News Editor
By A liyu Danyawo (Obebeji kha’Kyana)
Born in 1927, Surveyor Dauda Muhammad Elayo is the most humble Royalist that I know. He is of the Oweji Royalty of Keana. He has just clocked 94 years of age!
Major Dauda Elayo attended Government Middle School Kuru and completed in 1951 when he was already doing petty jobs after his Elementary School Education.
In Kuru, he exhibited very high skilful Craftsmanship, hence, the School Authority recommended his immediate employment.
Dauda Elayo was employed into the services of the Northern Nigeria Region in 1952. Government immediately sent him to the School of Survey, Kofar Dan Agundi, Kano in 1952.
He had his Advanced Survey Course in the School of Survey, Kaduna.
He underwent *Photometric Engineering, i.e Aerial Survey in the Netherlands from 1962 to 1963 after which he attended the School of Military Survey, England from 1965 to 1966*.
He had his first appointment into the Officer’s Cadre as *Assistant Surveyor in 1960 and promoted to Surveyor in 1963. He grew up as Senior Surveyor in 1965, and Principal Surveyor in 1967, when he took charge of the Topographical Mapping Division of the then Northern Region Survey Department in Kaduna*.
Upon citing a record of recommendation in the service file of Dauda Elayo by an erstwhile Colonial Resident of the Province, the Northern Regional Government appointed him as *Surveyor-General*. News of his exceptional Craftsmanship and Mastering filtered.
Following the creation of Benue-Plateau State, he was redeployed to Jos in 1968 as Chief Surveyor. There, he set up the Survey Department and Headed it from 1968 to 1972.
Subsequently, the Nigerian Army requested for his service, where he joined on Secondment. There, he created the Army Survey Regiment and served as the Head until he voluntarily retired in 1977 as a *Major of the Nigerian Army and member of the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors*.
Back home, he chose to relax in Keana, mostly on ground almost at the back seat in the Palace of the Osana of Keana. This has been his culture right from the reign of HRH, Osana Emmanuel Onyatikpo Elayo. Osana would always ask him to come and stay in the front row, but he would always plead to stay at the back row; at best, sometimes at the side row. This is the peak of simplicity of a Royalist and Elder Statesman. Osana Abdullahi Amegwa Agbo III has also been pleading with him to stay in the front row, but he still pleads to stay by the side corner. He is dedicated to providing advisory to the Palace and Community engagements.
As a member of Nasarawa State Field Team in the National Boundary Commission (NBC) exercise of Nasarawa/Benue Boundary demarcation, Major Dauda acted as the *Fotress* of Nasarawa State since 2005 where he played so very crucial roles, such as:
1. Advising the State Surveyor General on Grey areas.
2. Guiding the team of Surveyors in the Field.
3. Active participation in the State delegation to the NBC Abuja in 2005, 2006, etc.
4. Putting up at least Six (6) Position Papers for Nasarawa State before the NBC and Federal Government.
5. Pointing out so many pitfalls to the Surveyors General of Nasarawa and Benue States, partaining to deviations from the stipulations of the Statutory Boundary Instruments, in the course of the field demarcation exercises, and the inherent dangers therein.
6. It is worthwhile to note that in all the field trips and exercises that he partook for Nasarawa State and Keana L.G.A, he never collected any Field allowance or Committee allowance. He would consistently tell the Cashier to return his allowance to the Source. He was only concerned about the timeliness and efficacy of the Official vehicle for the trips and assignments.
I became so close to Major Dauda on notable occasions such as:
a. In 2005 – 2008 when in the Local Government Service, I was the Secretary to the Technical Committee on Boundary Matters, under his Chairmanship.
b. In 2011, I was the Secretary to the LGA Boundary Committee, under the Chairmanship of Barr. Musa Elayo Abdullahi (Ubandoma/District Head) to which he provided much direction.
c. In 2020, I was the Secretary to the L.G.A Committee Report on Nasarawa/Benue Interstate Boundary, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Jonah Ogbole (Magajin garin Aloshi), to which he was member and whose works were success tools to our output.
Hence, I can write on and on about Major Dauda.
*In view of the foregoing, Nasarawa State Government should please echo the works of Surveyor Dauda Muhammad Elayo as can be found in the State Boundary Commission for the betterment of our dear State*.
Major Dauda fondly calls me “My Oga”, because I am married to one of his Granddaughters😂
Aliyu Danyawo writes from Abuja.
