By Mustapha Salisu
Sadiq Muhammad Mustapha has celebrated veteran activist, social movement leader and development thinker, Comrade Jaye Gaskia, on the occasion of his 60th birthday, describing him as a mentor whose ideas and lifelong commitment to social transformation have continued to inspire a new generation.
Mustapha, who joined the activities marking Gaskia’s 60th birthday on August 20, 2026, at the Legacy Lecture, Symposium, Book Launch and Academy Unveiling organised in his honour, said the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect not only on Gaskia’s achievements but also on the people and movements he has helped nurture over the years.
In his tribute, Sadiq said Gaskia’s contributions to citizenship, democracy, activism and social transformation have made his journey an important reference point for young Nigerians committed to building a better society.
According to him, Gaskia’s legacy goes beyond the struggles he has participated in, stressing that his greatest contribution lies in the ideas, movements and people he has inspired and helped develop.
He said Gaskia’s life demonstrates that citizenship is not a passive responsibility, but one that demands participation, organising, collective action and the courage to engage with systems that shape society.
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Mustapha particularly identified with the theme of the celebration, “From Struggle to Systems: Building the Next Generation of Transformation,” describing it as a powerful reminder of the responsibility of the younger generation to learn from the struggles of those before them and translate those lessons into sustainable movements, institutions and systems.
He noted that meaningful legacy should not be measured solely by what an individual achieves, but by what such achievements inspire others to continue building.
“Thank you, Jaye, for the mentorship, the ideas and the example. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from your journey and to contribute, in my own way, to the work of building the Nigeria we want to see,” Mustapha said.
He wished Comrade Jaye Gaskia many more years of impactful service, continued inspiration and good health as he enters a new chapter of his life and continues to contribute to Nigeria’s democratic and social transformation.