The Central Planning Committee of the Solomon and Mary Lar Foundation has continued its stakeholder consultations ahead of the November public launch of the Solomon and Mary Lar Leadership Institute.
The Committee on Thursday visited His Excellency, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, former Governor of Nasarawa State, at his residence.
Senator Al-Makura, the third democratically elected Governor of Nasarawa State and the 5th among all those who have ruled the 30-year-old state, is a two-term Governor, former Senator and businessman with investments in real estate, agriculture, industrial machinery and hospitality since 1978.
Receiving the Committee, Al-Makura, who is described by his supporters as the “Architect of Modern Nasarawa” for his strides in roads, schools and urban renewal in Lafia, had nostalgic recollections about the leadership of Baba Solomon Daushep Lar.
Al-Makura recalled that he was the youth leader of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) when His Excellency, Chief Solomon Lar was Governor of the old Plateau State, which included present-day Nasarawa State. He described Baba Lar as his role model in many ways, earned from his rich profile as a forerunner in Nigeria’s democratic journey post-independence and a major force against continued military rule.
In furtherance of his reverence for Baba Lar, Al-Makura disclosed that as Governor, he mandated that the corpse of Baba Solomon Lar be brought to Nasarawa for the last time as a mark of honour for his distinguished public service to the people of old Plateau State.
The meeting was attended by members of the Central Planning Committee including Rt. Hon. Beni Lar, Dr. Daniel Kwali, Dr. Danladi Steve, Hon. Dr. Dorgu, His Excellency Chief Dr. Philip Salawu, former Vice Chancellor of Nasarawa State University Prof. Amina Okeke, Ilya Vongan, Hon. Josaiah Gomam, Mc Senator, Nampak Gono and Kate Miri.
According to the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Congressman Bimbo Daramola, the stage is getting set for another major effort to redefine leadership development and mentoring as a pathway to enduring solutions to the nation’s challenges.
The public launch of the Solomon and Mary Lar Leadership Institute is scheduled for November in Abuja.