BY ABDULKADIR M LAWAN, APRIL 2, 2026 | 1:32PM
To some, Prof. Usman A Tar may seem tough, but those who know him understand he's a principled personality with a kind heart.
As the former Commissioner of Information and Internal Security in Borno State, he encouraged, motivated, and supported future generations.
One testament to his character is the support he gave to my team and me when we started an online media organisation.
A year after his swearing-in, we paid him a courtesy visit.
Despite having lost a neighbour, he attended to us, offering encouragement and assurance of his support.
Our 45-minute meeting proved pivotal for our organisation.
When we invited him to our public launch on August 31, 2024, he showed up with a powerful entourage, promoting our work on his social media.
After the launch, I visited his office, and he called the MacArthur Foundation's country director, saying, 'Yaa Kole, I want to introduce to you Lake Chad Times Newspaper, it was initiated by young individuals, and they are doing excellently well so with your support they can explore further, please help them, I will now give Abdulkadir, their Editor-in-chief your number so that he can take the conversation further.'
Prof. Tar's legacy includes empowering young organisations and individuals.
His willingness to build and uplift others is a testament to his character.
Now, as he moves on from his role, we thank him for his guidance, support, and motivation.
His impact will be remembered, and his partnership will continue to inspire.
We wish him the best in his future endeavours.