Normal working days in Nigeria start on Mondays and end on Fridays of every week. But for Mohammed Sani Tanko Soba, every day was a normal working day. As Administrative Secretary of the Apex Socio Cultural organization in Northern Nigeria, he gave the Non-Governmental Organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum ACF, his all.
On Saturday 4th September 2021, the consummate administrator was at the head office of ACF at Number 11A Sokoto Road, Kaduna to attend to some official duty. Since retiring from his regular appointment as a civil servant in the services of the Kaduna state government in 2005, he had been re-engaged on contract basis by the same state government who found his services extremely valuable. While in service, he had risen to the peak of the career of a civil servant in such service by attaining the position of Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the State House of Assembly.
By 2005 after his retirement, he was re-engaged by the state government for three years on contract basis and then engaged again on a two year contract which finally expired in 2009. He became a free citizen that year with all the restrictions placed on him as a civil servant now lifted. It was the same year started active participation in ACF affairs as he joined the Forum as an Executive member of the Kaduna state chapter, serving there in that capacity and also as Assistant Secretary General between 2013 up to 2014. Finally the following year he became the Administrative Secretary of ACF at the head office in Kaduna handling on a day to day basis all administrative matters of the Forum on contract appointment.
Born on May 19 1949 to Alhaji Ahmmadu Tanko Soba and Hajiya Maryam Ahmadu Soba, the administrator built up a meticulous academic and professional career. He got his First School Leaving Certificate in 1964. From there he went to Commercial College Zaria from 1965 where he studied for and obtained the General Certificate of Education GCE O level, University of London/certificate Secondary Education 1969/1971. He also studied at the College of Business and Administrative Studies CABS, Kaduna Polytechnic between 1972 and 1974 where he obtained a confidential certificate 11/111. Between 1975 and 1977 he was at Pitman College London and National teachers College Akoka Lagos.
His administrative skills were honed at the Plateau Institute of Professional Studies 1982 – 1984; Institute of Administration (ABU) Zaria 1987; Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) 1989 and again Institute of Administration Zaria, 1995-1997 where he got the Advanced Diploma in Public Administration (ADPA). Added to these were the certificates in Legislative Studies and Procedures at the National Assembly in Abuja NASS 20033/2004; Certificates in Legislative Seven Building Blocks, Mississipi Consortium for International Development ( Abuja.MCID) 2005/20; Certificate in Research Methodology, Administrative College of Nigeria ASCON Badagary 1989; Modern management Certificate of Management Institute of Administration ABU Zaria 1987; Diploma in Administrative Management Nigerian Institute of Administrative management 1984.
Before his death on 4th September, he held membership and Fellowship in the following professional bodies: Fellow Secretariat teachers Council of Nigeria (FSTCN), Fellow Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria, (FICEN); Fellow Institute of Professional Secretaries and Reporters (FIPSR). Fellow Institute of registered Administrative managers of Nigeria; Members Institute of Business Management of Nigeria (MIBMN): he also won several awards as one of the best Clerks in the Nigerian legislative system.
In his years of service, both the Kadduna and the Federal government found it expedient to appoint him on to extra ministerial committees. In 1992, he was a member of a panel to review federal Civil Service Rules and also where his exceptional administrative skills were needed. And also an official member Nigerian Civil Service Negotiating Council; Member, structure and design of syllabuses (in service courses) in Kaduna state Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic Zaria 1991. Chairman Technic Committee of the conference of chief executives of staff development institutions and Directors of Training in the northern states 1986 – 1994
Secretary Committee on Staffing wage structure in Kaduna State Civil Service August 1996 – April 1997; Secretary tripatriate Committee on Refurbishment of Hamdalla Hotel in Kaduna; Secretary technical committee on beatification of Kaduna; Secretary Committee on resuscitation of Kaduna transport Authority KASTA October 1988 to February 1999 and many other adhoc Committees where he sserved with distinction.
A widely travelled man Alhaji Mohammed Sani Soba had travelled to the following countries either as a student or an official delegate of government. United Kingdom, France, Niger, Benin, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, Bangladesh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Holy Hajj.
An amiable gentleman, Mohammed Soba appeared to be tailor made for the role he was playing as the key holder to the administrative problems bedeviling a socio cultural organization like the Arewa Consultative Forum. Urbane, unassuming, he appeared to interact freely with all members of the Forum and their guests, irrespective of tribe and religion. He was a fiend to all.
Following his sudden death, the Secretary General of ACF, Malam Murtala Aliyu, Mutawallen Gombe led a powerful delegation of ACF chieftains and friends of the ACF to pay condolence on the wife and other family members. On the delegation was Alhaji Umar Moriki Ubandoman Moriki, AlhajinBaba Sule Bissalla, Serkin Shanun Zauzau Suleja, Alhaji Bukar Zarma, Dan masanin Biu, Murtala Abubakar, hajia Fati Ibrahim and a delegation from the Yoruba Welfare Group led by Comrade Adegoke.
Just about a week before he passed on 4th September, I was at our headquarters in Kaduna to represent our Chairman Chief Audu Ogbeh at a public function. It was the late administrator who took the pains to make all my transit arrangements. The office driver was at the Rigasa train station to pick me to the office and then the following day to the venue of the event. When it came to my financial needs, I jokingly referred to the ACF chief accountant whose schedule it was to attend to that as our Chancellor of the Exchequer. He found that very funny and laughed endlessly saying he would start using the new title from that date.
Back to Abuja I called to express my appreciation for his hospitality and make a further request that he should get a copy of the speech delivered by Samuel Aruwan on behalf of Governor el-rufai at the public event. We needed it. Samuel Aruwan had promised me he would bring it to the ACF, head office but I was not sure the promise would be kept. That was the last time I spoke to the quintessential administrator.
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