The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Hassan Tampuli on Monday April 23, 2018 hosted the Zongo Youth Month team.
The visit to the NPA boss was one of the courtesy calls on Zongo influentials, which forms part of activities for the month-long Zongo Youth Month celebrations.
Mr Tampuli expressed excitement in engaging the youth, as he recounted his Zongo story, in an interaction with them.
Born in Nima, he said “Nima was like a city”, and its people and pride came first before anything from outside.
According to him, “however big or small, we looked up to our people because they were there”, and he mentioned veteran sports men; Umaru Sanda and Mohammed Polo, whose fame and star status in Nima and surrounding communities was more than that of those from outside the community, no matter how famous they were nationally or internationally.
“You can’t cut your links with the Zongo”, he said while urging Zongo youth to be prayerful and purposeful stressing that “no one can pray better than yourself”. While urging them to be dedicated to Allah through prayer, he asked them to be tolerant, learn more about Islam, and avoid violence and crime.
Mr Tampuli expressed a desire to engage with more young people, in order to encourage them “to fight the urge to do things which distract” them. “Focus”, he said was fundamental to consistency and success in every endeavour.
He was impressed with the participation of young Zongo ladies in such progressive initiatives, and commended Zakiyya Suleiman of Asali Hausa Koko fame for her boldness and innovation, in packaging and presenting Hausa Koko to the market.
He also emphasized the importance of reading and advised inhabitants of the Zongo to tell the positive aspects of the Zongo story as much as possible.