By Rayyanu Bala

There are people who hold public positions just because the position comes with prestige and glamour.  There are also those who see public office as an opportunity to work, influence lives and leave institutions better than they met them. Dr. Best Bara’u, Provost of the College of Education, Akwanga, increasingly appears to belong to the latter category of public officers.
Since his appointment as Provost, Bara’u has demonstrated the energy of a workaholic who is determined to change the fortunes of the College of Education, Akwanga, for the better. His approach, from all indications, is not simply about occupying an office; it is about finding opportunities, pursuing reforms and working assiduously to position the college for greater progress.
That same energy is now being seen beyond the walls of the college.
At a recent meeting convened by Mohammed Saminu Wadada Gudi at his residence in Gudi, Dr. Bara’u spoke confidently about the ability of the youths of the community to unite and work together for peace, development and progress. His message was particularly significant because communities cannot make meaningful progress where young people are divided along ethnic, political or social lines.
His appeal for the youths to become ambassadors of  not only Gudi but the entire Nasarawa state, wherever they find themselves is therefore worth taking seriously. The future of any community rests substantially on the shoulders of its younger generation, and encouraging them to embrace peace and collective responsibility is a leadership role in its own right.
Interestingly, Bara’u’s political activities appear to reflect the same determination and vigour that he brings to his administrative responsibilities. He has been working energetically to support the administration of Governor Engr. Abdullahi Sule and, politically, to strengthen the governor’s wider political interests.
For those watching the political developments ahead of 2027, Bara’u is clearly not sitting on the fence. He is deploying his influence and relationships in support of Engr. Abdullahi Sule and Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu. In particular, his activities in support of the project to have Governor Sule proceed to the Senate in 2027 show a politician who understands that political victories are usually built long before election day.
Whether one agrees with his political choices or not, it is difficult to ignore the level of commitment he appears to be bringing to the project. He is working both in the open and behind the scenes, building support, engaging people and contributing to the political mobilisation required to make the 2027 ambition of Engr. Abdullahi Sule and Senator Wadada a reality.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his intervention in Gudi is that his political engagement is also tied to issues of practical benefit to the people. His pledge to facilitate pensionable employment opportunities for a substantial number of youths from Gudi and Akwanga local government subject to the Governor’s approval of his memo seeking additional employment opportunities at the College of Education, Akwanga, demonstrates an understanding that political support is more meaningful when it is connected to people’s aspirations and livelihoods.
For a young person searching for a job, particularly a pensionable one, employment is not political rhetoric. It is a pathway to dignity, stability and a better future.
This is why Dr. Best Bara’u’s activities deserve to be viewed from a broader perspective. As Provost, he is working to improve the institution he leads. As a community leader, he is preaching peace and unity. And as a political actor, he is putting his energy and influence behind the political direction he believes will serve his people and the state.
Ultimately, the real test of any leader is not how loudly he speaks but how much he is prepared to work. On that score, Bara’u is giving the impression of a man who believes that leadership is a full-time assignment.
If he succeeds in combining institutional transformation at the College of Education, Akwanga, with meaningful opportunities for young people and constructive political mobilisation, his contribution will extend far beyond the office of the Provost.
For now, one thing appears clear: Dr. Best Bara’u is not the type of Provost who is content to sit behind a desk. He is a workaholic, a political mobiliser and an energetic advocate for the causes he has chosen to support. And as 2027 approaches, his political activities are likely to remain a subject of considerable interest in Akwanga and beyond.