‘Writing, hard work earned me my position’ –youngest Minister

Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed is the Minister of State II for Foreign Affairs. He is a graduate of Bayero University, Kano and was already practising his medical profession before his appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2011. In this interview, Dr Mohammed relives his feat with the WEEKEND.

What were you doing when the ministerial appointment came? I was practising as a medical doctor in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano state and also pursuing my postgraduate career in Psychiatry when I came here, and I had almost rounded up my dissertation or the award of fellowship for national postgraduate medical college. I was already a member of the West African College of Physicians as well before my appointment. How old were you when you got this appointment? I was 33 years old then in 2011. I graduated from medical school in 2003, did my houseman ship between 2003 and 2004 and then my Youth Corp (NYSC) in Osun state in 2004/05 and I went back for my postgraduate in 2006 to 2011 before the appointment came. How do you feel being among elders in official functions? Well, naturally for one not being around peers or age group that are not his own, comes with its challenges. It has challenges of generational psychology and behaviour some of which one has to cope with those whose experiences alone and careers are sometimes more one’s whole lifetime. As a young man, my own understanding is that the older ones respect the young ones when you put in your best and when you behave in a traditional way expected of a younger person. As they say, ‘If a young man washes his hands very well, he can eat with the elders.’ Have you had any instance trying to surmount such challenge? My life in governance is sort of this challenge every day. Merely seeing me young, someone expects not much of me like an older colleague. You have to be on the edge everyday to ensure you are not found wanting which means you have to work extra hard. What are those things that informed your appointment at such age? I did participate in politics from a very young age. Even my schedules in medical school didn’t deter me from participation, but I was heavily involved in the non partisan politics where you express your views constructively on humanities and events. It was in the process that I met the Executive Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido who read some of my writings and converted my course to partisan politics. That was the same pattern that led to my being introduced to the President, and that led to my appointment. How did you cultivate this writing culture? I love watching news and analysing issues and government policies, so I had to express this body of knowledge through writing of essays which were published in various newspapers including Daily Trust. But I cultivated my writing culture for two decades. I have been in the habit of putting down my thoughts and even writing for myself before I improved on my writing skills and analyses to meet the standards of national dailies. That’s part of the extracurricular activities; I took it upon myself to project and share my political consciousness with a larger audience. As a Minister and youth, how are you empowering others? Looking at my life, I know that the surest way to empower an individual foremost is to educate him financially empower them so they can get themselves employed, and that is if they have some skills. Over the last three years that I am here, I have done my best to support as many students as I could who are indigents with no prior opportunity. I also try to encourage young people who have certain skills by giving them some grants to make sure they become self reliant. What is your plan after this appointment? After leaving here, of course I already have my postgraduate fellowship in the medical profession, naturally I would want to go back to the desk and start seeing patients. But now, I have developed passion for education, and I have plans to pursue some postgraduate courses in humanity, business, and diplomacy.

How would you advice fellow youths on their aspirations? Have their dreams clearly mapped out, empower themselves to pursue those dreams and remain resilient to carry on even when there are difficulties or setbacks. If our youths would pay allegiance to these attributes, then there is nothing that anyone cannot achieve. For example President Clinton shook the hands of President Kennedy when he was in College and decided to pursue a presidential dream. And no disappointment or roadblock should stop you. When you fall, you can rise and walk, run or jump, whatever way, but ensures it’s on the same course. If you were not a Medical Doctor would you have been a Journalist? You see, someone who debated in secondary school and started experimenting with writing while being a medical student, shouldn’t have been in medical school in the first place. I realised this in 300level that my actual passion is in the humanities, mass communication, sociology, and political science. But then it was too late, somehow I combined the two and say, this is naturally me and I kept doing it. The medical career is my profession and source of livelihood. So I can call it as ‘Vocation and Vacation’. DAILY TRUST WEEKEND