By Louis Achi
An alumnus of the prestigious King’s College, Lagos and current President of the King’s College Old Boys Association, KCOBA, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, CON, Mutawalin Borno, hardly carries himself like a king.
Driven and defined by palpable kinetic energy, he is nevertheless humility personified. Besides many other uncommon positive narratives encapsulating his trajectory, he is an advocate of educational development which he strongly believes is a critical emancipatory force for the transformation of humanity and society.
Kashim Imam, as he is popularly called, eloquently argues that the federal government has other obligations and no constitutional backing to run secondary schools. Incidentally, the King’s College which he is an alumnus of will be celebrating its 114th anniversary on September 20.
In his words: “It is an anomaly that the federal government is running secondary schools. At the time it was initiated, there was justification for it, but I think it has served its purpose and going forward, the schools will best be run by the old students on the public-private partnership arrangement.
“The federal government has much more important obligations like defence, security, foreign affairs, economy, among others, but secondary school is not on the exclusive list. It is not even on the concurrent list. It is on the residual list. States, yes; private organizations, yes; but the federal government, no.” He states that he has always advocated for free education at both the primary and secondary school levels, most especially at the primary school level. He believes that primary and secondary schools are the bedrock of education and thereafter universities can be addressed.
He firmly holds that “Not only should it be free, but it should also be made compulsory. I am from the north and you hear people talk about the almajiris and the almajiri education. Now just imagine if every school age child is enrolled in school, there will be no almajiris. It’s as simple as that.”
Kashim Imam’s recent recognition by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the conferment of a national honour – Commander of the Niger, CON, is unquestionably a vindication of this patriotic interventions despite the associated challenges.
This national recognition also bears a fitting testimonial to his modest but invaluable contributions to the political as well as socio-economic development of Nigeria. Alhaji Kashim Imam’s contribution to partisan politics, devoid of hate and divisive tendencies is indeed an uncommon trait.
He has come to be noted for his relentless, noble pursuit of patriotic ideals and the uncommon dedication to promoting the cause of progressive nation-building.
At another important educational front, Kashim Imam’s enviable performance in public service as evidenced by his position as Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) continues to inspire his admirers across the country.
He certainly is not the kind of professional who stays tamely at the receiving end of received policy prescriptions. He covets knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stake-holders, policy makers, fluid operating environments and sure-footed action. These dimensions have been boldly mirrored in his nimble chairmanship of one of the strategic Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and his other many engagements.
More recently on the political front, not many will forget in a hurry, the unique role he played in contributing to the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the flagbearer of the APC in the stormy political contest that birthed the agenda of Renewed Hope.
Kashim Ibrahim-Imam was born on May 8, 1962, into a political family. His father Ibrahim Imam was the motivating force of the Progressive Borno Youth Movement.
He earned degrees in Political Science and International Economic Relations from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Maiduguri and subsequently entered the banking industry.
During Nigeria’s short-lived Third Republic, he was the Borno State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was removed from this position by Maina Maaji Lawan, the Borno State Governor at that time. He was a member of Hope 93, the political group at the forefront of the MKO Abiola’s campaign in the 1993 elections.
Kashim Imam was twice the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Borno State in 2003 and 2007, gamely losing to the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate Ali Modu Sheriff. In the February 2003 PDP primaries for Borno State governorship candidate, he easily beat four other contestants to represent the PDP in the gubernatorial elections.
He was appointed Presidential Liaison Officer to the Senate at the start of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
In May, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved his appointment as chairman, board of trustees (BoT) of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). Ibrahim-Imam’s appointment was effective from May 14, 2020 and would run for four years consequent upon which it could be renewed.
The enthralling odyssey of Kashim Imam’s life further validates the enduring wisdom that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. An unwavering sense of duty, rigorous training and professionalism, demonstrable integrity and almost a child-like faith in his beloved Allah form the navigational compass of his life story.
Kashim Imam’s choice as chairman of TETFUND tacitly acknowledges the capacity of focused individuals to upscale their sector, effectively manage new disruptions and hence positively impact society for the better.
For many years, he has provided clear, pragmatic leadership in diverse arenas. Today, he has been deservedly transformed into an active, focused national leader; a genuine pathfinder. Undoubtedly, this nationalist and political leader has diligently paid his dues.
