MAIDEN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (MAGM) 2006

MAIDEN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (MAGM) 2006

The Kwandala Foundation has successfully hosted its MAIDEN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (MAGM) at Catering Conference Hall of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano on 1^st April 2006. This event, the first in the history of this humanitarian non-governmental organization commenced by 11.15 a.m. with the arrival of several invited guests, members of the press and well wishers from the general public.

The MAGM started with an opening prayer, after which the Foundation’s Public Relation Officer Salihu Tanko Yakasai welcome all to the occasion and went on to outline the agenda. He then proceeded to introduce and invite distinguished members to the high table from among the audience which include Alhaji Sa’idu Dattijo Adhama, member Board of Trustees of the Foundation. Dr. AbdulHamid Isa Dutse Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Kano and a senior member of the NGO. Alhaji Bala Ibrahim Managing Director Fairview Aviation Consultants Kano, Arc Bashir H. Adamu a Senior Government official in Jigawa State. Engr K. Wintola of Musa T. Waziri & Partners Kano, Nasir Mansur Muhammad Manager MTN Friendship Center Kano, Dr. Ali Tahir Wamban Fika (Represented), The Director Al-Muntada Al-Islami, Kano office. The Manager Fidelity Bank Kano Branch. Ibrahim Ubale Ajingi General Manager SWS.Comms Kano, Barrister Sa’idu Muhammad, Alhaji Abba Tanko Yakasai and Nura Kakira of BON Hqtrs, Kano among others important dignitaries.

The occasion witnessed all the activities scheduled for the maiden AGM among which is the Swearing-in of Foundation’s Maiden Executive Council Members. The Oath of Office ceremony was performed by Barr. Sa’id Muhammad of Sa’id Muhammad & Co, who swore in the founder and first President of The K. Foundation in the person of Arc. Tijjani Muhammad Musa. Next the rest of the Executive Council members were also sworn in the person of Abdulrahman Baffa Yola as Vice President I: Maryam Dalhatu Vice-President II, Inyene James Ibanga Secretary- General, Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama Assistant Sec-General, Adamu Danjuma B/Wapa Financial Secretary, Safiyya Abba Abubakar Treasurer, Kassim Usman Bichi Welfare Secretary Nuhu S. I. Umar Social Secretary, Salihu Tanko Yakasai Public Relation Officer and Shitu Abdulkadir as Provost Marshal 

The newly sworn-in President delivered his welcome address, in which he briefly traced the history that led to forming the NGO on the February 3^rd  2005. He listed out the various project executed by the organization some of which are

1. Kwandala4Tsunami – maiden project launched in February 2005  for victims of South East Asian Tsunami; 

2. Kwandala4RuqayyaIbrahim – March 2005; a kidney transplant patient that needed N2.5 Million and a donor, both of which the foundation succeeded in getting but unfortunately the 22 year old young woman died before the trip to Egypt for the surgery; 

3. Kwandala4NigerFoodCrisis - July 2005; A challenging project that saw the Foundation soliciting for and receiving relief materials, financial and medical aids from individuals and organizations, then traveling to Zarmou, a village in Zindar State of Niger to deliver the items in October, 2005 and its then latest project 

4. Kwandala4PSComputers  - February 2006; Current project in which The Foundation is sourcing for 250 computers for distribution to primary schools in Kano State, Nigeria in order to raise awareness for computer literacy and internet potential among less privilege pupils.

Next on the agenda was launching the Foundations’ Constitution and the oldest member of the Foundation Engr. K. Wintola was called upon to declare effective, which he promptly did. This was followed closely by the launch of The Kwandala Foundation Newsletter, Website and E-Mail by Alhaji Abba Tanko Yakasai, another senior member of the organization.

The Chairman of the occasion Alhaji Sa’idu Dattijo Adhama delivered a lecture titled “Role Of Non-Governmental Organizations In The Nation Building” in which he called on NGOs to rise up to the occasion of not only bothering about things that affect them directly but also remotely such as things that affect the people, sighting the ill-conceived case of the partial broadcast suspension of Freedom Radio by Nigerian Broadcasting Commission. This in his opinion not only violates the democratic ideals by denying people of their freedom of speech but is also tantamount to sabotaging the macro-economy of Kano in particular and the country in general. So NGOs must voice out their dissatisfaction with the development.

Awards were given to distinguished personalities and corporate organizations that have identified with The Kwandala Foundation, contributed and demonstrated full support to its projects in the outgoing year 2005-2006. Among the recipients are:

Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano for the support and assistance it gives to each medical case of the Foundation brought to their hospital. The Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Kano Dr. AbdulHamid Isa Dutse also received an award for his unrelenting support and contribution towards the success of the various projects of the Foundation since its inception. 

Nigerian Nurses and Midwives Association AKTH, Kano Chapter also received one for their contribution of the mini bus used to travel to Niger Republic during Project “Kwandala4 NigerFoodCrisis”. 

Another individual that distinguished herself is the Console General of Niger Republic Hajia Fati Umar, who left no stone unturned to ensure the Food Aid delivered by the Foundation reached her people in Niger against all odds.

An award was also given to Freedom Radio for partnering with the Foundation in all its projects by giving its airwaves for each and every campaign of the Foundation free of charge, which essentially is crucial to the success registered by the NGO in its short life span. 

Alhaji Umar Muhammad Dutse (Late), General Manager of Freedom Radio was given one of the awards for his role both as a Board of Trustee member and as a staunch supporter of the ideals of the Foundation since its creation  

Alhaji Bala Ibrahim (Late) Managing Director of Fairview Aviation Consultants, Kano who gave the Foundation its Secretariat at No. 14c Zaria Road for a minimum of 2 years free of charge to demonstrate his commitment to the aim of the founders of the organization.

Nigerian Television Authority, Kano for its support to the Foundation by giving it full coverage every time there was an invitation from the NGO.

British Broadcasting Corporation Hausa Service received an award for its coverage both within and outside the country of the K. Foundation activities in the outgoing year.

Other award recipients include Trust Media (Publisher of Daily and Weekend Trust) was foremost in its support for the Foundation’s efforts through the year and so got an award of appreciation.

Muhammad Garba Fagge, Permanent Secretary to the state Governor also bagged an award for his role in the Niger Food Crisis Project. 

The independent multi-media production company SoundWord & Sight Communications Nigeria Limited the publishers of The Kwandala Foundation Newsletter as well as producers/presenters of FreedomSoundz and SWS.Comms Symphonyk Vibes on radio which were used to call people to donate generously to the Foundation’s various projects were also rewarded for their intellectual as well as broadcasting contributions. 

Merit Internet Café located along BUK Road Kano also won an award for offering its office as a collection center each time the Foundation launches a project. 

An award was also given to the Highest Donor to the K. Foundation’s collective projects for the year Al-Muntada Al-Islami Foundation, Kano Office.

The Manager MTN Friendship Center Malam Nasiru Mansur Muhammad was called upon to launch the Foundation Sticker. He, in turn declared his total agreement with the Chairman’s lecture after which he launched the sticker and hope that it would go along way in reminding all to give maximum support to the Foundation activities.

Arc. Tijjani Muhammad Musa President of the NGO introduced the next project of the humanitarian organization which is “Kwandala4PrimarySchoolComputers”. He explained the project thus; Computer education is becoming increasingly important to all aspect of life from the official to the non-official. As such it is crucial that everybody becomes computer literate in the nearest future. But due to the expensive nature of computers they are not easily accessible to the poor masses of the country and so might be easily available to their children. One way to make this development possible is to call on government to provide computers in public schools. But as we all know this might prove to be a Herculean task if not impossible. Rather than just call, the Foundation in its usual manner of not just talking but taking a definite action  decided to source for 250 computers from the public and private sector and eventually distributing these sets to public primary schools in a fair and transparent manner that will involve the participation of the media and other stakeholders. Consequently the Project “Kwandala4PrimarySchoolComputers” was conceived.

To formally launch the project, 3 sets of Desk Top Computers sourced from members of the Foundation were donated to beneficiaries. Gwagwarwa Special Primary School, Kano situated along Airport Road was given a brand new computer set in fulfillment of the pledge made by the Foundation President during its Golden Jubilee Anniversary held at its school premises in December 2005. Another set donated Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Assistant Secretary General of the Foundation was given to an Al-Islamiyya Primary School, Kano and the 3^rd set donated by Barrister Fatima Ojo of Fatima Ojo & Co. was to be retained by the Foundation at its Secretariat for its official use pending when it would possess a brand new set. Engr. K. Wintola was summoned to formally hand out the computers thus launching the project. So any willing person who wants to donate can do so from the usual minimum which is 1 Kwandala (N1.00) to a full computer set/s.

Dr. Ali Tahir Wamban Fika, one of the recipients of the awards has already kick started the inflow of donations by donating a complete computer set. Nura Kakira of Bank of the North also offered the sum of N5,000.00 as his contribution. An 8 year old young boy Muhammad Qalb-Salim Muhammad also donated a N5.00 note instantly. Several other invitees and personalities express their belief in the laudable project but asked for room to assess the project properly first before making a commitment.

Finally the newly sworn-in K. Foundation Vice President I AbdulRahman Baffa Yola gave the vote of thanks on behalf of all members to all those who were able to attend and those who were not able to due to one reason or another but whose spirit was at the MAGM 2006, before the last item on the agenda that is the closing prayer was conducted, bringing the Maiden Annual General Meeting of The Kwandala Foundation to an end. A photo session followed outside the hall.

THE KWANDALA FOUNDATION MAIDEN LOCAL PROJECT

KWANDALA4RUQAYYA IBRAHIM

Miss Ruqayya was not just an ordinary person, but a unique young woman who has injected purposefulness into the infant life of the Kwandala Foundation. Where, when and how did the case of Ruqayya Ibrahim reach the Foundation and what is the significance of the case to The K. Foundation?

It was a Monday morning; I was just preparing to go to the office when I heard my phone blip, notifying that I had a text message. When I checked, it was Miss Khadijah Sunusi Kabir, a colleague on the radio and a member of The Kwandala Foundation, who informed that she has a very important and urgent matter, she would like to discuss with me. My curiosity was turned on, I called her to find out what’s so important. While we were talking the line disconnected, discovering it was not a matter of life or death, I was relieved.

About an hour later, at about 9:00 - 10:00 am, she called and wanted to know where to locate me. By now I was at the office and told her so, and became kind of worried when she wanted directions of how she can come over to my office. I asked her what could be making her behave in such a manner and she told me it couldn’t be discussed on the phone. 30 minutes later, our secretary informed me about her arrival. I came to usher her into my office but she told me she not there to stay. Without wasting another second, she introduced me to two young men Bashir Muhammad and Sadiq (Too short)

She then excused us from the guys, out into our office premises under a neem tree, Khadijah gave me a letter of assistance from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano on behalf of a young 24 year old woman. Her name is RUQAYYA IBRAHIM. That was how Ruqayya’s case got introduced to us for the first time.

Ruqayya Ibrahim’s family wanted Khadijah to help them announce on the radio their need for assistance for the proposed kidney transplant operation, at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano, the specialist hospital located along Zaria road in the city of Kano. The surgery would require the sum of N2, 500, 000 :00 and a donor. But first the money. Though she was scheduled to travel that morning, she had to postpone the trip to facilitate the meeting between Ruqayya’s brother and me. It was her hoped that The Kwandala Foundation would take up the project as time is fast running out on the young woman, unless something is done about her situation and very urgently too, she might loose her life.

“Boooooom!” was the explosive sound that hit me inside my head. What! 2.5 million? Thinking quickly of a response, it occurred to me that for Khadijah to reach out to The Foundation with this project, knowing fully well our handicap, it is either she has a strong faith and conviction about our mission or else she must have no choice at all. Well, choice or no choice, we must not let her or the patient down. We will give it a shot with all that we’ve got. Its either we succeed or we fail. If we do succeed, then “kool”, but if we don’t, at least we’ve tried and whatever comes out of it will still be helpful one way or another. 

So I came out to confess that the Foundation is yet to be registered officially and so might face a little set back, just like our experience with the Tsunami case, but we can’t but take Ruqayya Ibrahim’s case as it fits perfectly our purpose of coming into existence as an NGO. And so I scheduled a meeting for that evening, where I hope to better understand what is really going on. I then gave them the name and address of our Foundation and requested that they should go back to AKTH and ask that a similar letter be addressed to us, so that we will use it together with our own letter of solicitation to reach out to all well-meaning souls that might be willing to help.

By 5:00 pm, I was at the meeting place waiting for them to turn up. They were about 30 minutes late and when they finally showed up, it was only the guys that arrived. Khadijah, knowing fully well that they are in safe hands had excused herself and embarked upon her very crucial journey. When we had all settled down and I had offered them some drinks, I requested for the letter from AKTH to The K. Foundation, but was told by Bashir that nothing of such is available as all efforts to get the officers responsible to write a similar letter to the K. Foundation has proved abortive. Reason? They are awaiting response from 4 earlier letters sent out in that regard, as such they don’t intend to write new ones.

So I demanded that a copy of the letter shown to me earlier in the day be given to me. The young men left to make the photocopy. Before they were back I had already started telling my colleague about the case and that I would want him to donate something to the appeal fund when eventually launched. And after hearing my briefing, he out rightly promised to give something. When Bashir and his friend finally came back, I collected the copy and promised to present the matter during our next weekly K. Foundation meeting on Saturday. We then exchange GSM phone numbers and called it a day.

One amazing thing about the whole episode was that I couldn’t boast of N50, 000: 00 in my account, but here I was feeling confident that I was going to get N2.5 million for Ruqayya. All I wanted to do is to meet my common folks, members of the infant Kwandala Foundation at the meeting and I could feel it that we would turn the tide, God Willing.

At the weekly meeting, the next Saturday, I presented the project to the attendance. I can remember that at first some of us rolled their eyes when they first heard the amount to be sourced. So I said to the small congress of about 15 persons “Well, any one who has been thinking this is all child’s play, should now wake up to the reality. This is serious business that would require every thing we’ve got, most especially belief in our selves and our purpose of starting this Foundation. This is it ladies and gentlemen, the “Zakaran gwajin dafi” (“this is the acid test”). If we can do this, we can do them all, but if this proves beyond us then it is best for us to stop the journey now, for it wont last. The one trillion-naira question is, Can we do it?” I challenged.

Carefully observing their faces for any sign of fear or uncertainty. There was none, instead what I saw was determination and the conviction as each person seem to be lost in deep thought, and then one by one they swam back to the surface. And then there were nods, right, left and center and eventually the answer came forth. It was unanimous.  “Can we do this?” I repeated with emphasis on the “THIS?” and then “Yes! We can do it” All of a sudden everybody seem to have found himself or herself. Voices and smiles were all over the place, expressing their brief trip into themselves, unconsciously discovering that compassionate soul within.

Thus we launched “Kwandala 4 Ruqayya”. And one single member Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama was the lucky person to find one other single person Sharu Sidi Al-Alawi, 6 days later (April 1^st, 2005) who pledged to give the whole N2.5 Million Naira, much to the joy, relief and pleasure of the K. Foundation and to the gratitude and gratefulness to Allah of Miss Ruqayya Ibrahim.

Haj. Khadijah Muhammad (Ruqayya's Auntie)

Sadly, before the kidney transplant could be performed at Nasser Institute in Egypt, where Medical experts from Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano referred the young woman, she was transported to her hometown in Kogi State, Nigeria to bid her parents farewell, but upon arrival there Miss Ruqayya Ibrahim died. Her last message to The Kwandala Foundation before she left Kano for Kogi, according to her Auntie Haj. Khadijah Muhammad (now a full fledge and very active member), whom had raised her from when she was just 2 years old was “Please don’t tell members of The Kwandala Foundation that I have gone away, it is just to see my Father and will be back, in sha Allah (God Willing)” With that she left, never to return.

What a loss, what a great loss for all those who cared for and cherished her from her toddling days to the bright future she has left behind, for a brighter tranquility, God Willing.  As for us members of The Kwandala Foundation, Ruqayya Ibrahim was a unique soul, a corner-stone. Why? The young woman and her case have given us a purpose for existence. And she could not have come at a better time. But for her sake, we probably would still be searching for our true reason to exist, for our real mission. Now we know what and who we are. Why we are where we are. And from where we are coming and to where we are going.

Though Ruqayya Ibrahim is gone, but we still feel her presence in our hearts and her smile, when we paid her a visit is permanently impressed in our memory. So we pray that she is in absolute peace wherever she may be at this particular moment in time and may God Almighty forgive and admit her into His Eternal Bliss, Amen

THE KWANDALA FOUNDATION'S FIRSTS

Fatima Kabir Ahmed - First Female Teenager (12 Years Old)

THE KWANDALA FOUNDATION

THE FIRST(S)

INITIATOR/FOUNDER

Tijjani Muhammad Musa, an Architect by profession first conceived the idea and eventually founded The Kwandala Foundation in the beginning of 2005 as a result of the Asian Tsunami Disaster, to help all victims of disasters anywhere in the world, regardless of race, colour, gender, age, religion or location etc

FIRST PILLAR

Bilkiss Usman Abubakar, the founder’s wife and companion gave the whole idea its first all important support and backing and thus turned the dream into a challenging reality

FIRST SUPPORTER/S

MALE: Inyene James Ibanga, the founder’s long term media colleague and partner was the first male supporter of the project and shared the joy of making the first call for help on behalf of the Tsunami Victims.

AbdulRahman Baffa Yola, was the first male member to declare his absolute belief in the idea of "Kwandala 4 Tsunami" project which later transformed into The Kwandala Foundation, during the night meeting of Wednesday 8^th February, 2005 in the reception hall of Freedom Radio when hot deliberations were going on about whether to continue with the project or to extinguish it.

One Kumar of then Vmobile Network, Kano was the first caller on the special radio programme on Thursday 9th February 2005 that initiated the birth of The Kwandala Foundation. In fact he dropped the idea of turning the "Kwandala 4 Tsunami" into an NGO

FEMALE: Safiyya Abba Abubakar was the first female to respond and express her support via a phone call apology for her absence on 5th February 2005 during the Maiden Meeting of The Kwandala Foundation at the premises of Freedom Radio

MEMBERSHIP

MALE: Salihu Tanko Yakasai was the first male to respond and register his name and thus his membership of The Kwandala Foundation on 5th February 2005 in the Studios of Freedom Radio.

Usman Dhul-Noorain was the first male "Youngest Member" (8 months) to register his name and so his membership of the Kwandala Foundation on 15th February 2005. He is also the first baby to attend The Foundation’s meeting

Muhammad Aheed was the first child (3½ years) to personally drop the "Pass K" at the Kwandala Foundation meeting on 7th May 2005

Muhammad Qalb-Salim, Sadiq-Baba, Muhammad Aheed and Usman Dhul-Noorain had the singular honour of being the first blood brothers to register their names as member of the Kwandala Foundation

Engr. K. Wintola was the first male "Oldest Member" (65 years) to register his name and so his membership of the Kwandala Foundation on 31st March 2005

Alhaji Sa’idu Dattijo Adhama was the first Board of Trustee member to attend The Kwandala Foundation meeting on 12th February 2005, and accept his nomination and express his total support to the cause of the founding fathers.

Alhaji Sa’idu Dattijo Adhama was also the first father of a foundation member (Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama) to declare his support for The Foundation

FEMALE: Aisha Kabir Ahmad, Ruqayya B. Bugaje, Sumayya Haruna, Zainab Yusuf and Fatima Ahmad were the first females to physically register their presence at The Kwandala Foundation meeting on 12th February 2005 and thus their membership

Fatima Kabir Ahmad was the first teenager (12 years) to register her name on 12th February 2005 and thus her membership

Maryam, Asma’u, Zainab and Aisha Dalhatu had the singular honour of being the first blood sisters to register their names as member of the Kwandala Foundation

Hajia Aishatu M. Mutawalli was the first mother of a foundation member (Muhammad Abba Ramalan) to declare her full support and membership for The Foundation

ANNUAL DUES

FEMALE: Miss Sumayya Haruna and Miss Safiyya Mouktar Saleh are the very first females to pay The Kwandala Foundation N365:00 Annual Dues, on Saturday 2nd April 2005 after the adjournment of the weekly meeting at Freedom Radio premises

MALE: Kabiru Danladi Lakebs was the first male to pay The Foundation Annual Dues on Saturday 14th May, 2005 at the end of the meeting which took place inside Freedom Radio Conference Room

REGISTRATION FORMS

MALE: The first male to pay and receive The Kwandala Foundation registration form was Abdallah King Hussain, a Co-Founder of the organization and a senior staff nurse with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano on Saturday 7th April 2005

FEMALE: While the first female to pay and receive the registration form was Miss Bara’atu Musa, a member and student of School of Management Studies, Kano State Polytechnic on Saturday 7th April 2005 during the usual weekly meetings

PROJECT

INTERNATIONAL: The first project embarked upon by The Kwandala Foundation was "Kwandala 4 Tsunami" on 3rd February 2005, which led to the birth of The Foundation. The global call to assist the Southeast Asian Tsunami victims did not go unheeded from this part of the world as the youth of the old ancient city of Kano, took the initiative to sensitize the rest of the populace, to wake up and help the affected people by donating even if it is a single "Kwandala"

FEMALE: The first female project of The Foundation was the case of Miss Ruqayya Ibrahim, a young 24 years old student just admitted in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria to read Sociology, who was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure in End Stage Renal Disease. A Donor and the sum of N2, 500, 000:00 was needed for a Kidney Transplant at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. The Kwandala Foundation immediately launched "Kwandala 4 Ruqayya" on 28th March, 2005.

MALE: Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, an electronic dealer was the person to provide the K. Foundation with its first male case. He was diagnosed with Prostate Gland problem, a medical situation that would require N750, 000: 00 for surgery at Park House Hospital, Kano. Though the Foundation considered the case and even paid a fact-finding visit to the patient at the said hospital on 18th May 2005, the patient declined being moved to another specialist hospital, part of the Foundation’s initiatives based on professional medical advice

DONATIONS

FEMALE: Hafsat Muhammad, together with her sisters Fatima, Hadiza, Wasila and brother Musa as well as Murjanatu Ahmed all of Katsina Road near Residential Hotel were the first persons to give the Kwandala Foundation a donation of N200:00 for the Tsunami victims on 19th February, 2005 in the Conference Room of Freedom Radio, which has since been paid into the Tsunami Bank Account at First Bank Plc

MALE: Mika’il El-Yakub was the first male to donate the sum of N50:00 to the K. Foundation at Bn Affan Juma’at Mosque, Kundila Zaria Road, as a joke on Muhammad Abba Ramalan, on Sunday 27th March 2005, the day the Foundation schedule its fact-finding visit to Miss Ruqayya Ibrahim at her residence

PLEDGE

On Friday 1st April, 2005 Alhaji Sharu Sidi Al-Alawi made the first pledge of N2, 500, 000. 00 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) to the Foundation for "Kwandala 4 Ruqayya" project, thus giving hope to the young woman, much to the joy and relief of all Foundation members

COURTESY CALLS

MEDIA HOUSE: The Management of Freedom Radio, Kano Nigeria headed by its General Manager Alhaji Muhammad Dutse Umar (Late), were the first media outfit to host and express their unreserved support for The Kwandala Foundation during the Foundation’s very first courtesy call on Tuesday, 19th April 2005 in the Conference Room of their FM station

HOSPITAL: Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano was the first medical institution to receive The Kwandala Foundation on a courtesy visit. Hosted by the management under the leadership of its Chief Medical Director Dr. AbdulHamid Isah Dutse (Now Kwandala Foundation’s Chairman Board of Trustees)on Tuesday 5th April, 2005

MALE: The first male individual to be paid a courtesy call by the Kwandala Foundation was Air Vice Marshall (Rtd) Mouktar Muhammad, Wazirin Dutse and The Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Radio at his residence on Wednesday 11th May, 2005

PIONEER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The very first Executive Council (EXCO) Members of The K. Foundation were:

FOUNDER/PRESIDENT:

ARC. TIJJANI MUHAMMAD MUSA

VICE PRESIDENT I:

ABDULRAHMAN BAFFA YOLA

VICE-PRESIDENT II:

MARYAM DALHATU

SECRETARY-GENERAL:

INYENE JAMES IBANGA

ASSISTANT SEC-GENERAL:

NASIRU SA’IDU ADHAMA

FINANCIAL SECRETARY:

ADAMU DANJUMA B/WAPA

TREASURER:

SAFIYYA ABBA ABUBAKAR

WELFARE SECRETARY:

SIR KASSIM USMAN BICHI

SOCIAL SECRETARY:

NUHU S. I. UMAR

PUBLIC RELATION OFFICER:

SALIHU TANKO YAKASAI

PROVOST MARSHAL:

SHITU ABDULKADIR

THE KWANDALA FOUNDATION; BACK TO FRONT!

THE PRELUDE - THE ASIAN TSUNAMI

The images and pictures kept reappearing in my dreams throughtout the night of 30th December, 2004.  That was when I first heard and saw the Southeast Asian Tsunami destructions. The devastation was unimaginable. Every time you think you have witnessed the worst of these natural catastrophes, a much more terrible one presents itself, making you realize that the saga seems endless. Na wao, while some people are busy preparing to usher in the New Year 2005 with much merriments and anticipation, others are going to start off on such a very bad note, not out of a fault of their own or not out of choice. Well, if the calamities keep reoccurring, subjecting man to endless suffering, then mankind’s response to these calamities should also be total and have no limit.


THE MEDIA HYPE


The month of January 2005 was constantly filled with more and more information about the Asian Tsunami, so much so, almost every mouth that can pronounce the word, from an 8 month old to the barely audible adult due to old age or sickness made mention of it, even if it is just once. By 26th January, exactly a month from the day the incidence happened, one newspaper reported that thus far, the word "TSUNAMI" has been written or mentioned on various media that they were able to monitor almost 95,000 times. My own mention of the situation on my Hausa enlightenment programme Muhalli, Rayuwa sponsored by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was running into its third week. Yet, few people know exactly what was going on or what the word means. In fact, out on the streets of the old ancient city of Kano, it was business as usual.


HOW IT ALL STARTED


The morning of 5th February came with it, some more news from one of the many local FM radio stations about the Tsunami situation. I was busy on my PC, which is located in our bedroom. As the newscaster caught my attention with yet another heart wrenching information about the disaster, I couldn’t help but stop what I was doing and listen. My wife Bilkiss Usman Abubakar, who was with me and folding some clothes, was saying something, but I couldn’t hear a word, for I was lost in thought. Thinking to myself "Is this how this one will also come and go? So we are not going to do anything about it as usual? What a shame!" Realizing that I was not listening to her "What is it?!" my wife asked me worriedly "It’s this Tsunami thing, you know, that just happened in the Southeast Asia. Wallahi, so much damage has been done, yet you’ll see nobody is going to care" Then it occurred to her what I was pondering over "Oh, ok about that the water waves in the Pacific ocean, I was watching it on TV last night, it is terrible" I couldn’t help but burst out "Yes, that’s it. That’s all we are ever going to say about it. Why can’t we be like others, who are, right this moment, thinking about what to do, rushing over to help those poor souls that have been affected?"


She kept quite for a few second, then she said "You know people are not alike, while some are disturbed about it, others are thinking it sheer entertainment, I mean they are enjoying themselves just sitting down and watching as the drama unfold" I turned sharply and expressed deeply "Then it’s sad and most unfortunate" Seeing the pain in my eyes my wife said "Why don’t you do something about it?" I was dumbfounded "Me, what can I do about this?" She smiled and said "I thought you are a radio presenter. Can’t you call people’s attention to the Tsunami crisis in one of your programmes,Muhalli, Rayuwa or Top 10 @ 10 for example?"


"DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!"


"Well it is better than just sitting down doing nothing about it, you know" I agreed with her and while looking her straight in the eye I continued "In fact I’m going to do better than that" I said excitedly "I have an idea" as I jumped up and head for the ensuite bathroom to run my bath. She smiled and followed me into the bathroom "What are you going to do?" As I turned on the tap I said "Our problem in this country has always been not doing anything about our ideas, do you know that every Nigerian knows exactly what the problems bedeviling our country are and in fact almost everybody has one form of answer or the other to these problems and believe me if they can be followed up and sincerely implemented, most of our headaches will be over. But you know what?" I asked her not expecting an answer "We don’t usually take the next step, that crucial, most important step, to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, but baby, not this time" She smiled some more and queried "So, what’s on your mind?"


THE LIST


"First and foremost I’m going to do as you advised that is wake up people’s conscience about the Tsunami saga, not just on Muhalli Rayuwa, but also on the Top 10 @ 10 as well as SWS Symphonyk Vibes and also SMS4U. And you know what, it is the youths that should do this, so I’m going to call on those listeners burstling with optimism and full of energy that keep calling and sending us GSM text messages on Freedom Radio. Guys like Salihu Tanko Yakasai, Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Kabiru Danladi Lakebs, Aisha Kabir Ahmad, Sumayya Haruna, Safiyya Abba Abubakar etc. Hey! give me a sheet of paper, let me make a list. Wallahi, I’ll call on them live on air and challenge them. Let’s see if they are for real" She went to the computer table and tore out a piece of paper from the jotter bunch "Aahto, let see how serious they can be if faced with some real challenge" she said as she gave me a pencil as well.


So I made a list of about 12 persons, some of my colleagues on the station inclusive. "Watch out" I warned, "some guys might not be too forth coming on the project. Most of them would want to be personally approached and invited before they will agree to participate and even then, you’ll see, they might drag their feet about the issue, you know ‘Jan aji’. But one thing I’m going to do is to meet them each one on one and talk to them about it, if that’s what it will take to get some positive response from them. After that, any of them who still choose to abstain, at least I’ve given them their dues"


THE IDEA


"Now here’s my idea. What do think if we can gather some young people and form a group that will go into town and approach individuals, companies, corporate organizations, government parastatals international agencies and solicit for financial assistance on behalf of the Tsunami victims?" She looked up at the ceiling for a moment, reflecting on what I’ve just laid out and after a while she added "Hmmn it’s a good idea, and you know there are quite a number of people who will donate" I was excited by her positive response and quickly said "Guess how much we are going to ask for when we eventually approach these various people and places?" Looking curious she responded "How much?" I replied "One Kwandala!" with all seriousness "Habba dai, you mean One Naira?" She exclaimed, wanting to confirm, "Yes, that’s the minimum and I don’t think that would be beyond anyone?"


"JUST N1:00?" (ONE KWANDALA)


She smiled, obviously she liked it "and if you’re given a million?" there was a thrill in the way she called the million "All the better and you know a lot of people would definitely end up giving us more the a Kwandala" my voice was marching hers with the excitement "How about if someone should give you guys just N1:00?" She enquired quite seriously "That’s our minimum. It is the spirit of giving that matters not the amount given, my dear. So what do you think?" I said with conviction "I don’t think. I believe it will work, but the problem is who will go along with you on this?" I raised the list up and turned the names on it at her, not saying anything. She nodded her head with a smile "And can you imagine," I continued "if we can get every Nigerian to donate one kwandala, it means, assuming we are about 120-150 million, we would generate about N150, 000, 000: 00 which can be something for the poor souls out there in the Pacific region"


SOBER REFLECTION


She nodded in agreement and added "Besides, there are many of our people that are willing to donate just a coin or a little bit more than that, how do you expect such a person to transport himself or herself to the bank and donate to the Tsunami Account?" In response I asked her "How many of our people have ever been to the bank, talk less of transacting business there? I don’t know. But if we can save people the trouble by reaching out to them and collect their donations and then transfer the amount to the authorities responsible for the Fund, then we would have done our own small part"


We were both sober and serious now from realization of the enormity of the task ahead. My wife looked me straight in the eye. Knowing me, she said, "You can’t do this alone, Abusaleem" I shook my head and responded "Who said I’m going to do this alone" as I waved the list at her once again, "I’ve got me these guys and tonight, we are going to give them a "Shout Out!" and together we’ll give it a shot. That Inyene too is going to be surprised tonight, for I’m going to drag him on air for us to do the sensitizing thing together. I wonder how much he knows about this Tsunami crisis?"


THE "KWANDALA 4 TSUNAMI" CALL


Thursday February 3rd, 2005


The Kwandala Foundation started on Thursday 3rd February, 2005 on the airwaves of Freedom Radio, Muryar Jama’a, a young, daring, innovative and unconventional FM radio station situated in the industrial area of Sharada Phase I, Kano State, Nigeria.


SWS.Comms TOP 10 @ 10


On one of its most listened to musical programmes, the popular SWS.Comms TOP 10 @ 10 independently produced and presented by the ace multi-media production company Soundword & Sight Communications Nigeria Limited. The regular host of the musical programme Tijjani Muhammad Musa, disturbed by the now regular Tsunami Breaking News, instead of presenting the conventional weekly musical countdown, decided to do something different. He invited the producer of the programme Mr. Inyene James Ibanga to join him in a duet presentation, in order to touch on the conscience of the people in the old ancient city of Kano. By alerting them about the terrible situation then unfolding in the Southeast Pacific region, where the Tsunami water waves has caused one of the most devastating havocs in recent history, thus waking them up to their responsibility of coming to the aid of the victims.


It was while describing the graphic images of the Asian Tsunami being splashed on the local electronic, print and international media outfits etc and addressing the very possibility of this unprecedented development coming to pass just like many others without a care by the people, that the versatile presenter challenged the youths in the society to do something about it. The duo broadcasters started toying with the idea of generating some financial assistance by youths in Kano, for onward transfer to the United Nations to demonstrate their concern about the predicament of the Tsunami victims.


In the course of the presentation, "Teejay" as the seasoned Top 10 @ 10 anchor is famously known, dropped the idea of a group of young people going about town and soliciting for a minimum of one Naira coin from all willing donors. Visiting individuals, corporate organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), Government Parastatals, International Agencies etc, he explained further that if all Nigerians could be reached and at least only one coin or Kwandala (N1:00) as it is called in Hausa, the language of the locals, is collected from them, it means about N150, 000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) could be generated, which might do quite some good to the Tsunami regions. He pleaded for some youth organizations or groups to look at the possibility of working on the proposal.


THE NAME


Making sure the message sank in on the listeners, Teejay inquired from Stainless J. (Inyene) which name to call the project and went ahead to suggest like Tsunami SOS Fund, Tsunami Appeal Fund, Kwandala 4 Tsunami, One 4 Tsunami and Naija Cares. His co-presenter also further suggested some other names, but both finally zeroed in on the "KWANDALA 4 TSUNAMI" for its uniqueness and catchiness. And what it means is people should please give at least one Naira coin to a fund for Tsunami victims. Being an interactive programme, the duo invited listeners to make contributions and also suggest names of their own for the project.


THE INVITATION


Confirming the fact that the listeners interest have been excited enough, the presenters then invited by name certain persons who are regular contributors on the phoned in or SMS text message segments of many of the station programmes. Salihu Tanko Yakasai, Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Kabiru Danladi Lakebs, Safiyya Abba Abubakar, Aisha Kabir Ahmad, Sumayya Haruna and a host of others were all requested to come to FREEDOM HOUSE for a maiden meeting on Saturday 5th February 2005 by 12:00 noon. Of course other presentation crewmembers of the Freedom Radio were also invited. Among them was Ahmed Rufa’i Bello (R.B. Jr.) Zakari Yusuf (Z.Y.), Joe Ohue, Maryam Dalhatu, Asma’u Dalhatu, Samira Sulaiman and even Khadijah Sunusi Kabir who was in far away Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage at the time was summoned.


THE NGO "Thing"


The first caller was Kumar from Sallari Quarters, who said what the presenters are doing is a humanitarian cause and it could be turned into an NGO with a lot of people showing their support. Inyene, after agreeing with him invited the caller to a brainstorming session at Freedom House the following Saturday by 12:00 noon. Some listeners Jazeenah, Sumayyah Haruna, Aisha Aminu, Kayode Salami etc all sent in GSM text messages to say this is one of the best programmes they have heard on the radio and expressed their full support. While Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a popular public commentator on radio, who was listening at the time phoned in to suggest "Kwandala Ga Tsunami" as a possible name for the project and promised to be at the scheduled meeting.


THE MAIDEN MEETING


Saturday February 5th, 2005


On Saturday 5th February 2005, we were actually prepared for a full house, but only a hand full of those who promised to come actually did. In fact, by 1:45p.m. only Salihu Tanko Yakasai was present. After a brief discussion, he excused himself as he was bound for a trip to Abuja. Eventually AbdulRahman Baffa Yola, Adamu Danjuma B/Wapa, Kassim Usman Bichi, Shitu AbdulKadir, Abdullahi King Hussain, Bashir Aliyu Muhammad,Kabiru Danladi Lakebs, Inyene Ibanga and I were the only ones around. Now that is the usual, not the unusual. If the turn up had been any better, it would have been surprising. This is because we are all coming from a State Of Inaction, where people only talk and talk, when it actually comes to taking action, everybody freezes and eventually disappears one by one.


Commencement
The meeting commenced at about 2:30 p.m. within the premises of the FM station. Tijjani Muhammad Musa as the convener was nominated to be Chairman of the meeting, while Inyene Ibanga automatically took up the duty of the Secretary. The attendance was vibrant with almost every body opening up and contributing one thing or the other. Another unique thing is the fact that most of the persons present were meeting each other for the very first time. So they engaged in formal introduction, after which all loosen up. While conducting business, Safiyya Abba Abubakar called on line to apologies for her absence due to examinations at Bayero University Kano and Sumayya Haruna too called to excuse herself due to a crucial engagement. However they both independently expressed their full support and intention to participate.


The attendance was minimal quite all right, but instead of dampening the determination of the now Founder and Co-Founders, what that did was to challenge them and without a waste of time, another meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 9th February 2005 by 8:00p.m at the same venue. This is the day when another independent SWSComms programme "SWS Symphonyk Vibes" takes place on the airwaves of Freedom Radio with Ibrahim Ubale Ajingi (IUA), one of the station’s favourite radio presenters hosting. And because this production is specially meant for the youths, it was planned to feature all persons who attend this meeting, who would air their views on the Asian Tsunami crisis during the session, to further sensitize the whole population about rising up to the challenge.


THE 2ND MEETING


Wednesday February 9th, 2005
On the scheduled date, there were more people in attendance. Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Muhammad Ramalan, Muhammad Tijjani, Haruna Muhammad, Abdullahi Kwalwa who was unaware of the developments but came to feature as a resource person on the programme with IUA was invited to join the meeting, and a young lawyer Morris Bello Magaji added to the list earlier mentioned. In the ensuing meeting, the importance of officially registering the group as an NGO was laid bare for all. Also the information that the group cannot go ahead with their solicitation efforts without first registering with the National Tsunami Relief Committee (NTRC) set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo was tabled. Others in the attendance were of the opinion that the group should not waste its time soliciting for any money but should just act as enlightenment team, complementing the efforts of Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who incidentally was the Chairman, Publicity Sub-Committee of the above named Tsunami Fund.


PESSIMISM MEETS OPTIMISM


Realizing that some persons at the meeting were beginning to build up a negative attitude about the project, the Initiator confidently informed that it is not for anybody to approve or disapprove the intentions of the group and besides for any who holds a pessimistic opinion about the Tsunami solicitation, such person is at liberty to withdraw before the journey really takes off. He noted further that leaving everything to the government has never been, is not and will never be good enough. We of the private sector must come onto the scene and contribute our own quota in any situation. Some positive minded persons in attendance could not agree more and gave their full support to the Founder. They opined that what ever it takes to give the group’s aim and objectives the chance to come into fruition must be pursued without any delay.

THE KWANDALA FOUNDATION, FOUND.

It was during this meeting that some persons observed that, right now the project is for the Tsunami victims, but what would happen to the group if the Tsunami project should come to an end? Is the gathering going disband or what? The Initiator informed that there is a plan to transform the group into an NGO after the Tsunami project, since there are a lot of problems in the local scene that would need similar attention from the group. So most likely those issues would also be taken up in the form of “Kwandala 4……” projects. So it was thus agreed that the group should be turned into a association and so Tijjani further proposed the name “Kwandala Foundation”, which was unanimously adopted. 

Thus THE KWANDALA FOUNDATION was born.

Unfortunately, the programme could not hold that night because the commercial division of the station has sold out the hour. So the attendance undaunted, postponed all plans to the next day Thursday 10^th February 2005 by 10:00 p.m. during Teejay’s SWS.Comms Top 10 @ 10 programme, in which the Tsunami issue and the “Kwandala 4 Tsunami” project was first mentioned the week before.

THE 3^RD MEETING

Thursday 10^th February, 2005

10 on TOP 10 @ 10 – The Dye Is Cast

The members of the group gathered as scheduled the next night and by 10:00 p.m. Tijjani was on air on yet another edition of SWS.Comms Top 10 @ 10 with Inyene producing on Freedom Radio 99.5 FM and without much ado, he featured 10 persons, 2 at a time. The purpose was to send out a wake up call to all well meaning, compassionate souls in the old ancient historic city of Kano and environs to come to the aid of the Tsunami victims out there in Southeast Asia. It all started with the duo of Kassim Usman Bichi/Adamu Danjuma B/Wapa, followed by Abdallah King Hussain/Haruna Muhammad who spoke in Hausa language to effectively acquaint most of the station listeners about what our mission is. Then Salihu Tanko Yakasai/Nasiru Sa’idu Adhama, Nuhu S. I. Umar/Morris B. Magaji, and lastly AbdulRahman B. Yola/Shitu AbdulKadir came on in turn and all spoke in English till the message was delivered. And by the time the programme was complete, the aim of the group was fully achieved as far as sensitizing the people is concerned. From that moment on the whole town was just waiting for the “Kwandala 4 Tsunami” Project.

The rest, as they say is history.