WHEN the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Emmanuel Kachikwu began the immediate restructuring of the behemoth, one of the new Executive Directors appointed to help push the commercialisation of the NNPC was Isiaka AbdulRazaq, put in charge of Finance.

For all those who know Isiaka, we were not in doubt that it was a well-deserved appointment. Isiaka is a scion of the family of Alhaji AGF AbdulRazaq, the First lawyer from Northern Nigeria.

But Isiaka has built an outstanding career track record over the years, spanning acknowledged experiences at the NNDC in Kaduna, NEPA and finally at the NNPC. A self-effacing and very modest individual, Isiaka AbdulRazaq has tremendous sense of community and therefore enjoys so much goodwill in the Ilorin community where he comes from, because of his generous spirit and the willingness to assist people from all walks of life.

A man of my generation, there was hardly a piece I have written about our early years and the Ilorin we grew up in, that he had not called me to make a comment and also lament at the way the old values that impacted upon our upbringing have gradually eroded over the decades.

I have no doubts in my mind that Isiaka AbdulRazaq will give his all to the new assignment he has been given, in the effort to reform and reposition the NNPC. The new appointment acknowledges Isiaka’s ability and commitment to our country.  Congratulations Isiaka AbdulRazaq!