Families, friends and well-wishers of Alhaji Faruk Shehu will today converge on Kware town in Kware Local Government Area of Sokoto State to witness his turbaning ceremony as Tafidan Kware.
The new Tafidan Kware, who is also the present Executive Secretary of Sokoto State Universal Education Board, will be turbaned by Sarkin Yamman Kware, Alhaji Muhammad Dan’iya.
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The title of Tafida in Kware is similar to director protocol in the modern system of government. Tafida is saddled with the responsibility of handling the emir’s guests whenever the need arises. This includes provision of accommodation, feeding and other needs the guests deserve or require.
Alhaji Shehu was born in 1967 in Sokoto town. He started his Qur’anic education at home under the supervision of his step fathers – Liman Ibrahim Mai Gandi, Modibbo Yatu and Modibbo Sume of blessed memory.
After he acquired substantial part of the Qur’anic education, the new Tafidan Kware was then enrolled for western education. Firstly, he started at Magajin Gari Primary School in 1972 and later moved to Gidan Karma Primary School in Kware Local Government Area of Sokoto State from where he graduated in 1979.
Having successfully obtained his primary school certificate, Shehu got admission into the Government Teachers College (GTC) Dogon Daji where he studied for five years (1979-1984). Thereafter, he proceeded to the College of Education Sokoto and spent three years (1984-1987).
His passion to western education compelled Alhaji Faruk Shehu to proceed to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto for his first degree. He joined the university in 1991 and graduated in 1994.
In 2006, the new Tafidan Kware went back to Usmanu Danfodiyo University to acquire additional certificates. This time, he went for a Post Graduate Diploma course in Public Administration and later Masters degree in the same course. He graduated in 2007.
Like any other university graduate who meets the laid down criteria for the one-year mandatory national service, Shehu did his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at GGC Bauchi between 1994-1995.
The new Tafidan Kware contributed a lot to the development of education in particular and Sokoto State in general. He rendered selfless services as a teacher at the Women Teachers College (WTC) Yelwa Yauri, Sultan Attahirun Ahmadu Secondary School and Government Teachers College (GTC) Wurno.
He also served in the capacities of Vice Principal, Principal Inspector of Education (PIE), Desk Officer Private Schools, Deputy Director Inspectorate Services Ministry of Education Sokoto, Executive Secretary SUBEB and Permanent Secretary (SUBEB).
Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa, a present director planning in the Ministry of Education Sokoto, was the one who discovered the new Tafidan Kware in the classroom and brought him into government to work under him in the Ministry of Education Sokoto.
He said: “Faruk is a man of the people, generous and kind. I am sure his appointment as Tafidan Kware will lead to so many developments not only for the people of Kware, but Sokoto State in general.
“The people of Kware are lucky to have him at the helm of affairs. He is presently working in the ministry of education; I am sure he will use that opportunity to help his subjects.
“I believe he will encourage many youths to further their education. He will greatly assist them in the areas of scholarship and connect them with opportunities in the education sub-sector. He will ensure that Kware gets all it’s entitled to.
“His patriotism is known by many people. So, his appointment as Tafidan Kware will be a challenge to him to do more for his people and Sokoto dynasty as a whole.”
Marafa added that the Sarkin Yamman Kware had made a right choice by appointing Faruk as Tafidan Kware, saying “Tafida is the right ambassador to handle this position because he has the zeal and courage of improving the wellbeing of people.”
He, therefore, urged the people of Kware to support the new Tafida in order to achieve the desired objectives, noting that there is no way the celebrant will succeed in discharging his responsibility without their support and cooperation.
Alhaji Umar Yabo, a close associate of the celebrant, described him as humble and very hardworking, assuring that Sarkin Yamman Kware and the people of Kware will not regret appointing him as traditional title holder.
“I’ve known him for a very long time. He is my friend and working partner. I have confidence in him that he will make significant contributions towards the development of Kware in particular and Sokoto in general.
“He is the type of person who has tremendous respect for his colleagues and humble in dealing with his subordinates.
“Above all, he is a philanthropist to the core. I assure you his choice for that title is well thought. He has all the qualities expected of a good leader; therefore, I believe he can perform very well in discharging his assigned responsibilities,” he said.
Daily Trust Saturday gathered that Alhaji Faruk Shehu’s hobbies include reading, travelling and badminton. He is presently the Chairman Sokoto State Badminton club. He has travelled to many countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, few among them are England, Italy, United Arab Emirate, Finland, Estonia, Benin and Niger Republic. He is happily married and blessed with children.