He is a selfless, determined, young on-air personality with a difference. He is devoid of pride and superiority over the younger ones, the have-nots and he considers it a duty to assist the needy. From different roles as a radio presenter in Kano State to establishing African Focus for Youth Development (AFFYD), a non governmental organisation that is geared towards affecting the lives of African youths positively, his doggedness and commitment to youth development in the North is recognised and he was awarded one of the ambassadors for peace by the Youth Federation for World Peace (YFWP), an affiliate of the United Nations (UN) wing for peace in 2010. In this interview with OLAYINKA AJAYI, Ambassador Emmanuel Gabari speaks on how his passion for youths’development propelled him to roll-up his sleeves for humanitarian services. Excerpt.

Background

My name is Ambassador Emmanuel Gabari. I am an Urhobo by tribe and I attended Mosco College of Commerce Enerhen in Warri. I later left Warri for the North where I sat for my West African Examination Council, WAEC. I also attended Kano State Polytechnic where I obtained a National Diploma, ND, in Secretarial Administration and I also obtained a Higher National Diploma, HND, in the same course of study in Katsina Polytechnic in 2006. I was  privileged to bag a post-graduate degree in Mass Communications from Bayero University. I am presently an on-air personality and I work with Radio Kano FM.  I present  programmes three times in a week.

Getting acculturated

It was a big challenge for me learning the culture that is far different from mine, different religion and tribe. But, I have always believed that we are all one Nigeria and people could choose to live anywhere they decide and it could be regarded as home for them.

*Amb Emmanuel Gabari won the 2010 Youth Federation for World Peace (YFWP)

I was able to summon courage because even in my state of origin, Delta state, there are so many tribes and tongues like the Urhobo, Ijaw, Itsekiri and even the Delta-Igbo. So I had no choice than to acculturate although once in a while, you are faced with challenges.

Conquering these challenges

I have always been a goal getter. When I have a passion for something, I go all out for it, maybe because of my faith. I strongly believe that God is always with me. Even if you are working in your local government, that does not mean you won’t have challenges and the challenges you encountered should not make you back out.

How African Focus for Youth Development (AFFYD) came about

It came up as a result of my media work in Radio Kano FM, as an on-air personalty in 2005. Every time I speak on air, I address issues facing young people generally. Then I noticed that a lot of people wanted a place outside the mass media where they could get together like a conference or seminar, where they could discuss personal issues that could not be discussed on air due to the religion and culture.

So we started every month where we gather mostly students from secondary schools and higher institutions. What we discussed most times were  youth empowerment and career guidance and in another month, we could speak about health issues and how young people could live a healthy life.

So, we felt that we should make it bigger than usual. So, we started partnering with other non governmental organisations, and now, other NGOs in Lagos, Abuja and other places consult us when they intend organising youth conferences or seminars in Kano and the North.

Majorly, the focus of AFFYD is youth development because we observed that young people in Africa are being relegated to the background and are sometimes used as political thugs during elections, while the young girls engage in prostitution that most times result to unwanted pregnancy.

We believe if we can change the mindset of young children, half of the social vices would be solved. So, we go to secondary schools, because we believe in catching them young, where we talk to them about taking their studies seriously, discouraging bullying attitudes, teenage pregnancy and how to avoid it. Sometimes, we go to  primary schools where we do sensitisation on culture, values that are embedded with respect for self and other people.

Basically, the major challenge which other organisations face too, is finance and also the fear of insecurity in the north. It takes courage and compassion for us to carry out effective projects in these areas. Due to the security situation of the region,voluntary donors will think twice before coming. Sometimes, we get support from other passionate organisations.

The UPF/YFWP UN Ambassador for Peace Award

The Award was given in the month of June, 2010 at the ECOWAS Secretariat Abuja and organised by UPF/YFWP, an umbrella body of the United Nations (UN) for Peace. I was one of the over 20 people that were awarded that day. Madam Sarah Jibril, now the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Ethics and Values was the Chairperson at the ocassion. It was a wonderful experience for me.

When the nomination letter first came,  I was shocked and surprised because I least expected it. I am just someone who loves touching the lives of people in my own little way by using my radio program to reach out to people in Kano and make them happy. I never felt I would be recognised some day.

I am a very quiet person who believes my work should speak for me. I engage in a lot of voluntary community service, like polio vaccination, capacity building/skills acquisition for young people, youth participation in governance and public enlightenment campaigns.

I never thought a day would come when it would pave  way for me in life to be awarded an Ambassador for Peace. If it were to be for eloquence only, I know there are other broadcasters in major cities who are equally very good, but maybe my direct commitment to impacting meaningfully and positively on the lives of young people and my community development activities gave me a cutting edge over other people.

During the roll out polio campaign in the North, I volunteered myself for the work and ignored the fact that I am an on-air personality. I rolled-up my sleeves and worked selflessly by going from street to street and from house to house, administering polio vaccines to children and many of my colleagues faulted my action, claiming it is unnecessary to stoop that low for the sake of affecting lives through community service and I made them realise that I am a voice for the ordinary people in the society and my plan is to affect lives directly.

My inspiration

Maybe, it’s the fact that I come from a polygamous background where my dad had a lot of children and everyone had to struggle really hard to make a living for himself.  I know a lot of people that had their dreams shattered due to their polygamous background. My inspiration has always been believing in God and the goal- getting ability He puts in me. I have always believed that with God all things are possible.