Dr. Pinheiro: The governing council chairman who steer Kadpoly on Renewed Hope agenda

By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo 

The Chairman Governing Council of Kaduna Polytechnic (Kadpoly), Dr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro, OFR, SAN, LLD, FCIArb is a God-gift to Kaduna Polytechnic, he has become the antidote of retrogression and become the lubricating engine of progress with his human empathy and sympathy feelings, he has become the builder of people and an ambassador of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda in promoting education and giving hope to the hopeless. 

To promote education and help the helpless and the vulnerable he pushed his allowances to pay school fees to the less privileged students of Kaduna Polytechnic.

Like the Yoruba said, "Igí tí ń fún ni ojú òjò kò máa béèrè ẹni tó bá wá sìnlẹ̀ rẹ̀." ("The tree that gives shade does not ask who rests beneath it.")  Dr. Pinheiro dashed his allowances to all Kaduna Polytechnic students to the deserving vulnerable students of giant of African polytechnics in Nigeria irrespective of tribe or religion. Dr. Pinheiro is an angel that came to Kaduna Polytechnic like the late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano described Sardauna of Sokoto that "he came to serve and not to be served and he came to give but not to take,". The Danmasani Kano personified Sardauna of Kano as a leader with true humility, deep compassion for the masses, and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of Northern Nigeria and the nation at large. These qualities are the attributes of the Chairman Governing Council of Kaduna Polytechnic. Dr. Pinheiro is a leader of all good virtues. 

From his appointment in 2024, Dr. Pinheiro in a letter dated September 9, 2024, addressed to the polytechnic's Rector, Dr. Suleiman Umar, formally announced that he would donate his lifetime salary and decline all sitting allowances to support indigent students.

Dr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro, OFR, SAN, LLD, FCIArb is a prominent Nigerian lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, legal expert, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), serves as a prosecutor for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Dr. Pinheiro sees afar and through the lens he saw and conquer. He means the good to the Nigerian youths for he knows that youths are vital instruments of a nation building. He is a believer of the words of Chief Obafemi Awolowo that in his sermon to the leaders said, "the children of the poor you failed to train will never let your children have peace." Like the Renewed Hope doctrine and political philosophy the messenger from the presidential palace of President Tinubu is a supporter of the making of Nigeria a better place for everyone without tribalism or religious bias and indifference.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated that "education of our people is a must" and that "there is no other weapon against poverty than education". This concept of deep thinking is a reflection of the light through the tunnel of our country's progress and has become the path light of our Governing Council Chairman of Kaduna Polytechnic. He is a man of his words, straight forward, trusted, simple but with decorum, knowledge like Àkàlà (lore), and a man that defeats lies. He is always on his words. He is a senior lawyer with integrity and adorable characters of professionalism in his career!

The Sarkin Unguwar Sanusi, Umar Sanusi, other traditional rulers and the religious bodies around the immediate environment of Kaduna Polytechnic are never tired of expressing their gratitude to Dr. Pinheiro. During contact with the Sarkin Unguwar Sanusi, he poured prayers to the management of Kaduna Polytechnic and the presidency of Bola Ahmad Tinubu for choosing a true son of Nigeria to govern Kaduna Polytechnic with selfless administrative service and foresight of rebuilding confidence and true democracy in championing the vision and mission of Kaduna Polytechnic through the Renewed Hope agenda policies.

In the Arrow of God, a book by late Chinua Achebe, Ezeulu, the Chief Priest of Ulu said to the men of Umuaro after summoning them unexpectedly to speak words of wisdom to them said "Our people say that if you thank a man for what he has done he will have strength to do more." 

This is why prayers will never cease, gratitude will continue to pour like rain and appreciations will never no boundary in what Dr. Pinheiro is doing for the staff and students of Kaduna Polytechnic. Your fatherly compassion is felt, your good works are visible and your kindness nourishes the hearts of our students. You are the reason for many to continue studying as students of Kaduna Polytechnic. You have become a father of the fatherless children, not only in Kaduna Polytechnic because in the book of history it carries these words; " Dr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro is a philanthropist who helps vulnerable people and children."

Kaduna Polytechnic is indeed in gratitude to its Governing Chairman team and management for all their sacrifices of moving the institution forward. Indeed, the management leadership of Dr. Sulaiman Umar, the Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic is working round the clock in answering your calls and doing his best in Renewing the Hope of staff and students of the institution.

We appreciate the dogged kindness of the Chairman Governing Council's generosity, as Antonio appreciated his friend Bassanio in the Act 1, Scene 1 in William Shakespeare, the Merchant of Venice for saving him from becoming bankrupt, we say to you, may "The sun warms the earth with no greater grace than your fortune hath warmed my cold necessity. My truest thanks attend your greatness."

In appreciation of the good work of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, the Royal Highness, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife prayed for his second term in office when he visited his palace this year, he said in Yoruba; "Kábíyèsí ati gbogbo Ilẹ̀ Yorùbá fọwọ́ sí iṣẹ́ takuntakun tí ẹ ń ṣe fún ìlọsíwájú Nàìjíríà."

To you Dr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro, we pray for your good health, long life and prosperity in your career, journey and the service of Kaduna Polytechnic.

"E ṣe o, bàbá ilé ẹ̀kọ́ gíga Kaduna Polytechnic!" (You are a good father to Kaduna Polytechnic!)

Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo is a staff of Kaduna Polytechnic from the Department of Strategic Communication and Media Studies and can be reached via auwalgoronyo@gmail.com