OPINION: Tribute To My Dear Friend, Awwal Bamanga Ph.D., Visiting Lecturer International Maritime Law Institute
BY EZINNE AZUNNA
My dear friend, Awwal Bamanga Ph.D, one of those who brought light to my 2024 is sadly no more. Awwal’s friendship was a blessing but I doubt if he knew how much his boisterous personality did me good.
Early 2024, we (Maritime TV Africa) had done a story for the International Ocean Institute- Nigeria and I had to interview Awwal at this event, he was the keynote speaker. I did not know what I signed up when I asked for an interview as we had before then never gone past the exchange of pleasantries in any conversation. But I had sat through the entire event, listened to every speaker and also to Awwal’s passionate argument on the Blue Economy and his way forward for Nigeria.
He wanted a “spatial planning” of Nigeria’s marine resources. It was the first time I encountered the phrase, a quick Google search put me in perspective and so I could take him up on that concept amongst others during the interview. He is (was) a tireless talker! After the interview, our gist continued for over an hour, and like mermaids who had been close friends for most of their lives, we centred on the Blue Economy.
I was intrigued! The wealth of knowledge and dreams Awwal had were better encountered not told. His passion could light up an entire room and I could use some positivity! As well as things seemed on the outside for me and as hard as it was and still is for many of my friends to believe, I had battled an unexplainable ugly feeling despondency in 2024, and unknown to a few of them like Awwal, our interactions held me together.
With specialty in Environmental Sciences and Sediment Geochemistry, Awwal was a visiting lecturer at the prestigious International Maritime Law Institute, an ebullient practical speaker, he had tons of engagements every month so much so that I wondered how he married that with his work as an Assistant Director at the Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA) but then, he was Nigeria’s pride and seemed always more alive and in good shape than many people I knew… at least at the time, he seemed pretty more alive than myself!
A marine scientist by training, his interest in Marine & Aquatic Biogeochemistry field was contagious. He had skills in marine waters and sediment sampling, detecting, analysing and assessing the effects of chemical pollutants in sediment geochemistry, particularly within the harbour system. He had interesting ongoing projects like the monitoring and assessment of Southampton Harbour Water and Sediment Quality which he began in October 2012.
He also took interest in an investigation of “Trace Metals Sediment Geochemistry in Lagos harbour”. This work which began in February 2012 was also ongoing. Writing about it on LinkedIn he said, “Presently, I am researching on Heavy Metals Sediment Geochemistry in Lagos Harbour, Nigeria. Analysing the chemical compositions of Heavy Elements with a view to identifying its sources, pathways including quantification and fluxes from local environment, shipping and industrial activities. This is to determine the extent of Heavy metal contamination in Lagos Harbour on the sediment and water quality and potential impact on biota and human health.” Awwal had several other projects and collaborated with many, he served at NIMASA for 21 years and 11 months.
He got his doctorate from University of Portsmouth, England UK in 2015 and was a member of many professional bodies including Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research Group, (MBERG), AMIMAEREST, Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals (NISP), Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), etc.
He had an M.Sc (Environmental Management) Environmental Sciences from University of Lagos and a Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Health, Safety and Environmental Management from the same school. His first degree, a BSc in Biomedical Sciences (2000) was obtained from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
We had discovered we lived in the same neighbourhood and frequently, we’d meet over pizza or ice cream, discussing life and the Blue Economy. Awwal was always warm, always hopeful, more focused than many professionals I knew. He was the silver lining for many meetings, one of the most sought-after keynote speakers from Nigeria. Conversating with him was always refreshing…knowledge is always…and he would lace it with humour. It was healing and meaning to life for me.
Awwal was many beautiful things rolled in one- a friend, brother, a compass so to speak, an inspiration and my ‘tatafo’ partner but our tatafo (gossip) was elevated, lol. What mattered to him was different, it was primarily knowledge and how to contextualise it for Nigeria’s/Africa’s use and good.
He would celebrate his published articles or researches and tell you about them without end. He would also go out of his way to help a friend. When I wanted to move house, he called all agents he knew, made introductions that broke the ice easily. I wanted to sell a car, he asked that I send him photos and forwarded same to car dealers.
About the same time, November/December last year, I really took ill and it lingered until end of January thereabout. Awwal would call accusing me of abandoning our friendship. I hoped to explain and make him understand soon but we will never have that chance again, not in this world as he was sadly buried yesterday after a brief battle with sickness.
He was a jolly good fellow, every one of our mutual friends has a sweet tale about him. I still have the tea he got me from one of his many trips. And since I have long made up my mind never to let despondency, Awwal, as much as this hurt pretty bad, I will drink your tea this morning and be grateful our paths crossed.
I will keep your wife and kids in my prayers. You were truly a gift they loaned us all, we just didn’t ever think in the minutest fragment of our imaginations that your life will be short-lived. All the same, thank you, friend! Your work speaks.
WRITTEN BY EZINNE AZUNNA, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, MARITIME TV AFRICA
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