By Haruna Inuwa
Imagine you’re born in this part of the world where poverty of ambitions reigns. Imagine you come from a certain part of the country where there’s a low patronage in mentorship. Imagine you come from this very part of Nigeria where talented kids give up their lofty dreams due to the absence of a career counsellors.
Right here you’ve a persuasive change-maker, who frequently inspires young people to do more, to achieve more, to strive for nothing but excellence. There’s a usual narrative that anything merit-based you won’t see a particular tribe. In fact, some tribesmen consider themselves as intellectually superior.
However, Zooq’s way has proven to the naysayers that excellence exists everywhere; it exists beyond the walls of tribes and religion, beyond anything color. It is a feat attainable by those who believe in themselves.
Zooq’s way is by way of inspiring some of us through mentorship, so that—we as well—someday, we will equally make it to the top. Ordinarily, this is not business as usual. Many people who have tried to mentor younger ones ended up being disappointed. But, Marzuq, as a product of excellence wanted to defy the odds. He wanted to set a pace. Thus, he identified a number of us. He brought us closer by sharing opportunities and, of course, mentor us till today. We are making waves too. You see? The impact is visible.
I have had opportunity to have worked with Dr Zooq during the inaugural Muhammad Sanusi II Annual Colloquium and all I can say, this gentleman has so much interest in young people. Man is charismatic with alluring sense of humility. And, if there’s only one person I can recommend for the younger ones to look up to is, no one, but Marzuq Ungogo.
This is the Zooq’s way, always extending his hands to the younger ones. After all, Howard Schultz said, success is best when it’s shared.
