Bold and brilliant; radiant in beauty and unstoppable in standing up for causes she believes in, Mrs. Charity Umbwe Shekari is the quintessence of kindness endowed with a resolve for the common good. Her story is neither appreciated nor known on account of where she comes from. In that part of the world where she was born, pulling down the best with great potential has always been the norm.
An indisputable top-level manager of human resources and an effective communicator with over 30 years of experience, Shekari has spearheaded socio-economic development projects and implementation; maintained stakeholder relations, initiated and managed evolutionary strategies, and engineered change management. In all these, she has leveraged her core competencies that have revolved around the private and public sectors.
Blossoming Beginning
After completing her primary school at St Peter’s Demonstration School, Kawo, Kaduna State, from 1967 to 1973, the young Charity proceeded to the Government Girls Secondary School, Kwoi, Kaduna State, from 1973 to 1978. Between 1978 and 1980, she completed the advanced level Interim Joint Matriculation Board course at Katsina College of Art, Science, and Technology (KCAST). From 1980 to 1983, she attended a degree course for the award of a (link unavailable) in English Language. She returned to the same university to read for a Master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy between 2002 and 2003. Shekari was also at the Graduate Institute of Geneva from 2014 to 2015. These schools and other centers of learning, as enumerated above, prepared and equipped her with the requisite knowledge that set her apart from others.
Under the influence of good religious upbringing, Mrs. Shekari has become the beneficiary of the ancient landmark theory that emphasized the relevance of family values and loyalty to causes that place a premium on humanity. This lady of distinction is serving her country beyond the fault lines of religion and ethnicity.
In Distinction
In demonstrating her skills, she has served with distinction and contributed to designing and implementing strategies as a board member for Anambra Imo River Basin; Universal Service Provision Fund of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). In both positions, she took an active part in the budget planning process, leveraging her broad knowledge of policies to implement innovative strategies while prospecting for more productive investments.
In the course of her jobs, the widow of Kaduna state’s former deputy governor, Chief Stephen Shekari, has acquired strong competencies in analyzing financial reports, building and maintaining productive relationships, managing budgets, and raising funds, including providing operational guidance for optimal performance.
As a smart technocrat and skilled public administrator of accomplished professional distinction, Mrs. Shekari has been involved in developing, establishing, and implementing government initiatives. Beyond demonstrating strong leadership skills and maintaining a balanced social perspective for a cross-cultural mindset.
Excellent Rewards
For her astute interest in academics and leadership excellence, she was offered a scholarship contest award, Scholarship for a Work-Based Master’s Degree, Middlesex University London (2013); United Nations Secretary General Special Envoy for Malaria: November (2011), and the Nigerian Medical Association Kaduna State Chapter in May 2011, among many other awards and commendations.
Shekari was appointed a member of the Kaduna State University Governing Council (January 2022 – date), she was a member of the visitation panel on the Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya (December 2021– April 2022). She also served as a board member of the Imo River Basin from 2018 – 2020; Universal Service Provision Fund, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), between 2012 and 2015, and was also a member of the ECOWAS Election Observer, Republique Togolese in 2015.
As the Commissioner for Health between 2010 and 2011, she collaborated with various International and National Agencies such as USAID, DFID, PATH & NACA to achieve the objectives of Nigeria’s national health policy, among other state and national assignments.
Maturity In Caution
Shekari remains an unstoppable Amazon who has displayed maturity in the male-dominated Nigerian society, in grave fear of female politicians of distinction. Coming from a zone reputed for well-crafted machinations of pulling down women of proven excellence, Shekari is working in silence and advancing the cause of humanity away from the illumination of public floodlight.
It seems the world will always not be devoid of challenges unleashed by political oppressors. Like William Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies’, the emergence of tyranny in a community of order and peace only goes to showcase the inevitability of oppression in a community that plays victimhood. Our democracy has exposed the underbelly of ethnic struggle for an emancipation that is now proving surreal.
My knowledge of Mrs. Shekari is not directly from her, but from certain sources that I have encountered in the past. A former senior media colleague, now late, Mr. Azariah Akucha, once recounted to me how she intervened in his life when she was appointed Kaduna State Commissioner of Health in 2010. I was witness to her unquenchable thirst for humanity and our people when we worked together on a committee established by Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) to provide relief to communities, following the shutdown caused by COVID-19.
As she celebrated her over six decades of life last week, it is my prayer that this accomplished lover of humanity, devoid of noise and competition, continues to enjoy sound health in measureless prosperity, with her family members surrounding her. Accept my belated birthday wishes, Your Excellency!
