A Tribute to Dr. Awwal Bamanga
With profound sorrow and complete submission to the will of Allah, I pen this tribute to my beloved brother and friend, Dr. Awwal Bamanga, who until his passing served as an Assistant Director at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
*Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un*—”Verily, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.”
Awwal was a man of remarkable intellect, boundless generosity, and unwavering dedication. He was not just a friend but a brother, a confidant, and an irreplaceable part of my life. His presence was a source of wisdom and comfort, and his legacy will forever endure in our hearts.
A Friendship Forged in Scholarship
Our paths first crossed in February 2012 during our PhD journey at the University of Portsmouth, where we attended a Research Methodology class facilitated by Professor Carl Adams, now Vice Chancellor of Cosmopolitan University, Abuja. In that same class, I also met Dr. Chukwuka Onyekwene, now CEO of the Centre for the Study of the Economy of Africa. From that moment, our bond transcended friendship—we became family, pillars of support in each other’s academic and personal journeys.
Awwal was more than a friend; he was a brother in every sense. During a significant phase of our PhD research, we were neighbors at Langstone Student Village—a place he helped me secure and settle into. Living beside Awwal was an experience I will never forget. I never worried about meals because he ensured I was well-fed. Our days were punctuated with shared brunches and late-night dinners, lovingly prepared by his wife, Benazir. Despite the demands of raising their young twins, Asna and Ayman, she never failed to extend her warmth and hospitality, making their home feel like my own.
Awwal had a way of pulling people into his world of relentless dedication. He introduced me to the habit of burning the midnight oil during our PhD research—a testament to his disciplined nature. He would spend countless hours in the lab, often working past midnight, sometimes until two in the morning. We would then drive home together in his car, exhausted yet fulfilled, discussing our progress and exchanging ideas. I still vividly recall spending the 2014 New Year’s crossover in the office, finally leaving at 4 AM.
His passion for research and innovation was unmatched. He was not just a scientist but a thinker, a problem-solver, a brilliant technocrat, and a visionary leader. He worked tirelessly, not for accolades, but because he genuinely believed in making a difference.
Even when his PhD methodology and sample selection faced setbacks, Awwal never wavered. He refined his work under the mentorship of Emeritus Professor Mike Fowler and Professor Graham Mills. His relationship with Professor Fowler extended beyond academia—in 2017 or 2018, the professor visited Awwal at his Lagos home during a trip to Nigeria, a rare gesture that spoke volumes about the respect Awwal commanded.
Awwal and I graduated just a day apart. True to his generous nature, he arrived in Portsmouth ahead of me and, without hesitation, booked and paid for my hotel accommodation. When my wife and I landed in London, Awwal called to check on our connection to Portsmouth. I informed him we were waiting for our luggage, only to learn moments later that our bags had been delayed due to a missed Frankfurt connection.
Without a second thought, at 7 PM that evening, Awwal rushed to Gunwharf Quays and purchased a complete outfit for me—shirt, trousers, tie, and suit—ensuring I wouldn’t waste precious time scrambling for attire before my graduation. Thanks to him, I stood proudly at my ceremony, unburdened by logistical worries.
Later that night, when we arrived at Portsmouth train station, Awwal was there to welcome us. With his characteristic warmth, he hosted us for dinner, turning what could have been a stressful night into one filled with laughter and the true essence of friendship.
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His kindness extended far beyond our UK days. In Nigeria, he would brave Lagos’ notorious traffic to pick me up from the airport, no matter the hour. I remember arriving from Abidjan at 3:30 AM once—Awwal arranged a taxi to ferry me safely to his home in Alaka Estate, Surulere. His family became mine. I still recall teasing his twins, Asna and Ayman, during their visit to my Abuja home, joking that I wouldn’t let them return to Lagos until they learned Hausa—and later, Fulfulde in Yola.
Our last face-to-face meeting was in December. Despite his hectic schedule, Awwal picked me up from Civic Towers in Victoria Island after a meeting, hosted me for lunch, and dropped me at the airport. We spoke at length about Nigeria’s challenges. He had been considering relocating, but I urged him to stay, to believe in Nigeria’s future. He agreed.
We also discussed Asna’s dream of becoming a doctor while nurturing her entrepreneurial spirit, and Ayman’s growing passion for software engineering, honed at Aptech. I shared news of my resignation as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of IT, Research, and Innovation at Baze University, and we excitedly discussed our vision for an innovation lab focused on digitizing West and Central Africa’s circular economy and marine value chain.
Awwal was deeply passionate about Africa’s marine and blue economy. In January, we spoke extensively about leveraging our proposed lab to drive research, innovation, and policy dialogue across the continent. This dream, so close to our hearts, may now remain unfulfilled.
Even in professional setbacks, Awwal remained optimistic. When his nomination as Director-General of the Marine Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) did not materialize, he calmly reassured me and our dear friend Abdullahi Abubakar Dangaladima: *”Rislan, it was never my time. Something better, something bigger will come, insha’Allah.”* That was Awwal—never dwelling on losses, always looking forward.
In one of our last conversations, we discussed collaborating on climate change initiatives. He pledged support for my work at the Centre for Climate-Smart Agriculture and shared plans for early retirement—to step away from bureaucracy and focus on capacity building, travel, and documenting climate change effects in ACP countries. He also longed to spend more time in Northern Nigeria after decades in Lagos and abroad, contributing to Adamawa’s development through research, innovation, and real estate investments spanning Abuja, Kaduna, Yola, and Mubi.
Four weeks passed without us speaking—an unusual silence. On March 5, I called, but his phone didn’t ring. I tried WhatsApp—no response. I assumed he was traveling. On March 12, I called again to wish him Ramadan Mubarak. Still, no reply. I sent a WhatsApp message: *”Slm, Mallam ya Ibada?”* (We always called each other *Mallam*—teacher.) It was a message he would never answer.
Then, on the morning of March 17, I saw a missed call from Suleiman, Awwal’s younger brother, whom I’d known since 2013. I called back immediately.
*”Have you spoken to Awwal recently?”* he asked urgently.
*”No,”* I replied. *”I’ve been calling, but no response. The messages are delivered. I hope he’s fine.”*
Before I could continue, he shattered my world:
“Awwal has returned to Allah today. I just arrived in Lagos to arrange for his body to be transported to Abuja for the Janaza.”
*Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.*
I collapsed in grief, weeping uncontrollably.
Now, he is gone.
Awwal was more than a scholar or civil servant—he was a man of immense kindness, generosity, and resilience. He touched countless lives, always putting others first. He had no enemies, only friends, admirers, and loved ones whose lives he enriched.
His passing is a devastating loss, but his legacy endures—in his cherished family, his groundbreaking research, and the countless lives he impacted.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him *Jannatul Firdaus*. May He grant his family—Benazir, Asna, Ayman, and Aisha—and all who loved him the strength to bear this profound loss.
Rest in peace, my dear brother. You will forever be missed.
Benazir, Asna, Ayman, and Aisha—Allah ya baku hakuri da dangana.
Dr. Rislan Abdulazeez Kanya
Centre for Climate-Smart Agriculture, Abuja
