Aminu Zaria: The silent philanthropist

William Shakespeare in his play “Twelfth Night” said, “Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

The above Shakespearean dictum succinctly captures the life of Alhaji Abdulmumin Aminu Zaria, a director at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Aminu Zaria was born great, achieved greatness and has greatness thrust upon him. Aminu Zaria, as he is fondly called by friends, well wishers and admirers, has carved a niche for himself in public service. His unwavering commitment towards excellent service delivery speaks volumes about his leadership acumen. 

As a director in NNPCL, Aminu Zaria has been instrumental in implementing various government policies geared towards the effectiveness and efficiency in the petroleum industry sector. His more than two decade experience in public service has fully prepared him to confront and solve numerous challenges related to his office and by extension the NNPCL ecosystem. Little wonder, his name rings a bell within the public domain. He is a quintessential public servant with an intimidating pedigree.

What distinguishes Alhaji Aminu Zaria from his contemporaries is his down to earth philanthropiy. He has endeared himself to the poor and vulnerable people. There is no gain saying the fact that his house is a Mecca of sort, attracting people from all walks of life who come to look for one favour or the other. Notwithstanding, Aminu Zaria hardly makes his magnitude or spirited assistance public. 

He has been silently touching human lives positively in different ways. Aminu Zaria’s generousity is being felt across the nooks and crannies of Kaduna state. He has been awarding scholarship to the less-privileged students, payment of medical bills for patients and above all securing jobs for numerous unemployed youths. His kind of philanthropy is rare in our today’s world where the affluent hardly come to the aid of the poor.

In recent times, Aminu Zaria’s impressive record of service delivery caught the attention of the public – the poor, the rich and middle class – who continue to echo the need for him to join partisan politics. While Aminu Zaria has friends in power, he remains apolitical pursuing his excellent public career to the satisfaction of all and sundry. Though, he offers his friends in power useful and valuable advice whenever the need arises, he has remained silent on whether to throw his hat into the political ring or not. 

Without a doubt, those who are rooting for him to join politic see in him a person with experience and capacity to bring the desired change. He embodies an experienced public service officer whose immediate environment will tap from his wealth of experience in public service spanning over two decades.

Aminu Zaria was born in Anguwan Shanu, Kaduna and had his primary education at LGEA Anguwa Sarki. He attended Government Technical School Soba between 1977 and 1983. His quest for more education saw him attending polytechnic and university where he obtained post-secondary education. In an interview he granted to Liberty Television Hausa popular programme, “Ga fili ga mai doki”,  Aminu Zaria went down the memory lane to recollect some of his childhood friends including the present governor of Kaduna state, Malam Uba Sani. 

I think that is the reason the relationship between Aminu Zaria and Governor Uba Sani goes beyond politics as being bandied by some people. It is a strong relationship built right from childhood based on mutual trust and brotherhood. Aminu Zaria working career began at the Port Harcourt Refinery in Rivers state where he spent 18 years rendering services to Nigerians before he was posted to the Kaduna Refinery. At the Kaduna Refinery, Aminu Zaria’s name is synonymous with hardwork, consistency and innovation.

The main reason his fans, friends and associates want to drag him into politics is simply because he is an achiever par excellent. While today’s politicians see politics as a gravy train of wealth accumulation, Aminu views it as an avenue for service delivery. This stems from the fact that Aminu Zaria has been relentless in putting smiles on the faces of the vulnerable and poor segment of the society. Although 2027 appears to be still far, Aminu Zaria should answer the clarion call to join partisan politics and contribute his quota to the development of Kaduna state and the country at large.