Dr. Patrick Dakum a Product of God’s Grace And Exceptional Parenting (Testimonial)

Written By Professor Nuhu Kutan Dakum (Professor of Surgery and Consultant Urological Surgeon) in 2018 For The Book “Ripple Effect By Sarah Lyop Dakum”.

I write as a younger brother of Patrick Dakum. We were born to Mr. Kutan Stephen Dakum and Mrs. Laraba Dakum. Most of us were born in Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Northern Nigeria. 

Most of the growing-up period was thus in Zaria. Patrick is the firstborn of nine children. One boy to the best of my knowledge died a few days after birth. It was a sad day for all of us in the house and there was a lot of crying and wailing. Eight of us grew to adulthood, but only six of us, all boys are alive.

Growing up in the family was a very interesting experience. It was a house full of laughter, discipline, and fear of God. It was a hospitable environment and we had a lot of relations living with us. One day a photographer came around and we took an unplanned family picture of those who were home at that time. Much later in life, I reviewed that picture and counted 19 of us. That was the kind of hospitable environment we grew up in. 

Growing up, we were not sure who was a brother or cousin, or another relation as our parents treated all of us alike. We ate the same food, slept on the same beds, went to the same schools, had the same discipline, etc. We lived most of the time in the Ahmadu Bello University staff quarters and many new students to the University from Plateau only needed to introduce themselves and they were ushered into the house, introduced to everybody else in the house as a brother or sister, and were accorded the same privileges as family members.

This aspect of our growth has rubbed off on Patrick as he has imbibed that very accommodating and helping attitude. Although not the most senior in the extended family in his age grade, his accommodating and helping nature made his house in Jos the meeting point and transit camp for many members of the family that one of our cousins named his house 'house one' over 20 years ago. This name has stuck and even after moving to Abuja his house in Abuja is still called 'house one'.

Patrick is an epitome of generosity and he would go to great lengths to assist members of the family and even outsiders, He has contributed in no small measure in the payment of fees, medical assistance, and general financial assistance to so many people. Many times, he has assisted even without being asked when he senses there is a need.

This has endeared him to many people. Time and space will not permit me to give so many examples of this attribute. Suffice it to say that it has contributed in no small way to what many of us the siblings are today.

For me, for example, our parents lost their job when I just started my clinical training in medical school and there was no source of income. Financial assistance was from the small Plateau State Government scholarship award, assistance from Patrick and John (my other elder brother) in cash and kind. I collected some of Patrick's old textbooks and that was how I managed through till I graduated from medical school.

Today I am a Professor of Surgery and consultant urological surgeon, just as one of the very few ripple effects of the kind heart of Patrick Dakum.

Our parents were not rich people. Our father was a driver/mechanic with the Institute of Agricultural Research Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and through training was able to rise through the ranks. Our mother was a porter at the female hostel of the University. She also engaged in a lot of businesses to help sustain the family. She at one time had a small stall in the Samaru Zaria market selling petty terns. At another point, she was also a tailor. They worked hard to fend for us and also managed their resources judiciously. 

This has positively rubbed off on Patrick as he is a workaholic who is diligent in his work as I am sure his colleagues at work will attest to. He would leave his house early every day. This also showed itself when he had to serve Plateau State as a commissioner. This hardworking nature and entrepreneurial spirit has also had a ripple effect on the rest of the family as Patrick has set a good example for us just like our parents did. While in school Patrick would usually engage in vacation jobs to assist. At some point, he would join our dad to drive the tractor and also work on the small family farm.

This ripple effect has affected so many spheres of life. Probably the most important aspect is the spiritual and this emanated from the family background. 

Our parents were very God-fearing people. They would wake us up every morning for the usual family devotion. We would read the Bible and pray and they would explain scripture to us. They in several ways impressed on us that the most important thing in life was to serve God as our stay here on earth is temporary. No wonder our father's last words on his death bed were of a spiritual nature, expressing thanks to God and that he was soon going to heaven to rest.

Our parents were also active in the Church. Our father served several times as the chairman of the local church and mama was a very active member of the women fellowship. Their activities were not restricted to the church as they exhibited a Christ-like attitude at home and at work. This had a ripple effect on the whole family.

Patrick imbibed this God-fearing attitude which is the greatest thing that could happen to anyone.

He served the COCIN headquarters Church in Jos as an elder and secretary and also served the Church in Abuja, amongst several other positions he has held, and continues to hold in the Church. One noticeable one now is as chairman of the COCIN Church literature committee which produces among other things the daily devotional for the church and also the Bible study outline used by the Church worldwide. As 'house one' was the meeting point and transit camp for most of all, we had to be part of the daily devotions in Patrick's house and also had to attend the same Church.

We attended the HEKAN Church in Zaria but Patrick on moving to Jos started attending The COCIN Church, which belongs to the same group as HEKAN. No wonder most of us in the family attend COCIN Church today and are actively involved, taking on several responsibilities. He is also a national officer of Christian Couples Fellowship International and has also influenced many of us to join the fellowship quite early in our marriages, a move that has helped many of our marriages to keep together and to continue to serve God.

Patrick has not only been exemplary in serving the church but has shown in his public and private life that he is God-fearing which has rubbed off on the whole Dakum family and the Parkat-Komerep extended family of Jiblik in Pankshin local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria.

#Dakum2023

#Dakum4Gov

#MoreAboutDakum

#PlateauSaiDakum

#TheRippleEffectOfDakum