Sir Gabriel Aguliash Attah a quintessential man who came, saw and conquered was born on the 25th of January 1940 in Sha village, Bokkos LGC of Plateau State and died on 26th of February 2002 but left his prints on the sands of time. Reason why over 21 years after his passing, the Attah family called friends and family together to the unveiling of the Sir Gabriel Aguliash Foundation for Humanity (GAAFH).
According to the organisers, they were remembering the man for his love for hard work, simplicity, love of family and a profound faith in God. Sir Aguliash they also said was a consummate teacher for decades and years after his passing they have had the privilege of meeting several of his past students and pupils, who have shared personal testimonies of how he touched their lives one way or the other in the several schools where he worked as a teacher, headmaster, counsellor and principal.
The family in describing the great man said he was a scientist, devout Catholic, and a Knight of St Mulumba who was very committed to family life and every other thing he did.
The Sir Gabriel Aguliash Foundation for Humanity (GAAFH), a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), which was birthed out of a desire to immortalise their patriarch and will be2 committed to using education, healthcare and peace building as catalyst for development in Central Nigeria in a bid to create a bright future for the people.
To be able to achieve this, the organisers of the event said they will be collaborating with local partners, government agencies and other stakeholders to be able to make lasting impact by implementing sustainable development projects through capacity building and advocating for policies that address the underlying issues affecting Central Nigeria.
The foundation’s mission also includes a desire to empower communities, uplift lives, foster lasting positive change as they strive to build a society where every individual has am opportunity to thrive and contribute to the progress of the nation.
To be able to achieve this, the foundation has chosen some thematic areas which include: healthcare, peace building, education, environmental sustainability and empowerment.
Under the area of healthcare, the foundation will offer healthcare interventions for the elderly and vulnerable individuals thereby promoting their well being and improving their quality of life. Also they will provide access to primary healthcare services such as immunisations, maternal and child healthcare as well as secondary and tertiary healthcare services such as surgery, cancer treatment and mental healthcare.
In the area of peace building the foundation will foster peace building initiatives in communities by promoting dialogue, understanding and conflict resolution by training community leaders and stakeholders, support mediation and dialogue between conflicting parties as well as promoting interfaith and inter-ethnic dialogue.
The third thematic area of education with education as a veritable tool for human development, the programs will include providing access to quality primary and secondary education, providing scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as supporting teacher training and development.
The environmental sustainability effort is reflected in eco-friendly practices that are incorporated into their programs and operations and are committed to reducing environmental impact by using sustainable building practices and also using renewable energy sources, recycling and composing.
The last part of the thematic areas is that of empowerment among youths and disadvantaged groups in Central Nigeria through initiatives such as skills training, leadership development, and entrepreneurship programs.
Prior to the date for the launch and unveiling of the foundation, the group had undertaken a pilot project which was the GAAFH Deworming and Peace Advocacy Project in which a deworming exercise was carried out at St John Vianney Minor Seminary Barkin Ladi. This was to honour of their mother and the wife of Mr Matthew Attah son of the man being remembered, Mrs Rosalyn Jipkat Attah, as she clocked 60 years on the 21st of June, where about 500 students and teachers of the school were administered deworming tablets, provided with lunch and given a talk on the importance of deworming and peaceful coexistence.
The exercise they said is expected to have a significant impact on the health, well being and social life of the students of the seminary by deworming the children, the project will help to improve their physical and cognitive development, reduce their risk of infection and quality of life.
A feedback is expected in three months as the group will be visiting the school to access the level of success of the deworming as well as the peace talk.
At the unveiling event, members of the board of trustees were inaugurated, they include: Mrs Rosalyn Jipkat Attah, chairperson, Ms. Elizabeth N. Attah Esq. Secretary, Mr John Agam, member, Mr Kyzitor K. Dakyen Esq. member, Mrs Martina Onari Ibrahim member, and Mr Ande Ikaa member. Others members are: Mrs Jessica Adakara, Mr Lohnan Sanda and also Mr. Magaji Shuwa Esq.
Rev. Sylvester Dachomo, who was guest speaker, in a remark at the launch urged all to reflect on, are you taking peace or making peace where you are? He lamented recent happenings of insecurity on the Plateau and the country at large, and urged all to seek peace and pursue it.
He said there is no country on the face of the earth like Nigeria, hence the need for all to strive to live together as one, live peacefully with one another. He pleaded that we live as one, see each other as brothers and sisters. He particularly commended the family for coming up with the foundation and for choosing this very key area of humanity. He noted that disease, poverty or other ills do not know religion or tribe. Ensure what they preach they also practice not just by words of mouth and called on all to be people who do what they say seek peace and pursue it not just by words of mouth.
Rev. Dachomo also enjoined all present to give the foundation support not just in kind but financially as well as they need funds to survive, to carry out the works that they intend to do. Adding also that, We need to support our own projects and the prayer of St Francis of Assisi holds sway in this case.
On his part, Engr. Naanmen Gamde while unveiling the brochure enumerated some of the virtues of Sir Gabriel Aguliash Attah who he revealed was a teacher par excellence.
He commended the family for putting up such a laudable and commendable foundation and urged all to give it their maximum support and encouragement.
Rev. Fr. Godfrey Gopep in a remark called on the political class to please collapse their party and other differences and come up with an agenda that will bring lasting peace on the Plateau and the country at large. He warned that unless something is done urgently the situation will consume all of us as a people. That the issue is now taking a scary dimension hence the need to act swiftly.
The Sir Gabriel Aguliash Foundation for Humanity, GAAFH, is a volunteer-driven organisation and is counting on spirited individuals, groups, with a passion for community development and philanthropy to join hands, partner with them to be able to serve humanity together.
On the whole, the event afforded people the opportunity to be part of the foundation by contributing not only in kind but in cash and some made commitments to send in their donations monthly, quarterly as the case may be.
Looking forward to getting feedback on progress made so far and success stories.
