His Excellency, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule celebrated his first year in office as Governor on May 29th 2020 and used the momentous occasion to honor the second Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji (Dr) Aliyu Akwe Doma describing him as: “a historic leader of very exceptional pedigree who was not only an accomplished technocrat and a political titan, but also a cultural legend!”
During the buildup to the first-year anniversary in May 2020, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule described Akwe Doma as: “The very first person in Northern Nigeria to study THEATRE ARTS at the University of Ibadan from 1964 to1966 from where he proceeded to study at the BRITISH DRAMA LEAGUE IN LONDON in1968”
It will be recalled that as a young thespian, there was no drum he could not beat and no cultural dance Aliyu Akwe Doma could not dance, such that Akwe Doma became the VERY FIRST CULTURAL OFFICER OF NORTHERN NIGERIA which enabled him to travel the region and study different Northern cultures in all the villages and hamlets of AREWA.
Late Akwe Doma set about the task to establish Art Councils in Northern Nigeria, and he is also credited with creating THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF NIGERIAN LANGUAGES at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.
Aliyu Akwe Doma’s clarion call which resonates through time is the message: “AFRICANS MUST NEVER FORGET THAT WE HAVE A HISTORY AND A CULTURAL ACCOMPLISHMENT WHICH WE MUST ALWAYS CELEBRATE AND PROTECT!”
Aliyu Akwe Doma was singularly interested in Kwaghir Tiv culture such that in 1966, he led the Tiv Troupe to represent Nigeria at the First FESTAC, (Festival of Black African Arts & Culture) which held in Dakar, Senegal and he was Artistic Director at second edition of FESTAC ‘77 which held in Lagos, Nigeria.
By staying true to the tenets of inclusive governance and completing the construction of the banquet hall in government house which was started by Akwe Doma over 10 years ago, and going the extra mile to name the banquet hall after Aliyu Akwe Doma; Governor Abdullahi A. Sule has in one fell swoop immortalized former Governor Aliyu Akwe Doma as an enduring political figure and a leading light for the recovery of African cultural memory, whose legacy will endure from generation through time.
The noble move by Governor Abdullahi A. Sule to immortalize His Excellency, Late Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma OON, and Madauchin Doma brought a constellation of highly respected, famous and important political personalities who are held together by loyalty to the name and legacy of Aliyu Akwe Doma, to the goals he accomplished; and the vision they shared and shaped for Nasarawa State under his leadership and memorable pathways and those who still stand firm on the stepping stones which were firmly planted in the era of His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON and Madauchin Doma-all these men and women of substance, political stars, array of technocrats and a pantheon of respected and resplendent traditional glitterati from Doma –ALL-came together to witness, identify with, applaud and appreciate His Excellency Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule as he paid tribute and immortalized the memory of His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma OON, Madauchin Doma by naming the banquet hall in government house Lafia after Akwe Doma.
On Tuesday, 23RD June 2020, son of the late Governor, by name Mallam Umaru Aliyu Akwe Doma, Garkuwan Doma led a high-powered delegation of family, friends and political associates of his father, to say “THANK YOU” to Engr Abdullahi A. Sule at Government House Lafia and in the Akwe’s son: “We are gathered here today in an attempt to register respect and gratitude, for as the saying goes: “Gratitude is not only the highest virtue; it is the parent of all the others!” We wish to say and reaffirm that there is no honour greater and higher than honour from home and by your people. We cannot appreciate you and the government enough!”
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