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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
A Bauchi-based accountability group, “Me kayi, me zakayi wa Al’Ummah (What have you done, what will you do for society) Association of Nigeria, has concluded arrangements to honour some people in Bauchi State who have contributed to humanity through selfless services.
The group made the declaration while speaking through its Chairman, Comrade Ilyasu Ibrahim Zwall, during a press conference on Monday in Bauchi.
The recipients include Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate; Sen Shehu Buba Umar representing Bauchi South Senatorial District; Hon Kabiru Yusuf, representing Alkairi/Kirfi Federal Constituency; Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara; Hon Kani Faggo; Hon Nura Manu Soro; Hon Muntaqa Duguri; Shamsuddeen Bala Mohammed and Bala Maijama’a Wunti.
Others are: Prof Fatima Tahir, SAZU VC; Barr Saratu Jibrin; Lydia Shehu Gar; Hadi Usman, Development Exchange Centre (DEC) and AYM Shafa.
He stated that its mission now is to seek out and recognize a specific kind of leaders who have made themselves outstanding in the service of humanity.
According to him, “We are looking for these individuals and youth groups who organize night patrols to keep our neighborhoods safe. We are searching for the teacher who spends their own salary to ensure students have books. We are honoring the artisan who passes on vital skills to the next generation, free of charge.”
Zwall added that,,”These are the people with remarkable legacies—legacies written not on paper, but in the lives they have transformed and uplifted. Through subsequent editions of these awards, we are committed to finding these champions, honoring their contributions and investing directly in their ongoing work. Their stories are, in fact, the blueprint for our collective future.”
He further challenged members of the Press gathered at the Conference and around the world, as essential partners in the endeavor, to serve as the amplifiers of light, saying,”We ask for your help in finding these local heroes and sharing their narratives. Show our nation and the world that the most profound development projects are not always the tallest buildings, but the strongest, most compassionate communities.”
He also explained that, “On the other hand, the evaluation of Northern Governors or North-East Governors will commence immediately after the series of awards. And to every citizen listening: this is your call to action. Look around you. Who is that person quietly making a difference? We urge you to nominate them. Join us in this movement. Let us come together to answer the defining question: “Me kayi? me za kayi wa al’uma?” — What have you done, and what will you do for your community?
According to him, “We were born from a belief that the desire for change in our communities must be matched by action. We aim to foster both individual responsibility and collective synergy in driving development. Today, I am here to share news of a significant upcoming event: the inaugural “Me Kayi? Me Za Kayi wa al’uma?” Awards Ceremony, to be held in a few weeks.”
He further stated that,”Our journey began from a place of deep concern. We observed a persistent and growing divide between leadership and the everyday citizen—a gap that often seems to narrow only during election cycles. We witnessed communities struggling in silence and governance feeling like a distant, inaccessible concept.”
Zwall added that, “It was in response to this that on 29th June, 2018 that a group of us, as concerned citizens, decided to take action which could no longer wait. We formally registered our commitment with the Corporate Affairs Commission to undertake a critical twofold objectives.”
The objectives are to provide urgent and compassionate assistance to the less privileged, helping them to not just survive but to thrive and to ignite a sustained spirit of public participation in community service, stressing,”We operate on a powerful yet straightforward principle: to recognize excellence, reward integrity and encourage transformational leadership.”
He added that, “On 1st Jan 2019 our organization recognized and published the names of some outstanding nationalists who had contributed in various field of endeavors which is documented in Daily Trust of January 1, 2019 page 35. We believe that governance is neither a spectator sport nor the exclusive domain of a connected few.”
According to him,”True governance is participatory. It exists when every citizen has a voice in the well-being of their own street, market and neighborhood. It is realized when a widow can access support with dignity or when a child’s education is secured by community collaboration and when a clogged drain is cleared not by a faceless contractor but by the residents themselves—equipped and empowered.”
He added that, “This is the bridge we are building toward a safer, more resilient society. On one end, we provide direct, dignified assistance through food drives, educational scholarships, medical aid and skills training. On the other hand, we foster organized, empowered community action—including neighborhood clean-ups, public dialogues, civic education and development monitoring. We strive to be the vital link that connects compassion with concrete action.”
“However, today’s purpose extends beyond our own work. We are here to celebrate. We are here to shine the brightest possible light on the outstanding individuals and organizations who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service to humanity. They are the very embodiment of our motto in their daily lives. For this reason, we are proud to announce our inaugural “Me Za Kayi Community Champions Awards,” he added.
According to him, “In the coming weeks, we will honor these quiet heroes who have answered the call to action. Some of the recipients are out of office but they still continue with their community projects. The award categories are designed to celebrate their diverse contributions which were carefully selected without any of them knowing. This will equally interest the press and the general public to know that none of the recipients has been contacted as at the time of this press conference but we have carefully visited their projects.”
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