Hundreds of heavyweights in academics, medicine and politics thronged the Lelewal Motels, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State on Sunday, 20th December, 2020 as a grand reception was held by the Malabu Community in honour of their son, Prof Saad Ahmed, the Talba Malabu and the Medical Director at Federal Medical Centre, Abuja.
It was an evening of accolades, tributes, praises and lots of compliments upon the Professor of gynae-pathology. Opening the floodgates of encomiums was the former Director of NNPC Headquarters, Abuja, the Ciroma Adamawa, Alhaji Ali, Ahmed Ciroma who is also the uncle of the celebrant. He classified the young Saad as a voracious reader who reads almost anything readable. Little wonder, he was always atop of his class.
In his own remark, the Secretary to the Government of Adamawa State, Eng. Bashir Ahmed, who represented the State Governor, described Prof. Saad as a complete gentleman, unassuming with high intellectual capacity. Adding that, the celebrant would use his professional skills in effecting necessary changes at the Federal Medical Centre. The Vice-Chancellor, Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, Prof. Liman Tukur, congratulated the Professor of Medicine on his appointment while urging him to justify the confidence reposed in him. He said, “leadership is a burden, you can’t carry it alone, you have to get very great pillars behind you so that you can have someone to delegate whenever you are not around because with collective intelligence we can move the country forward”. The Deputy Head of Clinical Services (Research and Training), FMC Abuja, Dr. Bioko Muftau, was not left out as he commended the Malabu Community for bringing forth a man who deserved to be celebrated. He referred to his boss as a pragmatic leader and welfarist par excellence. Other dignitaries who eulogized the Talba Malabu were; the Medical Director, FMC, Yola, Prof. Auwal Abubakar, the Head of Hammawa family, Alhaji Ahmed Malabu, Dan Lawan Malabu and the District Head of Malabu and the Special Adviser to the Governor on revenue and banking, the Ciroma Malabu, Alhaji Halilu Hammawa.
Also present at the colourful event were the former President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and ex-commissioner in Kogi State, Dr. Idris Omede, former Member House of Representative (representing Fufore, Song and Girei Federal Constituency). Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin, representative of the descendants of Ardo Dembo, the Chairman, Aliyu Mustapha College Alumnus Class of ’89 and the Head of Works and Engineering, FMC, Abuja, Eng. Alex Okedi. While responding, Prof. Saad Ahmed who was visibly overwhelmed and emotional by the show of love by the guests, expressed his deepest appreciations to God Almighty, the organizers of the reception, all the dignitaries present, the Malabu Community and in particular the members of staff of FMC, Abuja who have always demonstrated phenomenal cooperation and dedication to duties. The guests were later treated to the sumptuous traditional Adamawa delicacies.