By Katdapba Yunana Gobum
Caveat: I have met Kefas Wungak Ropshik once on a personal appointment for the sake of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Plateau State Council.
Sometime in 2017, I had gone in company of the then new chairman, Comrade Paul Jatau to solicit for his commitment to help the Council, given that he had just mounted the saddle and wanted to make the difference, while he lasted.
The fact that we did not get his buy-in did not make us lose faith in what the chairman wanted to achieve for the NUJ.
It is history today, given that the Council under him, moved in the direction most members may not have anticipated. He made a name and put the NUJ in the limelight; as members wanted.
Kefiano had different ideas of what he wanted to channel his resources to on his sleeves. I shall soon return to this for clarity.
Sometime in October 2023, I requested that I had something to write about him. In fact, I had chatted him to make his CV available. Three days later, I was abducted-an event that changed the course of my request.
I laid low after the sad development. And because his CV never came, I dropped the idea, so that it won't be as if I was a bother to him.
While I settled to get it done some day, it was evident there were a number of causes that had preoccupied Kefiano's attention. And they have been for long looking for an outlet to manifest.
Like or hate it, they were genuine as he needed to pursue using his God-given resources to bring them to fruition.
They included, but were not limited to widows and children who have suffered indignities of attacks. They were not chosen nor selected; he went from one community and another to pick those whose parents had died.
He had no special preference, all that mattered were children whose future would be truncated had he not appeared on the scene.
I am aware they have been settled in the best conducive environment while giving them the life they may have missed.
For the widows, nothing can be kinder and acceptable for a son to be available in their various dark hours after the loss of their husbands.
On different platforms, I have heard and read prayers said for him by them and others who have been assisted and empowered, to get started in life.
There are those who are aware of numerous interventions that were orchestrated with his imprimatur. They have become a yardstick for the identification of some men of means who often utilise their resources and opportunities to serve society.
The relaunch of Chillers by New Yorker; an initiative by him, from all intent and purposes opened the needed chapter for nightlife and tourism in Jos.
Jos, has always been the city to beat in entertainment and the combination of business and luxury. Somehow those areas had been crippled, no thanks to insecurity; their revival have been on the ascendancy.
For Jos to reclaim its vantage position as a lively and robust hub for entertainment and business, whatever initiative is targeted towards revival should not only acknowledged but be supported.
Above it all, those who are hired to superintend over businesses must be jealous to secure them as personal items. Stories abound of how businesses are crippled after their birth as managers see such as a means to line their pockets.
Electrifying performances have been taking place there. Peruzzi and Tekno were some of the early callers. There are many other big names that have made fun lovers come in droves to the facility.
If this facility was just a happenstance, some may take it as a fluke. But consider these initiatives: Kefiano Hub, Kefiano Autos and Kefiano Farms; they were planned and birthed to benefit the society.
Somewhere outside Jos, a massive 750 hectares of land are being utilised for the cultivation of different crops. He is one of the few people in the state who can boast of a project like that.
Only recently, he has been in the news on different platforms showcasing the facility to the world that he has being able to turn those hectares of land into profitable business.
It is not possible to forget in a hurry his entrance into politics at the highest level in the state. Even for joining the fray late, he made a mark coming second as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2022.
He is, as it has been stated severally, he wants to contest for the position of Senator, Plateau Central District using the same platform in 2027.
For almost two decades and counting, God has enabled him sacrifice his resources into business development, human capital, education, healthcare provision, assistance to prison inmates and their release, skills empowerment, cultural affairs, food feeding programme for widows and the less privileged people.
For years and still counting, the Garram-born businessman has related well with a broad based spectrum of people in different communities.
But if there is any age group that has remained close to his heart, the youth stand out. I have heard him say: If there is anything I can do to engage the youth to bring peace I shall gladly do. The youth need support through various efforts particularly in farming and other initiatives.
On peace, this is what he has to say: We must contribute our quarters to making Plateau a place to live in. No effort is too small to put into peace in the state.
There may be many reasons why he is being honoured, but if Kefiano is to be celebrated, you must remember the above contributions he has made to humanity here and elsewhere.
Note: This is not a paid political position. I have always believed that people who touch lives and affect communities positively; no matter where they are from should be encouraged by blowing their trumpet.
He is one of such, otherwise, I would have sent Chief Kefas Wungak Ropshik a bill to settle the effort.
