My great Gurara Forumite, today I present to you a titan. A
man of inestimable value to the SK cause and struggle.
When GF began, he was the first to look into the future by
sprinkling manure on it when he dipped his hands deep
down his pockets for it.
He stood behind CEDRA too in her formative years. He
encourages the youths to remain focussed and steadfast by
constantly throwing radiant smiles and friendly gestures. Men
and women, young and old, the haves and have nots,
Leaders and the led, Nice, hospitable, loving, caring, decent
and religious people of Southern Kaduna..........,,,,,,,,,,,
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you today, my
Hall Of Fame
With no other
But
Barrister Mark Jacob Nzamah.
Here is a humble, forthright and assertive man in his own
right. An epitome of a visionary leader. Here is an eloquent,
vibrant and gallant man who takes on matter head on.
Mark Jacob is a lawyer, a sportsman, a team player, a
demystified politician, a social mechanic, and an egalitarian.
His name alone is phenomenal in both the Southern Kaduna
geopolitics and in the state political sphere as well as the
national level.
I have met and familiarised with this personality and I have
been able to dig deep into his tour du force as well as his
roots. Beside, his senatorial ambition, makes it easier for me
to dig even deeper.
Mark Jacob Nzamah has served Kaduna State, the PDP and
the nation at large in various capacities. His strategic political
endowment and comparative strength is his well-articulated
knowledge of Southern Kaduna as a geographical entity and
the district of problems it bellies on one hand and the
reservoir of both the vast administrative knowledge and the
creative skills to tackle them on the other.
As a lawyer and a politician, he has been involved in a lot of
advocacy, crisis management and conflict resolution. He
offered himself for a free legal services to the Gbagyis over
several disputed farmlands between the indegent Gbagyi
people against the Chief of Jere, Dr. Sa’ad Usman in the
1990s.
He was also a member of the team of Southern Kaduna
lawyers that worked tirelessly before the Okadigbo led
Tribunal after the Zangon-Kataf ethno-political/religious
conflict in 1992 which work salvaged the likes of Zamani
Lekwot and other Southern Kaduna elites that were at the
dungeon of an autocratic military regime.
In 2000 Mark Jacob Nzamah also availed himself together
with other Southern Kaduna Lawyers to defend the Southern
Kaduna people that were alleged to have a hand in the post
Sharia crisis in Kaduna. It is on record that in the heat of the
proceedings, Mark Jacob Nzamah had to enter the witness
box and present the SOKAPU Memo on behalf of all the
people.
His testimony which lasted a record two days (the longest by
one witness) set the tone for a balanced consideration of the
issues and provided valuable material for the Commission of
Inquiry’s final report /recommendations and helped
Government to take decisions. He has provided a means of
livelihood to a
lot of upcoming Southern Kaduna youths; he equally has an
immense record in human capital development, he has
offered employment to our teeming youths in both the state
and the federal levels of government.
During his days as a student and even in his practice as a
lawyer, Mark Jacob Nzamah has played a vital role in
awakening the consciousness of Southern Kaduna people on
the deepening concern of marginalization and social
denigration. In many instances, he argued for genuine and
legitimate action as a fundamental unalienable right as
citizens.
From my research into this personality, I have learnt that
Mark Jacob Nzamah was born on the 23rd DECEMBER,
1963 to Mr. Jacob Nzamah Ahuwan and Mrs. Nna Jacob
Nzamah Ahuwan in Zonkwa (formerly in Kachia Local
Government of Kaduna State). He attended the LEA Primary
School No.5 Zonkwa from 1969-1975 where he obtained the
School Leaving Certificate. He proceeded to Government
Secondary School, Funtua from 1976-1981.
Having sat and performed creditably well in the General
Certificate of Education (GCE) examination, he obtained the
(GCE) O’level Certificate and by 1982 he was admitted into
the then College of Advanced Studies (CAS), Zaria for the
IJMB programme. On completion in 1984, he proceeded to
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and was admitted into the
Faculty of Law in 1985 and graduated in 1988 with an LL.B
(HONS). As a fundamental requisite in law practice. Mark
Jacob Nzamah went to the Nigerian Law school, Lagos from
1988-1989 and afterward, he was called up for the
mandatory 1-year National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) from
1989-1990
Mark Jacob Nzamah started a private practice in Kaduna
initially on his own before he was employed in the Law firm
of Yohanna Madaki and CO in 1991. He was with Yohanna
Madaki and Co until 1993 when he set up his own private
firm JACOB NZAMAH and CO with its base in Kaduna.
He was in the SDP,DPN and zero Party activities. By 1999
he was a pioneer member of the PDP and was visible in all
foundation activities of the Party. It is on record that his car
carried the first flags of the PDP for distribution to all Party
Offices in all the Local Governments in Southern Kaduna. All
through these period he never contested election nor was he
given any Appointment until 2003 when he was appointed
the company secretary and legal adviser to the Kaduna State
Markets Development Company LTD. After a successful stint
at the Markets Company, he was appointed secretary,
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) North West Zone in 2005.
While discharging his duties in the PDP North West Zonal
Office, he was appointed the Attorney General and
Commissioner for Justice, Kaduna State a position he held
until 2007. Through hard work and strict professional ethics,
Mark Jacob Nzamah was later appointed the National Legal
adviser of the PDP from 2007,which position he held until
2009.
Having served the PDP at the national level, Mark Jacob
Nzamah returned to private legal practice. He was thus
engaged until 2011 when he was Appointed Special Adviser
to the Minister of Aviation on (Legal Matters ). In 2012 he
was Appointed Director; Legal Services, Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria . ( FAAN ). His track record in his
chosen career is excellent, his appointment in 2011 as the
Special Adviser to the Minister of Aviation met diverse
expectations. His impressive performance as the Special
adviser to the Minister of Aviation was used as a springboard
for elevation to the Director (Legal Services) Federal Airports
Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in 2012.
As a lawyer, he is actively involved in the activities of the law
profession; he is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), member of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship,
Chairman Kaduna State Handball Association, member
Crocodile Club Kaduna, he was the 1st Vice President and
Acting President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN).
He is currently the executive Director, Commonwealth
Handball Association.
Mark Jacob Nzamah is happily married to Mrs Passuma
Palang Jacob and the marriage is blessed with 5 (five)
children. Mark Jacob Nzamah is seeking to become the
Senator, zone three in Kaduna. From antecedents, track
records, merits and demerits, the senatorial cap rightly fit
Mark Jacob by my assertion. He who the cap fits, let him
wear it.
May God continue to bless and protect Mark Jacob Nzamah.
Who next? Keep A Date With Me.
By Jotham Chatcham Ayuba.
No comments:
Post a Comment