By Atang Izang
Human encounters as anecdotes of memory suggests that our interactions with others are like stories or snapshots stored in our memory, shaping our experiences and perceptions. It’s a poetic way of saying that memories of people we meet and interactions we have become the building blocks of our personal narratives.
Therefore, my many encounters with the late Prof. YOHANA DANIEL IZAM, began some 29 years ago. Our first encounter was an official function he performed during the inauguration of the new elected Exco of the Afizere Youth Movement, which was recently christened, Afizere Youth Development Association, of Jos Jarawa branch. I was one of the officials (Secretary) to be inaugurated at the old building in the premises of Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, Jos Jarawa in 1997.
He was of course, the National President of the AYM body, hence it was his responsibility to perform such important socio-cultural duty. In that encounter, I never interacted with him, except an inner admiration for his status and position.
My first formal interaction with the deceased was an official interview he granted me as a Staff Writer with the defunct Pinnacle News Magazine in Jos, when he was appointed pioneer Provost, College of Art, Science and Remedial Studies, Kurgwi in 2000.
“I would believe that the kind of institution that we would want to build should be the one that provides the physical environment that is a bit better than what the students went through in their previous experiences; that way, they would be able to make up their deficiencies in the case of those who are coming for Remedial” (Pinnacle Magazine, March 2001, p.31,Vol.4,No.3)
Our second official encounter was another interview he granted me in late December 2004 , when he was the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport. I was writing for The Gazette Magazine also in Jos. The interview was centred on the preparations by the Plateau State Government to establish the current Plateau State University (PLASU).
‘The Idea Is Very Timely” (The Gazette, 24 January 2005, No.2, pp.32-33).
There are so many other encounters we had with the erudite scholar, engineer, builder and community mobiliser and compassionate human being, who believed in the growth of others.
Our last encounter and interaction was during the funeral of a great cousin, the late Ada Azi Paul Atang Azi at Jos Jarawa in early 2025. Coincidentally, the deceased was the AYM Jos Jarawa inaugurated along my humble self by the late Prof. Izam.
After the interment, I had informed him that I was considering him to serve as a book reviewer of a book I’m working on the late Rt. Hon Ada Azi ‘Nyako’ Izang in no distant time, if he will be chance. He responded cheerfully and said, why not, my brother?
Our relationship was that of mutual respect and admiration. To be modest, at no point had the late Professor ever ignore my presence, except he didn’t see me. In fact, if per chance he’s driving and sees me by the road or a long my area, he would stop by for us to greet and ask what I was into.
To me, he came, saw and conquered; and his legacies are well written in the sand of time and on the tablets of human hearts.
Think of it like this: every person you meet, every conversation you have, leaves a mark on your memory. These encounters become anecdotes – little stories – that you recall, learn from, and sometimes even define parts of who you are.