini, your journey from student leadership to a senior lectureship at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, and later to leading ActionAid, Plan International and now CARE Nigeria is something I celebrate with genuine personal pride. Your books, research and intellectual contributions to development, democracy and governance have further demonstrated the qualities I recognised in you many years ago.
But beyond your professional accomplishments, I celebrate the Hussaini I know personally: a loyal friend, a generous-hearted brother, a thoughtful intellectual and a dependable comrade. You have stood by me through different moments of life, offering encouragement, solidarity and genuine friendship. Our relationship has extended to our families, making our bond even more meaningful.
My brother, I have witnessed your journey from our student days to your present accomplishments, and nothing makes me happier than seeing you succeed while remaining committed to the values we shared.
As you celebrate another year, I pray that Almighty Allah continues to bless you with good health, long life, wisdom, happiness, prosperity and greater opportunities to serve humanity. May He bless your family and preserve the friendship we have enjoyed for more than 35 years.
Hussaini, we started as student comrades, became lifelong friends and today regard each other as family. That is a friendship I will always treasure.
Happy Birthday, my dear brother! I am proud of you, grateful for your friendship and delighted to celebrate the remarkable person you have become. ❤️🎂🌹
With love, admiration and enduring comradeship,
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani
Your brother, friend and comrade
