The death of a father is a deeply personal experience, but when the life he lived touched families, professions and communities, his departure becomes more than a private loss. It becomes an occasion to reflect on the values that sustain society, the people who shape our communities, and the legacies that deserve to outlive their owners.
For my family, Thursday, October 16, 2025, remains a memorable date. It was the day my beloved father, Alhaji Zubair Adubi Abdulmalik Omeiza-Ajigarah, answered the inevitable call of his Creator.
His death left an emotional void in our lives. Yet, as I reflect on his journey, I am reminded that the true measure of a man is not simply how long he lives, but how meaningfully he uses his time on earth.
My father was a disciplinarian, a pioneering tailor, a trainer of artisans, a community leader, a retired politician, a devout Sufi Muslim and, above all, a loving father. His life offers important lessons for Ebiraland, Kogi State and Nigeria at large.
A Pioneer Who Saw Beyond His Time
Long before entrepreneurship, innovation and vocational empowerment became fashionable expressions in development discussions, my father had demonstrated their practical significance.
He was a pioneer of modern tailoring in Ebiraland, in present-day Kogi State, and is remembered for acquiring what was regarded as the first embroidery-design machine in the area.
That decision was more than a professional investment. It represented a willingness to embrace technology, improve craftsmanship and expand the possibilities of a traditional occupation.
At a time when modern equipment was not readily accessible to many local artisans, he recognised that tailoring could be elevated through innovation.
His achievement challenges the assumption that meaningful innovation must originate in major cities, multinational corporations or research laboratories. Sometimes, innovation begins in a modest workshop where a determined individual sees possibilities that others have yet to imagine.
But my father’s contribution did not end with acquiring equipment or establishing his professional reputation. He trained dozens of artisans, passing his knowledge to people who could subsequently earn a living from their skills.
This is where his legacy becomes particularly relevant to contemporary Nigeria.
As unemployment, economic hardship and the struggle for sustainable livelihoods continue to affect families, the country needs to rediscover the value of vocational education and practical skills. Government programmes alone cannot solve these challenges without the involvement of experienced artisans, entrepreneurs and community-based trainers.
My father’s example demonstrates that empowering one person with a useful skill can create benefits extending far beyond the individual.
He did not merely make clothes; he helped prepare people for life.
Discipline, Integrity and the Courage to Speak
Another defining feature of my father’s life was discipline. He believed in responsibility, hard work and the importance of maintaining standards, whether in the home, the workplace or public life.
As his child, I remember him as a man who took discipline seriously. His approach to raising children reflected his conviction that love must be accompanied by guidance and that success without character is an incomplete achievement.
However, his discipline was not confined to family life.
As a retired politician and community leader, he was known for speaking his mind, including when addressing those in positions of authority. He did not believe that political loyalty should require the abandonment of personal conviction.
In today’s Nigeria, where public discourse is frequently clouded by partisan loyalties, personality cults and the reluctance to challenge powerful individuals, this quality deserves renewed appreciation.
A society in which everyone praises those in authority, regardless of their decisions, risks losing the moral courage necessary for progress.
Leadership must be open to constructive criticism. Political officeholders need people who can tell them the truth, not merely those who reinforce their preferences.
The Qur’an, in Surah An-Nisa, 4:135, calls believers to uphold justice even when it challenges their personal interests. The principle transcends political convenience: integrity demands that truth should not be sacrificed on the altar of loyalty.
My father’s example reminds us that a good citizen is not necessarily the person who agrees with a leader on every issue, but one who remains committed to justice, accountability and the common good.
A Reputation Built on Character
My father’s standing in Ebiraland was reflected in the recognition he received from members of the community and in songs of prominent Ebira musicians, including Alhaji Ahmadu Okaito and Alhaji Isa Eromi Ihima, among others.
In Ebira cultural life, music often serves as a vehicle for preserving collective memory, celebrating achievement and communicating social values. Such recognition forms part of the public memory of a man whose life intersected with the community’s cultural and social experiences.
Yet public recognition alone does not define a person’s worth. More important is the character that sustains respect beyond ceremonial occasions.
My father was widely respected by religious leaders for his high moral standards. His life illustrated the importance of consistency between personal conviction and public conduct.
At a time when society sometimes celebrates wealth and political influence more enthusiastically than honesty, his story reminds us that character remains an indispensable measure of human achievement.
A good reputation is not purchased in the marketplace. It is earned through years of conduct, sacrifice and relationships.
Faith that Encourages Peace, Not Division
My father was a devout Sufi Muslim whose religious commitment was central to his identity. His devotion existed alongside his advocacy of religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and education.
He promoted both Islamic and Western education, recognising the importance of spiritual understanding as well as the intellectual and practical knowledge needed to navigate a changing world.
This outlook carries particular significance for Nigeria, where religious differences have too often been exploited for political advantage, social division and violence.
Religious commitment should deepen a person’s sense of responsibility towards humanity, not diminish respect for those who worship differently.
The Qur’an, in Surah Al-Hujurat, 49:13, teaches that humanity’s diversity is an opportunity to know one another and that honour before Allah is connected to righteousness.
This principle offers a strong foundation for interfaith understanding in a country where Muslims and Christians share neighbourhoods, markets, schools, workplaces and national aspirations.
My father’s example encourages religious leaders, political officeholders and the media to promote dialogue rather than hostility. It also reminds parents that children must be taught to distinguish sincere religious devotion from intolerance.
His advocacy of Islamic and Western education similarly challenges the false choice sometimes presented between religious knowledge and modern learning. Nigeria needs citizens who are spiritually grounded, intellectually equipped and committed to peaceful coexistence.
Beyond Public Achievements, a Loving Father
For all his professional accomplishments and community engagements, my father’s most enduring place in my heart is that of a loving parent.
His affection for his children was unmistakable. Behind the disciplinarian and public figure was a father whose concern for his family formed an essential part of his identity.
Parents often communicate love through sacrifices that children fully appreciate only with time. Guidance, correction, encouragement and the determination to prepare children for life’s difficulties may not always be easy to understand in the moment, but their significance becomes clearer with maturity.
His passing has deepened my appreciation of that responsibility.
The Qur’an, in Surah Al-Isra, 17:24, teaches believers to pray for their parents, asking Allah to show them mercy just as they cared for their children in their early years.
For those of us he left behind, remembrance must therefore be accompanied by gratitude, prayer and a determination to preserve the best of his teachings.
The Legacy We Must not Abandon
The temptation after the death of a loved one is to remember the past without asking what it requires of us in the present.
My father’s life deserves more than tributes. It deserves practical continuity.
His vocational legacy should encourage investment in skills acquisition. His discipline should inspire responsible parenting. His political courage should strengthen demands for accountability. His commitment to education should motivate families to invest in learning, while his religious tolerance should challenge every attempt to turn faith into a weapon of division.
His story should also be preserved for younger generations of Ebiraland, demonstrating that community development is not achieved exclusively through government appointments or political office. Artisans, teachers, entrepreneurs, religious leaders and ordinary citizens can leave equally meaningful footprints.
Ultimately, Alhaji Zubair Adubi Abdulmalik Omeiza-Ajigarah belonged to a generation that understood the importance of work, reputation, family and community responsibility.
He was not without human limitations; no human being is. But his life embodied values worthy of remembrance and emulation.
As I remember my father, I am reminded that death may silence a person’s voice, but it cannot automatically erase the consequences of a life spent teaching, creating, loving and serving.
He departed on October 16, 2025, but the skills he imparted, the principles he defended, the relationships he nurtured and the love he gave remain part of his inheritance to us.
May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds and grant him Al-Jannatul Firdaus.
To my father, that is my prayer. For Ebiraland and Nigeria, his life is a reminder that the most enduring legacy is not simply what we leave behind, but what we inspire others to continue.
A good man is remembered not merely because he lived, but because his life gave others something worth carrying forward.
