A Farewell Tribute to a Distinguished Senior Colleague Inuwa Idris Yakasai
By Amb. Abbas Maje
In every institution, there are men who walk through its corridors quietly, but leave indelible footprints in the sands of time. These are men who are custodians of administrative values, structure and continuity. These are men whose presence defines an era, and whose departure reminds us that excellence is not only a habit, but an intellectual heritage. These are men whose presence in an institution gives it its characteristic rhythm, order and meaning. They do not make noise, they make systems work. They do not chase the spotlight, they build the foundation upon which others stand. When such men take a bow, they leave not a void of presence, but a legacy of purpose.
Inuwa Idris Yakasai is the Director, Information, and Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, whose meritorious service is about to finds its dignified closure in retirement.
The Hausa proverb says, “Ba rabo da gwani ba, kafin a samu kamarsa.” Indeed, the reality of the exit of an expert may be compromised by the dignity in clean exit, yet the rarity of finding another like him stands out like a sore thumb. This explains why these are men whose retirement leaves behind not just a vacant desk, but a vacuum of brilliance, wisdom and mentorship. Inuwa Idris Yakasai is one of such men whose diligence transforms routine into acceptable official ritual, and whose discipline sustains the spirit of public service.
Though his roots are in the field of information management, his craft found expression not merely in information management, but in administrative precision as well. He understood the inner life of bureaucracy, that governance, at its best, is a network of well-written memos, timely submissions, thoughtful supervision and respect for due process. In this, he was a master, a ‘gwani’ in the art of official order and institutional communication.
He mentored not by loud instructions, but through quiet example. Many who passed under his guidance learned not just how to write a memo, but how to think within structure, how to turn words into instruments of clarity, accountability and progress. He showed that even in a ministry where policies speak louder than people, it is still possible to serve with efficiency.
In a time when shortcuts tempt the impatient, Yakasai remained steadfast on the long road of procedure. In an age that often mistakes speed for efficiency, he reminded us that excellence is not haste, it is harmony between purpose and process. And, it is an interplay between intellectual prowess and linguistic articulation.
And so, as he takes his well-earned leave, we reflect not only on his years of service, but on the spirit that guided them. That silent devotion to order, integrity and collective good. For now, his office may fall silent, but his influence will continue to echo in every well-drafted correspondence, every punctual submission and every young officer who learned the language of the civil service through his example.
The question, then, is whether we, who remain, can sustain the light he leaves behind. “Ba rabo da gwani ba, kafin a samu kamarsa.” However, the true measure of his legacy will be in how deeply we internalize the discipline, humility and excellence that defined his career.
Thank you, Inuwa Idris Yakasai, for your years of silent mentorship. You retire, yes, but your example continues its daily duty in us all.
- Culled from Hotpen.net
