Chief Jerry Gushop, Marafan Mangu Bags Award of Excellence from National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)

By Amb. Friday Bako
Viewpoint Nigeria
30th April, 2018

Chief Jerry Gushop the Marafan Mangu, a season Banker, technocrat, great philantropist and Agricultural expert has bagged a meritorious award by National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) today 30th April, 2018 for outstanding economic contribution and human capital development.

The honour tagged Outstanding Human Capital Development Award was given to him at his residence in Jos by NANS officials in a delegation led by NANS Vice President, Cmr. Felix Attah

NANS VP, Cmr. Felix said the award is in recognition of the empowerment of youth through the numerous capacity development initiatives being carried out by the recipient, Chief Jerry Gushop, the lives he is touching as well as his positive impacts to the society.
He told the award recipient that as an expert and technocrat in Banking and agriculture, his wealth of experience and skills are needed in Plateau State and Nigeria on how best the economy can be diversified. The NANS official said they are impressed with his great works and detribalized disposition.

He said the award is based on merit and encouraged the recipient to continue to do more of his laudable human capacity building initiative towards making Plateau State and Nigeria at large.
NANS said having beamed its searchlight in the realm of Economists across the Country, they spotlighted a rear gem, definition of integrity, a profound youth and students emancipator, an unsurpassed philanthropist, a diligent technocrat, someone who abhors social suppression and one who embraces social coexistence in person of Chief Jerry Gushop.
They commended his humility, ingenuity in his professional prowess and transcendent contribution in the diversification of the nation’s economy.
NANS said Chief Jerry has remained a father to students and youths and they have heard of his assistances to students, youths and widow hence the award to spur him to do more.
They said he has outgrown the restrictions of tribe, social status, region and religion in the display of his magnanimous benevolence.
The sand of time has recorded successfully the contributions to human capacity development, national integration, economic progress, institutional strengthening and national reformation NANS said.

The award is in recognition of his unsurpassed performance in his leadership style, determination for workable Nigeria, resilience in the quest for academic revolution, concerted efforts in ensuring peace development, human capital development and unprecedented action plan for the progress of our economy.

Speech of NANS National President, Cmr. Aruna Kadiri was read by Cmr. Matthew Nankim, Coordinator II NANS Zone C who eulogized the award recipient for his human capacity and agricultural development drive.
NANS condemned in strong terms the inhumane killings in the North-Central (Specifically Benue and Plateau States) and North-east either in the name of Herdsmen or Boko Haram. They made a clarion call to the Federal Government and critical stakeholders to ensure the monstrous incident is nipped permanently in the bud.

The recipient said the award came to him as a surprise and thanked the Students for finding him worthy for such meritorious honor.
He said he never knew that the little things he is doing are being recognized, appreciated and celebrated by people.
He gave a brief about himself and said he reared cows in the past to ensure he is educated.
“I started from the scratch and God has been at the centre of my journey in life” he said. He said there were times in the past that his Christmas clothes were his uniforms. He said his two choices in terms of career were military and banking and today God has so elevated in the Banking Sector. Chief Gushop said he respects people and doesn’t look down on them.

He went further to say his passion is in assisting the less privileged, widows, students, youth and women hence his widowhood centre in Mangu Halle for training of widows to be useful to themselves and the society.

He admonished the youths to trust in God, he hardworking, remain focused and ensure they refuse peanuts from politicians who will want to misuse them for their parochial political interests.
He urged them to avoid use and dump politicians who will want them to do what their children wouldn’t do. He promised to always support the youths to ensure they are improved at appreciable levels.
He said people have always misinterpreted his philanthropic gestures by giving same political coloration, but said if he can’t assist people, then there is no need of him existing.
“I am very blunt, straightforward and truthful and people always have problem with that” he said.

‘Many people who I don’t know castigate and malign me on the social media and those I don’t also know defend me, that is life” he opined.

“I will continue to empower and support youth, our great leaders and engine room of our development not minding what people say” Marafan Mangu said.

He said the youths must be ready to tell him the truth whenever he is wrong.
He charged the youth on humility by talking about his wife who holds a Masters Degree but into Poultry Farming and that is paying off a great deal. He commended his wife for always standing by him and dispensing greater encouragements to him all the time. He said he is accessible to the youths and ready to give them free trainings on agriculture and other critical economic issues that revolves around development.
He dedicated the award to the youths in Plateau State and thanked those present to witness the award presentation.

The Transition Committee Chairman of Mangu LGC, Engr. Danjuma Haruna who was at the occasion appreciated NANS for honoring the recipient, recognizing Achievers in the society. He said the award of honor is well deserved and said the recipient is a very humble personality, very accessible, a great philanthropist who has been contributing immensely to the growth of the society.

Wife of the recipient, Mrs Gushop appreciated NANS for the award of honor and said they are proud of the head of their family.

She said youths must discard segregation because God hates that but appreciates unity hence the array of students present across the nation.
She went further to say their doors are open at all times.

Chief Jerry Gushop was later inducted into NANS Hall of fame after receiving his certificate of credence and award by NANS National VP who charged him to bring in his wealth of experience towards developing the economy of the middle belt, boost internally generated revenues (IGR) of the States so as to stop reliance on the Federation Account.
He congratulated the recipient.

The event was attended by family members of the recipient, friends, associates, student and youth leaders.

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Chief Jerry Gushop, Marafan Mangu Bags Award of Excellence from National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)