TITLE: Hatching Hopes
AUTHOR: Dr Bukar Usman, OON, CON
PAGINATION: 341
PUBLISHERS: KLAMIDAS Communications Ltd., Abuja
PRICE: 3,000
GENRE: Autobiography
PRINT TYPE: Soft & paperback
YEAR: 2006
REVIEWER: Dr Haruna Penni, fANA, FIMC, FIPA
1. INTRODUCTION
Dr Bukar Usman’s career in the Nigeria’s federal civil service as Director-General and Permanent Secretary reads like a chronicle of dedication and strategic acumen. Besides, when he finally retired and strides into literary landscape he became the most prolific retired civil servant of his generation with over forty books. His pen which once wielded power in the bureaucracy found its first expression in 1999, when he launched his debut work on public administration. This work laid a groundwork for a literary voice rooted in experience and insight.
Yet, beneath the weight of policy and protocol, a quite deep calling had persisted; in 2006 his voice turned to the bank of memory and imagination – autobiography. From that year onward, he embraced the convergence of public and cultural advocacy with each informing the other. It was a conscious turn to the world of letters and tradition. The stories of his youth, the cadence of folklore, and the pulse of indigenous culture which never fully receded, was now reawakened.
He delve into autobiography, folklore, novel and children’s literature, weaving his experiences and cultural heritage into stories as a vehicle for cultural preservation and education which echoes across generations. Since cessation of service, he has masterfully balanced this vibrant literary life with his roles as philanthropist and President of the Nigerian Folklore Society, and, when called upon as state functionary.
Today, Dr Usman is best known for his tireless promotion of Nigerian folklore and public enlightenment: chronicle of Biu, folklore revival, philanthropism, patriotism, humanitarianism, and Hausa language development. This achievement is no accident. It is rooted in his steadfast belief in the promotion of culture and in the provision of public information as a fundamental right of the citizenry; a carry-over from his role in the presidency. So to truly understand his impact, one must understudy his antecedent. This is all contained in his autobiography.
A towering figure in Nigerian literature, Dr Bukar Usman’s autobiography offers a profound exploration of Nigerian trajectory; identity, culture and history while extensively anchoring himself as the epic center of its tradition, modernity and social commentary, thus creating a rich tapestry that resonates deeply with readers. In ‘Hatching Hope’ he reveals his hopes and aspiration for himself and Nigeria with a philosophical underpinnings that evaluates his relative nuanced understanding of and contribution to Nigeria.
So far over the years, Dr Bukar Usman’s life and times has gradually unfolded into what may aptly be described as an open text—accessible, layered, and instructive. However, until relatively recent times, both the Nigerian intelligence community and the career trajectory of Bukar Usman remained subjects of guarded discourse. But over time, lately, multiple categories of exposures have emerged; biographical sketches, profiles, books, articles, public lectures, commentaries, festschrift, interviews, and institutional citations. They collectively illuminate his public and intellectual life.
Yet, as Strachey (1827) famously observed, autobiography remains “the most delicate and humane of all branches of the art of writing.” This assertion underscores the significance of the genre under review. Biography and autobiography possess an enduring appeal because they offer not merely a chronicle of events but a structured interpretation of a life, packaging personality, vocation, conflict, ambition, and milieu into a narrative that carries the vitality of creative writing while remaining anchored in factual truth.
In this sense, autobiography requires the author to mould complex biographical materials; birth, education, career, family, conflict, accident, and social context to a coherent narrative whole. Dr Usman’s attitude to autobiography reflects this understanding: one may write early in life or later, but in either case, such writing remains provisional, demanding periodic updating as life extends beyond earlier projections. There is little doubt that Dr Bukar Usman was born into circumstances that predisposed him to distinction. His enviable record of serving peacefully under successive, often unstable regimes from independence until retirement after nearly three decades of service is remarkable. For a civil servant who navigated Nigeria’s turbulent political epochs without public scandal or professional rupture, his career appears almost providential.
Consequently, reviewing his autobiography borders on a biographical re-writing, as the two genres are intricately intertwined. This is especially so given that the author has already documented his fortunes and misfortunes with notable candour, leaving few germane details untouched up to his retirement. His post-retirement life catapulted him into public prominence through his extensive contributions to arts, folklore, and literary bodies. These public activities now form part of his broader non-kinetic pro bona role as a former security administrator committed to information dissemination and national cohesion.
Accordingly, this review avoids unnecessary repetition of what the autobiography already exhaustively documents. Instead, it highlights selected aspects of the author’s work while addressing notable lacunae—particularly the approximately twenty-five post-retirement years that remain largely uncaptured.
These years encompass his philanthropy, professional recognitions, fellowships Institute of Management Consultants, Nigerian Academy of Letters, Pan-African Writers Association, Doctorate degree award, patronage of the Association of Nigerian Authors, presidency of the Nigerian Folklore Society, extensive book production and donation, international language exchange initiatives, cross-border literary development efforts, Golden INGOT activities, and sustained commitment to Biu community development.
2. SCOPE, SOURCES, AND NARRATIVE METHOD
The sheer breadth of materials covering nearly six decades of lived experience renders the autobiography a formidable scholarly undertaking. The autobiographer appears to have employed a composite methodology anchored in personal recollection, likely supplemented by diaries and private records. Archival materials from specialized libraries—particularly within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation—were consulted, alongside informal interviews with contemporaries and key actors.
Oral history plays a central role, especially in reconstructing the history of his Biu hometown, lineage, and family heraldry. As a seasoned interlocutor, Usman also engaged Nigerians across social strata on the state of the nation. Despite his mastery of the subject matter, he subjected the manuscript to peer previews by eminent Nigerians, thereby enhancing its credibility.
The narrative is predominantly first-person, an expected choice given the author’s direct involvement in the events recounted. He acknowledges numerous contributors, including Dr A.O.O. Ocheoha, Dr Inno Nwadike, Mallam Bema Biu, Senator M.G. Lawal, Mr Wale Akinpelu, Alhaji Shettima Abba, and Alhaji Bukar Gana.
Notably, the work omits a formal foreword, preface, or external endorsement—elements that might have further enriched the text. Additionally, the narrative adopts a largely unidirectional first-person voice, foregoing a polyphonic style that might have incorporated dialogue, hedging, or alternative perspectives.
Structurally, the autobiography comprises twenty chapters spanning birth in Biu, educational sojourns, professional ascent, family life, and eventual retirement in Abuja. This review subsequently reorganises the narrative thematically into four analytical parts—Roots, Routes, Destination, and Personal—followed by sources. Theoretical foundations, thematic organization, content analysis, critical evaluation, recommendations and conclusion.
3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Anchored in post-colonial theory, this review interrogates Nigerian colonial history and its enduring impact on Usman’s identity formation and cultural hybridity. It examines how he navigated multiple cultural influences while engaging in colonially inherited structures, policy frameworks and institutions to interrogate Nigerian politics, governance, and social organization.
The analysis further explores Usman’s valuation of Nigerian traditions and cultural norms, situating them within broader discourses on national identity within the context of imperialism. Also it investigates how his dual identity as a writer and senior security bureaucrat shapes his narrative voice and reflects prevailing power structures.
Of particular significance are his inter-tribal and cross-cultural affiliations—evident in his two marriages to Yoruba Christian and a Yoruba Muslim, long residence in Lagos, and enduring friendships with colleagues from southern Nigeria dating back to his Kings College years in Lagos in the early 60s. It is noteworthy that without an amalgamated Nigerian Protectorates by the colonial power, this integration would only be by fortuitous design.
Using post-colonial theory, the review further emphasize Usman’s life as a case study in Nigerian hybridity. His identity is shaped by intersecting colonially created geographies—Biu, Maiduguri, Lagos, Zaria, Abuja—and by cross-cultural affiliations forged through education, marriage, sport, friendship, foreign official tours and vocations. Unlike performative national integration slogans, Usman’s life demonstrates lived integration. This experiential nationalism contrasts sharply with contemporary tendencies toward ethno-regional retreat and political sectionalism.
4. THEMATIC ORGANISATION
Rather than functioning merely as a chronological life story, Usman’s autobiography is analytically grouped into four broad thematic segments: origins and cultural foundations; educational and social mobility; bureaucratic career and national service; and family life and personal values.
Usman’s autobiography explores his ancestral homeland of Biu, situated on a table plateau approximately 2500 feet above sea level, exhibiting ecological affinities with Jos. This geographical context is characterized by an intricate network of rivers, hills, forests, and fertile soils, which has historically shaped the settlement patterns, occupational pursuits, and agricultural practices of the indigenous population. The narrative foregrounds communal life, traditional medicine, folklore, and family structure, highlighting the formative influence of his parents—particularly his mother and, drawing on cultural heritage accounts from figures such as Bema Biu and colonial district officer Sir J.G. Davies.
He proceeds to recount his enrolment into primary school, wherein he was conscripted by the emirate palace guard in 1951, while undergoing Qur’anic studies. The author meticulously delineates the intersecting routes connecting Biu to major Nigerian cities, notably Maiduguri, Kano, Abuja, and Yola, with the Maiduguri-Damaturu-Buni-Biu road emerging as his most frequented pathway.
Furthermore, Usman’s educational and professional trajectories was provided – from Kings College Lagos through Ahmadu Bello University to the Federal Civil Service, sporting excellence, leadership roles, and formative friendships which recur as motifs. Also documented is his steady rise within the civil service, his principled aversion to lobbying, and his immersion in Nigeria’s security and intelligence architecture.
Usman provides an ethnographic exploration of Biu’s cultural landscape, encompassing its arts, folklores, architectural styles, rites of passage (including circumcision), and the erstwhile influential institution of soothsayers. This narrative is juxtaposed with his educational sojourn at Kings College Lagos in 1964, where he was accompanied by fellow Borno native, Umara Amshi, (they were however preceded by notable seniors such as Ahmadu Yusufari, Kyari Tijjani, Mohammed Goni Madu, Audu Biu).
His sporting exploits at Kings College Lagos in various fields, including football, hockey, rugby, athletics, and table tennis, is a testament to his multifaceted personality. Usman’s friendships and associations span multiple spheres, including sports, education, and professional circles, with notable individuals such as Gov. Jim Nwobodo and Oba Funso Adeolu aka chief Eleyimi who were his game masters in Kings College while HE Ebitimi Banigoi was a schoolmate. He met Dr. Tunji Olagunju at ABU and Baba Gana Kingibe at Borno Senior Primary School.
In the north eastern secondary schools sports competition, Bukar came to know fellow sports men like NN Marshall Murtala Nyako, AIG Abdullahi Jika, Gov. Habu Jalingo or Abubakar Barde, Sen. Uba Ahmed, AIG Lawal Bawa, and Sen Uba Ahmed. In primary school his friends include: Salviya Kachalla, Ibrahim Mohammed, Bukar Malam Soroma, Aboku Malam Tasiwa, Ali Adamu, Umaru Balbiya nee Mohammed, Ali Habu, Chima Balbiya etc.
At secondary school in Maiduguri, his friends were: Dr Fiama Daggira Mshelia, Ibrahim Alhaji nee Mohammed. At college, the friends were: HE Ebitimi Banigo, Prof Osato Giwa Osagie, Chief Dennis O. Odife. At ABU, Bukar’s friends Include Sadik Mohammed, Sen Abu Ibrahim, M. I. Yahaya, Gov Dahiru Mohammed, Buba Madaki, Suleman Audu, Ali Eri, Suleman Galadima, Owonuwa Malomo. He also had HAK (Hauwa) of WTC Maiduguri and Miss Hirku of Waka Secondary School Biu as platonic girlfriends.
In Lagos, he was first accommodated at LEGICO from ‘70 – ’81 during which he neighbored Alh. Abubakar Rimi, Alh Muhammad Arzika, Alh Abubakar Atiku. After the residency in Victoria Island, he moved to Mulliner & Cameron Roads Ikoyi from ‘82 – ’89. In the mines and power ministry, he worked with Crown Oba of Benin Crown Prince Solomon Akenzua, Dr Russell A. Barau Dikko, Alh. Shettima Ali Monguno, Chief P. C Asiodu, Mr M. O. Feyide, and Mr F. R. A. Marinho.
He was inspired to choose the public service by Biu teachers, court personnel, tax collectors, constabulary police, prison officials etc. They had bicycle, mobylette, scooter, saloon cars etc. His motivators also included respected public servants from his geographical axis. They include Alh. Shettima Ali Monguno, Sir Kashim Ibrahim and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. He also cited northern region civil servants who later opted for FGN employment in Lagos: Chief Sunday B Awoniyi, Alh. Mohammed Hayattudin, Alh Bukar Shuaib, Alh Yusuf Gobir, Alh Tatari Ali, Alh. Liman Chiroma, Malam Adamu Ciroma, Alh Muktari Tahir, Alh Malam Galma, Alh Ladan Zuru, Alh Ibrahim Damcida, Alh Ahmed Joda and Alh Sule Katagum.
It was however in 1972 that he was moved to Cabinet Office Special Services Office by the external affairs Ministry and worked with all the SGFs from Mr. Abdulazeez Atta in 1972 to Alh. Gidado Idris in 1999 and based on his schedule of duty, got involved in administratively managing (not to be confused with operative bodies) state security service, police intelligence, national security advisory office and defence intelligence community.
Usman says he became director general in 1988 and later permanent secretary in 1997, noting that he saw the promotions coming from IBB, Olu Falae, Baba Gana Kingibe, Gidado Idris based on their indirect positive remarks to him on his performance, loyalty, humbleness and human relations. Here he revealed his relationship with Kingibe, a classmate who became his boss unknown to people. He briefly discussed Abacha coup, noting that it was a compulsory agreement reached between the army and the interim Head of State Sir Ernest Shonekan.
Notably, Usman worked closely with several Secretaries to the Government of the Federation (SGF). He described their personal administrative styles; Abdul Azeez Atta, Charles Olatunde Lawson, Alh. Shehu Musa, Chief Oluyemisi Falae, Malam Aliyu Mohammed, Alh. Aminu Saleh, Malam Gidado Idris. Mr Gray Adetokumbo Bromose Longe, Chief Samuel Oluyemisi Falae, but omitted Mr. Allison Akenne Ayida, Alh. Mustafa Umara and Alh. Ali Liman Ciroma. He also interacted with notable figures from the North, such as Alh. Shettima Ali Monguno, Sir Kashim Ibrahim, and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who served as early role models and inspired him.
Usman highlighted the several nomenclatures the Cabinet Office went through such as Executive Office of the President, The Presidency, and OSGF; chronicling earlier secretaries as Mr Felix Stanley Olabode Way, Mr Harlen Anirejuritse Andrew Ejueyitche, and Mr Abdulazeez Attah. But he did not work with them as they had retired before his first appointment and posting to the OSGF.
Dr Usman’s immediate bosses included Mr S. B. Agodo, Mr Alfa Wali, Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe while having interacting relationship with, Mr M. D. Yusuf, Mr Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta, Mr A. O. G. Adesuyi, and Mr Umaru Shinkafi. Other distant bosses were all the NSAs from Prof Shehu Galadanchi, Maj Gen. Aliyu Mohammed, Brig Halilu Hakilu, Ismaila M Gwarzo, Maj Gen Abdullahi Mohammed, Rear Admiral Babatunde Elegbele, Gen M. C. Ali, Commodore E. Agbiti, Brig. I. D. Gumel, A. K. Horsefall, Air Vice Marshal Idi Musa and Amb Z. A. Ibrahim.
Usman’s story highlights his involvement in various national events and projects, including FESTAC ’77, Abuja construction monitoring and movement, and Nigeria Security Organisation reorganization, Aviation, trade fair, NIA, international organisations, Hajj operations, human rights, oil, agriculture and electricity sectors. He also had working visits to several countries in Europe.
His role in the civil service necessitated frequent interactions with various stakeholders, including NGOs, CSOs, media representatives, labour unions, finance experts, and academics. He noted that labour unions often opposed Government policies related to labour democratization, minimum wage, fuel price increases, staff downsizing, and foreign loans.
Usman’s interactions with labour leaders included notable figures such as Prof Eskor Toyo, Dr Assis Asobie, Prof Dipo Fasina, Comrade Paschal Bafyau, Comrade Armstrong Ogbonna, Dr Abdukadir Abdusalam, Barrister Solomon Onaghinon, Comrade Frank Kokori, and Comrade Adams Oshiomole. These engagements provided him with valuable insights into the labour movement and its concerns.
He is also well-acquainted with media personalities, including Ray Ekpu, Ikenna Ndaguba, Raymond Dokpesi, Shyingle Wigwe, Mohammed Ibrahim, Kalu Otise, Yahya Abubakar, Atilade Atoyebi, Nduka Obaigbena, Eluem Emeka-Izeze, Dele Alake, Emma Agu, Remi Oyo, Sam Amuka, Ismaila Isa, Segun Osoba, and Dupe Ayayi-Gbadebo, who later joined him in the OSGF as SA Communication to SGF Kingibe. Other notable media figures he interacted with included Ben Asante, Abidina Coomassie, Madu Mailafiya and Wada Maida.
In the human rights sector, Usman worked with Clement Nwankwo and Olisa Agbakoba, among others. Bukar Usman’s professional journey also brought him into contact with a diverse array of individuals, including John Ebodaghe, Dr Georhe Obiozor, Prof Ukandi G. Damachi, Segun Olusola, Dr E. O. Akinluyi, Prof A. M. A. Imevbore, Dele Olowoyo, Dr O. A. Akinyemeju, Shehu Malami, Obong Victor Attah, Mike Adenuga Jr, Otumba M. A. Jobi-Fele, Dr Joseph Waya, Maitama Sule, Alex Akinyele, Aare Arisekola Alao, and Godwin Dabo Adzuana.
These interactions underscore Usman’s commitment to engaging with diverse stakeholders and fostering collaboration to drive progress for Nigeria. His experiences and interactions with prominent figures, including Heads of State and Secretaries to the Government, offer valuable insights into Nigeria’s governance and politics.
Usman’s family angle introduces emotional depth often absent in bureaucratic memoirs. The tragic loss of his first wife and her only two daughters humanises the author and disrupts the otherwise linear narrative of success. His recovery through remarriage and renewed family life illustrates resilience without sentimentality.
This dimension broadens the autobiography’s appeal beyond governance studies into psychosocial and family-history scholarship. Thus the family narrative softens the autobiography; recounting lineage, marriages, tragic loss, remarriage, and post-retirement life. Particularly poignant is the account of the fatal accident that claimed his first wife and daughter, followed by his eventual emotional recovery and renewed family stability.
Usman’s personal life is also noteworthy. His father hailed from the Kogu clan, while his mother was from the Chikwarkr clan all of Biu. He met his demised first wife, Adekemi, at a friend’s house on Osborne Road, Ikoyi, and they married while she was a Christian. They had two daughters, Mero and Fatima, both of whom are now deceased.
He reminisced his late wife’s business acumen. She floated construction company, beauty salon, photographic studio & equipment, provision kiosk, tailoring, textile sales, fish mongering, body massaging, contracting, merchandising in tin tomatoes and tyre, and video materials. She was a native of Atan near Ijebu Ode, attended Yaba College of Technology in 1966 and obtained OND in secretarial studies.
Usman’s international missions took him to various countries, where he defended Nigeria’s human rights record under military regimes. He was also part of a presidential panel constituted to investigate contract propriety during Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar’s administration.
In retirement, Usman reflected on his life, thanking God for witnessing the new millennium. He visited Biu and Maiduguri, noting the potential for tourism development in the area and the need to renovate flagship schools like his dilapidated secondary school. He also remembered his late mother and family members, including Mero’s children who had moved to Canada.
Usman narrates how he met his second wife, Raliat Dupe Omole, at NICON Noga Hilton Hotel pastry shop where he used to unwind by taking tea and snacks. He observed her to be courteous, patient and friendly to customers. A Muslim native of Aiyedun near Ikole-Ekiti in Ekiti State, she too did secretarial studies and later worked in the bank. She delivered her first baby the same year with Mero who bore Hauwa after marrying Laide Salami Bashorun, while his wife delivered Halimat the same year and went on to sear Hadizat, Hafsat and Zara.
5. CONTENT ANALYSIS
This review covers some pertinent themes in line with the framework and organisation. The legacy of colonial administrative structures which post independent Nigeria inherited are quite like the schools Usman attended and ministries he worked. He was also found in the forefront of struggling to balance modernization and local context of our indigenous public service from oil, agric, power, cultural sectors etc to national security. It was the over-bearing influence of colonial legacy on Nigeria’s security institutions that led his committee to reorganize the former Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO and National Intelligence Agency as well as his foreign advocacy for Nigeria from external pressures in the mid-90s.
Bukar Usman’s narration through a postcolonial lens offers a unique perspective on Nigeria’s post-independence journey, highlighting the complexities of nation-building, cultural identity, and power dynamics. This is achieved predominantly through his experiences in the civil service, his interactions with colonial-era institutions, and his observations on governance reflecting the lingering influence of colonial structures. At the same time, his emphasis on Nigerian culture, folklore, and indigenous knowledge systems as a subtle pushback against colonial erasure.
Some potential post-colonial themes in Usman’s story include the tension between traditional and modern systems as in the case where the emir conscripted him into primary school; the impact of colonial legacy on Nigerian governance where after independence ethic rivalry led to wanton killings of both military and political leaders by a section of the country.
Others are the cultural identity and representation leading to the formulation of federal character principles where school admission and federal public service appointment is shared on state quotas and; the role of colonial education in shaping the perspectives of the Nigerians leading to nationalism and the country’s independence.
Bukar Usman’s experiences in the civil service and security architecture through a postcolonial is pretty telling. His involvement in Nigeria’s security architecture, like the reorganization of the NSO, highlights the complexities of building a security framework in a postcolonial state. This experiences reflected the challenges of adapting colonial-era security structures to serve a newly independent nation. There’s a sense of navigating inherited systems while trying to address local realities and national interests.
Usman’s public and personal life exemplifies national integration, demonstrated through his marriage to two wives from different ethnic and religious backgrounds – all from the Yoruba tribe. His first wife being a Christian, showcasing inter-faith tolerance. This reflects his commitment to unity and coexistence. Moreover, his approach to relationships underscores his ability to form friendships beyond ethnic or geographical boundaries, showcasing a life of inclusivity and openness.
Additionally, Usman’s narrative highlights his preference for professionalism over clannish tendencies and his avoidance of unnecessary lobbying, emphasizing the value of merit and hard work. He believes in specialization rather than generalism, advising individuals to “mine deeper” in their chosen careers rather than pursuing trendy paths. He also commented on Lagos and Abuja, highlighting concerns about urban development, infrastructure, and the need for sustainable planning. He advocates for the strict implementation of the Abuja Master Plan to prevent it falling into decay, warning that if early drastic action isn’t taken it could become like Lagos with its chaotic traffic gridlock and housing deficit.
Usman’s autobiography is a testament to the complexities of Nigerian society and the role of individuals in shaping its trajectory. His narrative offers a rich tapestry of experiences, providing valuable insights into Nigerian history, politics, and governance. It is a story of dedication, perseverance, and service; reflecting his commitment to public service and nation-building. His experiences and reflections provide a unique window into Nigeria’s past, offering lessons for current and future generations.
Regarding industrial relations, Usman advises the government to strengthen the national joint negotiating system for collective bargaining in the public service. He also sheds light on lesser-known aspects of Nigerian history involving notable figures – his experiences with Bongos Ikwue, Jim Nwobodo, Oba Funso Adeolu, Chief Banigo, Timi Chapi, and Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe.
Usman’s narration is an authentication to the power of embracing diversity, fostering national unity, and pursuing excellence through focused specialization. He calls on the government to direct schools to exhibit philatelic photographs of outstanding sportsmen and women, promoting role models and inspiring future generations. He draws his negative experiences at international airports, to cautions VIPs about the risks of using expensive suitcases while travelling long distances.
A further critical analysis of the autobiography reveals notable omissions and narrative silences. Several national crises—June 12, coups, civil service purges, and democratic transitions—are either glossed over or treated obliquely. While the author justifies these gaps on ethical and national security grounds, they nonetheless invite further scholarly interrogation. While the autobiography is rich, it would benefit from: greater narrative polyphony, inclusion of counter-voices, and fuller engagement with contentious national moments as earlier advised. Nonetheless, its restraint is itself historically instructive. The book does not seek to shock; it seeks to stabilise memory.
6. CRITICAL EVALUATION
Bukar Usman’s autobiography offers a wealth of insights, particularly in its portrayal of his mastery of the civil service, where he was privy to various reorganizations, reforms, and reviews preceding his retirement in 1999. The work also provides a glimpse into the colonial school curriculum and advocates for comprehensive education that emphasizes skills acquisition and proper career guidance, aiming to prevent the “accidental public servant syndrome” lamented by Ahmed El-Rufai.
Usman’s life exemplifies national integration, demonstrated through his marriage to wives from different ethnic and religious backgrounds – the two from the Yoruba tribe and his first wife being a Christian, showcasing inter-faith tolerance. This reflects his commitment to unity and coexistence. Moreover, his approach to relationships underscores his ability to form friendships beyond ethnic or geographical boundaries, showcasing a life of inclusivity and openness.
Regarding industrial relations, Usman advises the government to strengthen the national joint negotiating system for collective bargaining in the public service. He also sheds light on lesser-known aspects of Nigerian history and notable figures, including the experiences of Bongos Ikwue, Jim Nwobodo, Oba Funso Adeolu, Chief Banigo, Timi Chapi, and Amb. Baba Gana Kingibe.
Usman’s story is a testament to the power of embracing diversity, fostering national unity, and pursuing excellence through focused specialization. He calls on the government to direct schools to exhibit photographs of outstanding professionals, sportsmen and women; thereby promoting role models and inspiring future generations.
As for the book, updating it with more recent experiences would be awesome. Nonetheless, Usman has paved the way for other Nigerians, inspiring individuals like Amb. Tukur Yusufu Buratai to document their experiences, with the goal of promoting leadership excellence.
The work also raises important issues, such as the need to simplify expensive and extensive marriage and burial ceremonies, and highlights the significance of promoting rural tourism as a means to generate community revenue. Usman also emphasizes the importance of maintaining flagship schools and challenges the assumption that Nigerians don’t read books, especially given Abuja’s designation as a city of literature by UNESCO.
7. RECOMMENDATIONS
A revised and expanded edition incorporating post-2005 developments would significantly enhance the work’s scholarly value, also including more details on the author’s pre-retirement views on national issues, which are currently only briefly mentioned in the introduction to the second edition.
Furthermore, an authorized biography—distinct from autobiographical narratives—would provide critical distance and enrich Nigeria’s intellectual archive. However, Usman has chosen to write an individual detailed memoir focusing on specific aspects of his life, including his literary journeys into public service, literature, folklore, and the Bukar Usman Foundation.
These he believes in addition to his autobiographies, memoirs, documented conversations, and festschrift are enough to give a more than glimpse into his life and times. Nonetheless, an authorized biography of his life and times, distinct from his works on himself could provide an external perspective, offering a more nuanced understanding of the author’s life and work, and further solidifying his position in the intellectual sphere
Outstanding areas that could be explored include his chairmanship and directorship roles in limited liability companies, editorship of a publishing company, presidency of the Nigeria Folklore Society, his grandchildren, Biu community development, international Hausa language propagation, and his views on Nigeria’s New Public Administration and reformations.
8. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Dr Bukar Usman’s life exemplifies disciplined public service, cultural bridge-building, and sustained intellectual engagement. His autobiography stands as both personal testimony and national document, deserving continued scholarly attention and wider dissemination
Beyond its immediate autobiographical function, Hatching Hopes belongs to a broader tradition of Nigerian elite self-writing that includes memoirs by senior civil servants, military officers, technocrats, and public intellectuals. Within this tradition, Dr Bukar Usman’s work occupies a distinctive position: it straddles bureaucracy, security administration, cultural nationalism, and literary production. Unlike many memoirs that privilege power, proximity, or vindication, Usman’s narrative privileges process, restraint, and continuity.
A notable feature of Usman’s narrative is its ethical posture. The author consistently presents himself as a public servant who resists lobbying, patronage politics, and self-promotion. In this regard, the autobiography may be read as a moral argument about governance; that strong institutions are established when individuals subordinate ego to procedure.
One of the most analytically productive aspects of the book is what it leaves unsaid. This review notes that major national crises—June 12, coups, assassinations, mass purges—are mentioned only tangentially. These omissions should not be read simply as avoidance; rather, they reveal the constraints of writing from within power. Autobiographies by intelligence and security actors are structurally different from those of politicians or activists. They are shaped by oaths of secrecy, institutional loyalty, and post-retirement ethical boundaries. But such experiences nevertheless can be masqueraded in a novel using anonymous moniker.
Thus, Usman’s narrative exemplifies what may be termed strategic remembering: enough is said to situate the author historically, but not enough to destabilise institutional legitimacy. For scholars, this invites a dialogic reading—placing the autobiography alongside memoirs by Gowon, Obasanjo, Shagari, Babangida, Buhari, Falae and others to reconstruct a fuller picture of Nigerian governance.
Ultimately, Hatching Hopes is less about dominance than diplomacy. It documents how a man remained relevant across regimes without surrendering professional ethics or cultural rootedness. For scholars of Nigerian history, public administration, security studies, and literary autobiography, the work is an indispensable primary text.
* Dr Haruna Penni, a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), was a staff of the Federal Ministry of Budget & Planning Ministry, the OSGF in Lagos and Abuja. He founded the ANA branch in the FCT in1995 and can be reached on the telephone line 08034299585.
