TheCable

BY IBRAHEEM ABDULLATEEF

A failed dream has a history of making a failed man.

But not for Sheriff Shagaya, the first son of successful businesswoman Hajia Bola Shagaya, whom bookmakers predicted would crawl into his shell after the failed House of Representatives political bid in 2015. Instead, he has grown in leap and bounds professionally and politically.

Not renowned for speaking, the founder of Salman Shagaya Foundation, Chairman Maron Oil & Gas Limited, and Kashton Concept Nigeria Limited’s achievements in the energy sector is under celebrated but not invisible.

Between the torch lighted period of 2015- 2020, the fact stands that Shagaya has risen through sheer hard work and resourcefulness to become the youngest and one of the biggest players in the energy industry in Nigeria as he sits at the top of at least five national establishments today. For his personality, that is a big stride with less noise.

Perhaps such charismatic taciturnity emboldened some writers asking for his whereabouts on media fronts. I wonder how one searches for what’s not lost. ‘Shagaya mellows?’ ‘Where is Shagaya?’ and all sorts of misdirected inquiries we have strongly ignored. I could imagine some of them punching keyboards with glee to shove down the narrative of his disappearance as predicted. However, that is not true.

Not being in the media for political reasons doesn’t mean drifting to irrelevance. Rather it is in consistency with a clear decision to focus his energy on economic growth and development of society as befitting of a young man with eyes firmly set on excellence. His sojourn and present enviable status in the energy sector has also made nonsense of mischief over his ability and capability to excel as a person and not as a billionaire’s son.

Yet, that may not ring a bell with his critics. Some would always reference his family background. Even if it is in this same country we see his ilks soiling the name they inherited, dragging prestige into the mud instead of building it. More realistic and temperate analysts, however, would credit Sheriff with putting a face value to the Shagaya empire and sustaining the verve with an uncommon mien.

Starting with co-founding Phoenix Energy Nigeria Limited in 2004 to running at least five wave-making personal establishments with an employment capacity numbering almost a thousand today, is no small feat. If we agree for the sake of argument on his background, we should cut and bury it now and ever, that being born with a silver spoon doesn’t make one die rich. It takes being a Sheriff to make meat of expectations and surpass them.

Facts, they say, are stubborn things. They stare you right in the face. It speaks to the ingenuity that he has arguably the first functional and most consistent foundation in Kwara. Salman Shagaya Foundation, registered in 2014 as his pet project, runs many poverty alleviation programmes to stifle the scourge of hunger and lack. The famous quarterly relief money scheme for the aged, the sick, and people with disabilities has captured about 10,000 persons in six years.

It may also interest you to know that he began the non-profit and non-refundable loans of the sum of #10,000 for each petty trader before President Buhari’s first term which more than 5,000 has benefited. Yet, that is not all. Dozens of secondary and tertiary students get sponsored by the foundation today. Also in practice is feeding of beggars occasionally. I could remember someone joking sometimes ago she envied them. When the members set out to dole out food, one would think they were meant for kings. These lend credence to his efforts towards the realisation of SDG goals 1,2, and 4 respectively.

To ease the burden of epileptic power supply or even outright absence in some Kwara communities, Shagaya designed in November 2019 and fixed solar panels in 4,000 homes. The package carries a standing fan, radio set, and torchlight. The idea was that illuminating these communities will also serve a security purpose. Such was the success and impact it had, it endeared him to many people and monarchs across the state. The project, touted as the biggest private solar intervention in North Central, earned the commendation of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq upon commissioning.

But a loaded gun keeps firing. Shagaya is not done. Although the pandemic had made us suspend the quarterly empowerment scheme, it didn’t stop the selfless man from contributing magnanimously to the fight against COVID-19 in Kwara. Just when the lockdown began, he directed the distribution of thousands of bottles of sanitizers to parks, markets, and other public spaces. Right after, people started getting food items to combat biting hunger. Whereas others followed suit, no other person gave about a thousand old people #5,000 each aside from him.

Given the desire to see the virus defeated in Kwara, Shagaya also donated handsomely to the state government’s purse to support their efforts toward flattening the curve of transmission. It became clearer at that point that while some persons saw the moment as opportunities for photo-ops and political points, the tireless philanthropist showed himself apart. It followed the acclaim he has been getting for prioritising the people’s wellbeing at the expense of political sentiments, that, the once rejected stone has become the cornerstone.

As he directed again that for his upcoming 40th birthday on the 7th of July, money and food items should be given to the vulnerable, I sat and ruminated on his life journey. It occurred to me it is a storyline for the discerning. One, age is just a number, and a privileged background is just a privilege. Only one’s characters and success make one a champion. Two, no work is bigger than helping humanity as there is no success as big as being the light in some people’s homes. The third is for the politicians: the political office is just a platform. One’s will to help the people and the record of doing makes one a true leader.

This is what Shagaya has shown and in the process proved the bookmakers wrong! If you were a Shagaya, your values will shine through no matter the odds. His story is an enduring lesson for all and sundry and a perfect role model for the youths. Let me hear the world sing beautiful odes on the champion’s 40th birthday.

Ibraheem is the press secretary Salman Shagaya Foundation