Ex-SGF charges youths to rise above limitations

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has urged Nigerian youths to rise above the limitations of their backgrounds and strive for excellence, saying his journey from the son of a classroom teacher to the nation’s number two bureaucratic position demonstrates that humble beginnings should not determine one’s destiny.

Mustapha spoke in Demsa, Adamawa State, on Saturday, during the inauguration and handover of a library complex he donated to the Lutheran University Nigeria as part of activities marking his 70th birthday.

The facility, named the Wesley Mustapha Library Complex by the Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria, Most Revd. Musa Panti Filibus, was built in honour of Mustapha’s late father, who was a teacher and later became a headmaster at the Government Science School established by the LCCN.

Mustapha said his decision to invest in the university was driven by a desire to create opportunities for younger generations and contribute to the development of education in the country.

He said, “I want my life to be a template for the younger generation. If the son of a classroom teacher can make it, then you can make it.

“Do not allow your background to define your life; use it as a stepping stone.

“My decision to undertake this project is borne out of the need to better the lives of the generation coming after us.”

Reflecting on his upbringing, the former SGF said his father’s dedication to teaching had influenced his decision to give back to the educational system.

“My father was a classroom teacher who rose to become a headmaster at the Government Science School founded by LCCN,” he added.

The chairman of the occasion and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, commended Mustapha for choosing to mark his 70th birthday by investing in education rather than personal luxury.

Mutfwang said the gesture demonstrated the importance of using positions of influence and personal milestones to create lasting opportunities for society.

Also speaking, the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, described the library as a lasting monument to knowledge, saying it would provide a valuable resource for students and researchers in the university and beyond.

The governor noted that investments in education had long-term benefits because their impact extended beyond the immediate beneficiaries to future generations.

The Archbishop of the LCCN, Most Rev’d. Musa-Panti Filibus, commended Mustapha for the initiative, describing the library as an enduring contribution to tertiary education in the region.

He said the facility would strengthen the university’s academic environment and preserve the memory of Mustapha’s late father through a project dedicated to knowledge and learning.

Our correspondent reports that the inauguration formed part of activities marking Mustapha’s 70th birthday, with the former SGF using the milestone to reflect on his upbringing, public service and commitment to supporting younger generations.