A New Dawn in Bangkok
Ladies and Gentlemen, “Distinguished colleagues, and the vibrant heartbeat of the Nigerian spirit here in the historic city of Bangkok.
We stand today at a confluence of gratitude and expectation. Permit me to begin by acknowledging the architects of our democratic process, the Electoral Commission. You have conducted an exercise that was not merely ‘hitch-free,’ but one that was defined by an impeccable transparency and a crystalline fairness. You have set a standard of professionalism that ripples far beyond this campus. Indeed, as we look toward our beloved motherland, we dare to dream that the torch of integrity you carried here might one day illuminate the halls of INEC. To Dr. Ibrahim Lawan and your formidable team: you have proven that when Nigerians are governed by conscience, excellence is the only result. “Probably Dr Lawan and his team will lead INEC by 2035”.
We are a young union, yet we are a storied one. Though the Association of Nigerian Scholars in Chulalongkorn University (ANSCU) was birthed a mere three years ago, it has already matured into a vanguard of intellectual and cultural excellence. We stand today on the shoulders of giants. We are hence beneficiaries of the foundational courage of Dr. Kadeem, the strategic foresight of Mr. Gali Mansir, and the tireless, compassionate stewardship of my immediate predecessor, Mr. Emmanuel Ogar.
To Mr. Ogar: you did not merely lead; you inspired. You did not merely manage; you built. You have set a high-water mark of resilience and passion that I, and my team, accept as a sacred challenge to match and exceed.” By the year 2039 when I become the Governor of Kano State or the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the case may be, I would be confident to have Mr. Ogar as the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, I would be elated if Miss Bukola would accept to be my Minister of Finance, Mr Abdulsalam Magami will certainly be the Minister or Commissioner of Youth Culture and Sports, while Mr. Zaharaddeen Muhammad will either be the Cabal or Chief of Staff.
I stand before you today not as a ruler, but as a servant-leader. I do not see this office as a position of power, but as a solemn commitment to responsibility. To the General Congress the sovereign heart of this association: I repose in you my maximum confidence. You are the source of our legitimacy and the compass of our mission.
And to my Executive Committee (EXCO): You are the engine room of this administration. I do not ask for your blind loyalty; I ask for your brilliance, your dissent, and your unyielding dedication. Together, we are not just a committee; we are a symphony of purpose. We will not just occupy these offices; we will inscribe our names by engraving them upon the stone wall of history through a renaissance of ideas and a revolution of service.
Now, let us speak plainly about the labor ahead. To build a house that shelters us all, we must all provide the bricks. We have observed a hesitation in our collective commitment to our monthly due by some sections of the general congress. Let me borrow the words of our president, His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu “we will widen the tax net, slow down the economy and reduce the purchasing power”.
Dear friends, to echo the sentiment of national sacrifice, we must recognize that to widen the net of our collective resources is not a burden, it is an investment in our sovereignty. We do not seek to diminish your purchasing power; we seek to amplify our collective power. For an association that cannot fund its own dreams is an association that cannot determine its own destiny. I urge you all to migrate from the periphery of participation to the center of ownership of this great and noble association.
Finally, “Our administration will be an inclusive design model through an ‘Open Door’ code. We seek an inclusive era where your critiques are treated as counsel, and your ideas are treated as blueprints. Your opinion, ideas, suggestions, observations, advice and even constructive criticisms are warmly welcomed and highly valued. Also know that we are available for you not just in the daylight of success, but in the midnight of your challenges. 24/7, wherever and whenever the Nigerian scholar needs a brother, a leader, or a friend we will be there.”
As we embark upon this 2026 academic year, let us do so with a renewed sense of wonder. Let us be scholars who do not just study history, but those who write it. Let us be Nigerians who do not just live in Bangkok, but those who thrive here, representing the best of our heritage and the brightest of our future.
The road is long, the task is great, but our resolve is unbreakable. With God as our guide and unity as our shield, let us go forth and make ANSCU a beacon of excellence for all the world to see!
Thank you. God bless ANSCU and Chula, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Tailand.
Best Regards
Muhammad Attahir
President ANSCU
December 2025