Dr. Amb. ASABE SHEHU MUSA YAR’ADUA, FOUNDER / PRESIDENT ASABE SHEHU YAR’ADUA FOUNDATION

Hajiya Dr. Amb. Asabe Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, the wife of late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua the second in command and vice president in the Obasanjo regime is the founder and the National Co-ordinator of Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua Foundation (ASYARF). She was born in Kano, on the 6th of June 1956, attended SIM school kano, saint Louis girls high school kano, and the Royal College of Arts London, where she obtained her first and second master’s degrees in Art and thereafter proceeded to Elizabeth Aden Finishing School Zurich, Switzerland, and furthered for Woman Human right defendant in Toronto Canada

 Dr. Asabe Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, is a woman of substance, apart from ASFARF, she is also the Co-Founder And President Of the Peace Afrique Association; and the Matron Of Nigeria Football Federation, Vice President, Twilight International Character Reformation Club.

she spoke with vogue on her life mission and her intention to keep her dream and her late husband Shehu Musa Yaradua’s dream alive. championing the cause for the underprivileged in the society through her NGO organization (ASYARF), which has earned her so many titles and awards, both locally and internationally, notable amongst them is the most valuable NGO supporting Youth empowerment / Corporate Social responsibility ‘’CRS’’ Award 2008 from cities and  George Kerry life foundation, African Golden Award on Humanities service from Today’s People International (Ghana) and the New York Community Award, platinum and leadership Award as a northern icon, West African Student Union Parliament, National Unity Ambassador, etc,

She has been honored with several chieftaincy titles across the federation; she was given the Odiukonamba Ndi-Igbo Chieftaincy title by the Igbo community. She has also been honored with Decorated Degree on PUBLIC by NOVENA UNIVERSITY, Delta. Below is an expert on her interview with Vogue Afrique Magazine. 

VA: what informed the founding of the foundation?

A: it’s the compelling need of the less-privileged, the downtrodden, the indigent, and people with disabilities that inspired me. The urge to float the foundation became more expedient because of the virtues, values, and principles I and my late husband stood for. It’s disheartening that a vast majority of mankind still go about in chains despite the fact that we were all born free. I do not mean physical shackles or chains, Everywhere you go you find many incapacitated by one inhibition or another. In spite of the abundant natural and human endowment, there is still an army of deprived and oppressed persons in the society. So we have taken it upon ourselves to alleviate the pain and suffering of such categories of people. We have decided to bring hope to them and ensure a sense of belongings among them. We feel sad that the majority do not have access to some frictions in society.

The situation is not peculiar to any continent, though the challenge varies from one society to the other owing to so many variables. We are concerned that the gap between the rich and poor has continued to widen despite the abundant opportunities opened to mankind. We are worried that the less-privileged, people with disabilities, and downtrodden still do not have access to healthcare, food, shelter, and are not gainfully employed. So, we have consistently and courageously initiated and executed projects aimed at giving to such categories of citizens an accelerated process of fully integrating them into society. In other words, we have been succeeding in engendering a true sense of belonging among them because it requires a collective effort to build a nation.

A: why didn’t you try your hand on other areas?

I couldn’t have ventured into any other field outside humanitarian service because of what I find in the larger society. I cannot pretend that all is well just because a few percentages of the society have access to the basic things of life at the expense of the majority. There is no way I will fold my arms and walk along the streets Where persons with varying disabilities are marooned in deplorable conditions. I cannot be comfortable in a society where the majority is still being ravaged by poverty, wants, and penury.

There is no way I will be happy if the downtrodden do not have access to education and health care. We strongly believe that a lot still needs to be done to create a more equitable, just, and conscientious system. There is no way we can achieve that if we do not take pragmatic, decisive, and meaningful steps to address the need, desire, and dream of the less-privileged in society.

VA: what is the impact of the organization in terms of its set goal and objectives, because the programs of some NGOs are often felt more in the cities and on the pages of newspapers?

I do not want to sound immodest about the foundation. Surfacing to said that most of our activities have been carried out at the grassroots. As a non-political, non-governmental, and not for –profit-making organization, we ensure that all our programs and projects are designed in such a way that our primary targets drive maximum benefit. The records are there for verification. A few instances will suffice.

We facilitated and provision of electricity in some rural communities in Imo state. We have encouraged the parents of indigent students to have access to formal education through the provided educational materials. We have continued to identify with the physically challenged by donating food items, clothes, and Medicare. The fact that we have structures in virtually all the 36 states in Nigeria attest to the fact that our activities are designed to benefits the grassroots dwellers, who have suffered, neglect and abandonment in the past. And the fact various international organizations and government and their agencies partner with or collaborate with us in confirmation of the impact of our programs, the credibility and status of the organization, and the seriousness it attaches to its set goal and objectives.

VA: but why are its activities limited to Nigeria?   

That’s not true. But if you are still in doubt, I will suggest you visit our website and make further inquiries if need be. Since its inception, the foundation has been able to establish a network, which has resulted in its rating as one of the fastest-growing and influential NGOs we have been able to achieve this fast because of the humanitarian activities we have initiated, promoted, and executed at different times. We are fully registered in the United States, Europe, and other parts of Africa, to be specific, Ghana. We are registered in Germany and are a measure of the commitment to serve humanity because the German system is known for its thoroughness, transparency, and due process. But let me emphasize that the foundation has continued to receive accolades, applause and add value to the condition and welfare of the less privileged and the Aged. You find such persons in every part of the world but with various challenges.

VA: What are the challenges that your organization has had to contend with since its inception? 

Like every human endeavor, our activities have also been faced with a lot of challenges. But these had to do with the deplorable condition of the categories of individuals and groups our foundation has identified as the most vulnerable in the society. We are able to establish that a lot of people in the country are suffering serious deprivation because of structural defects in the system. What will the children of the privileged become if they do not have access to education and gainful employment?   How can you eradicate some killers-disease and communicable disease when grassroots dwellers do not have access to potable water and modern health? Isn’t it embarrassing that people should be seen on the roads begging for alms as a few privileged people continue to exploit the system to enjoy the commonwealth? These are critical issues that should engage every right–thinking person regardless of race, creed continent. We are always touched to see a person with a disability try to make a living sometimes with his children in gridlocks in our cities. Isn’t it sad? Can’t something be done to give that man hope there is ability in disability? How long shall man continue to pretend that an injury inflicted on the part of the body will not, in turn, affect the whole? There is also the challenge of resources needed to actualize most of our programs. We have the technical expertise in various fields, but we still constrained by funding. Nonetheless, I’m happy to say that we have not allowed such constraints to swerve as an encumbrance in our avowed commitment to serving humanity. We also appreciate the first that the various collaborative efforts have contributed in giving a fillip to or acted as a catalyst for the cause of the foundation, which is to promote the cause of the less-privileged, the indigent, and the down-trodden.

VA: What are your major regrets?  

Regrets? That sounds odd. I can’t readily think of any since I laid my hand on the plow, I have never looked back. Perhaps, what you mean by regrets are challenges of engaging in humanitarian service. It is a call to service and because I was not motivated by any material gain other than to serve humanity. I have remained a happier person. The foundation is not about me, neither is it about any other living soul.  It is about preserving my legacy and my late husband’s legacy, who believed in sharing with the poor, the less-privileged as well as promoting unity in diversity. The foundation is about evolving a society where no animal will be seen as being superior and more equal than others. Perhaps, if I have any regret at all, it will be that the pace of achieving the all-over goal of the foundation is not commensurated with the energy and synergy from the driving force. But my joy and pride in the organization are too focused on its aim and objectives. I am also overwhelmed by the under disguised commitment of the patrons, members, and admires of needs to give back something to the society for giving them the opportunity to be different.

VA: what is the future of the foundation?

Hummmm. What an interesting question; I believe in building and enduring institutions that will not only stand the test of time but also remain the pride of the human race. I believe in investing in people because they are veritable pillars for development. If we must develop the society, we cannot afford to ignore any category of the citizens in the quest to usher new dawn. To do otherwise will be catastrophic because we will be giving room for some individuals to become liabilities for society in the future. If you establish a body around yourself, it is likely to go with the wind once you are no longer there, especially if it did not espouse the common good of the people. Therefore, the foundation is built around the philosophy of service to humanity, coupled with equity and justice for all.

VA:  what do you think are some of the fundamental factors responsible for the despicable state of destitute, etc?

We all know the critical causative factors, but regrettably, we usually shy away from addressing them. Many of the causes are available. For example, alms conflict in some countries has aggravated the problem of destitution. The situation is often compounded by the poverty and ignorance arising from the lack of access by the people to education, health care, and economic empowerment. There are also the factors of perverted values among the elite. The weird thinking that they owe the society any good. On the whole, all of us have a very critical role to play to create a new workable and enduring order. Good governance, rule of law, due process, transparency, and piety are among the virtues which we all must imbibe in our character. We must do away with all excess that is only peculiar to an animal kingdom.

VA: but the society you have chosen to serve appears not to appreciate you?

What precisely do you mean? Are you saying the overwhelming public acceptability and solidarity with the foundation is not a sufficient appreciation? The fact that the people have continued to identify with its programs and other initiatives is clear evidence that people appreciate us, what we stand for, and put into practice. A lot of organizations have also given the commemorative award to the foundation. I have equally been privileged to be honored by Traditional rulers international rulers and Nigerian higher institutions because of the outstanding achievement of the foundation. These are just a few instances to show the human race appreciates the foundation.

MOHAMMED

BUNU AHMED,

Mohammed Bunu Ahmed is a practicing resources development Consultant, a member of the Development Executive Group NW Washington, Member Nigeria Institute of Management, and Member Institute of Management Consultant of Nigeria.

Bunu was involved in active politics and worked closely with Alhaji Abubakar Habu, Hashidu, the first Executive Governor  of Gombe state as his special Assistant on Research