By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
Kampala, Uganda: Ahmad Isah – a youth is for real an opposing testimony to others who think life is what they are now. Born and raised from a humble background in Sokoto, Northern part of Nigeria in West Africa, Ahmad also called Abba at home has since seen his life in great measures.
He had his Kindergarten, Primary and secondary education in Sokoto before getting an an opportunity of being admitted at Cavendish University in Uganda in 2018.
His coming to Uganda marks the beginning of transformations. He enrolled with Bachelors of International Relations and Diplomatic Studies at Cavendish University Uganda, in 2018 and graduated in 2021.
He narrates how he met his mentor and a role model Sulyman Abdelazeez Nevaluz, who encouraged and introduced to him a lot that shaped him where he’s reaping from to date and going forward.
With all this inspiration, while at Cavendish University, he joined students leadership, becoming a Secretary General of Diplomatic Students Union at the School.
Later became President of Nigerian Students at Cavendish University then President of Nigerian students in Uganda that gave him an open ground to access and interact with notable personalities in country that has since paid off.
In 2020, he applied for internship placement at Nigerian High Commission in Uganda, but was declined in first place even when there could be many issues that would necessitate him to pursue there like students matters, passport, visa, immigration and others. The commission however promises to secure for him another place where he would conduct his internship other than there.
High Commissions/EWmbassies initially deal with Government-to-Government information and rarely give it out to the public and that’s why they are usually strict.
However, on his way out from the commission, Ahmad meets one of the top officials at the Embassy who rekindled his hope to the request, the official visited the Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and secured Ahmad’s placement letter thereby being granted internship and became the first Nigerian have it at the Commission.
He then started his internship with the High Commission and highly related with every department as education attaché but mainly works with consular services which he says gave him a wide experience, good rapport and got a recommendation from Cavendish University.
“After serving the three months internship, a few days after I had left, I got a call and was detained there (Nigerian High Commission) as an employee. Being the first Nigerian student employee there was great honor for me”. He narrated.
“In so doing, I established a connection between my Cavendish University and Commission and it’s benefiting to date as they visited, signed a memorandum of understanding and it now gets lecturers from Nigeria paid directly by the Nigerian Government, and that’s a big achievement”. He added.
“Upon completion of my first degree, the university immediately offered me a scholarship for Masters Degree in Security studies which I am now pursuing and will be graduating in August this year, 2023.” Ahmad revealed.
Recently, the University Alumni Association organized elections for the next 5-year term president where he participated on requests of the many and emerged the winner beating two Ugandans.
“It was very unbelievable for me. I was very nervous to be declared winner of the election beating Ugandans because it is difficult. After this, I vowed to work hard and show impact to the University community during tenure as well to leave a legacy for Nigerians who will come after me.” He revealed.
He promised that he will immediately make his impact felt in the university. ‘I have not come to take but being patriotic, minding on what I am going to leave there. My aim is making the University reach global phenomenon.’
He revealed that he yearns to see Africa united citing that we know our challenges and can devise means of dealing with them. ‘Many times, African cry out to their government but before we cry, what have we done for our nations.’ Ahmed added that Africa is wealthy therefore can solve its own issues without assistance from abroad.
Ahmed is baffled by some people who believe hardworking and building resilience is the way to success not knowing that what one has on mind and what they believe in is the magic bullet.
About Alumni Association of Cavendish University.
The Alumni Association started far back in 2008 and the term is five years but Ahmad believes that the 5-year term is too much and vowed when he gets to office, he will push for the amendment of the constitution to at least have a 2-year term.
It envisions at uniting students all over the world putting into context that the University has so far graduated over 10,000 people all of which need to be united because no one what knows what everyone is doing as some may offer support or need it in different ways.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsDom6Wt77q/?igshid=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA==
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsCI0wutHQ7/?igshid=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA==
https://www.instagram.com/p/Crbnz1uNzaM/?igshid=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA==
https://youtu.be/Ys1iel4GL2A
MOMENTS AT THE EVENT.
Ahmad Isah delivers his speech after being elected President of the Cavendish University Alumni Association in Uganda.
