About: Honourable Philip Aruwa Gyunka

 

A VISIONARY AND TRANSFORMATIVE LEADER

This Website contain an abridged profile of a highly resourceful and unassuming gentleman, a true philanthropist, a man of transparent honesty; a dynamic socio-political tactician, an indefatigable achiever, a lover of truth, a seasoned representative and diligent worker. Here is a man who from a very humble background, rose through both hard work and divine pathway to the destined greatness and became the representative of the people of Akwanga South Constituency. Philip Aruwa Gyunka is a man that is naturally loved and admired by people; a true democrat who pivots exemplary leadership with practical proves on dividend of democracy to his constituency. He achieves greatness through assiduous, self-will and sheer determination; he is a good listener, a man with critical thinking-skills. He is a strong advocate of Unity and Progress in his constituency and beyond; he believes in transformation, empowerment and true leadership.He once again declares that, there will be an unequaled delivery of dividend of democracy if he is re-elected to represent his people. He sees himself as the personality that is fully equipped with the pedigree, integrity and capacity to drive his constituency through the pathway of positive changes to a destination where it is confidently inscribed or believing to be.In our contemporary age, not many people could be called men of honour and of integrity, these are the virtues seen in Gyunka; he has made a difference in his own time, he has displayed to us a politics of reality with dividend.Gyunka has served his constituency meritoriously with his wealth, soul and heart. No wonder, he is called the heartbeat of the people, an agent of change, a true visionary and a transformative leader. He is a frank and honest servant, a second to none in integrity, very strong in moral principles and a good steward of resources; that is why he is made the Chairman of Finance and Appropriations of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly. His moral life is worthy of emulation.

 

BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD

The journey that led to this day might not have been paved with everything golden, but notwithstanding the specks of bumps here and there along the different phases of the journey has produced the qualities he possesses today. It is often said that the child is the father of the Adult, indicating that for us to know what or who an adult is, it is necessary to review records of his childhood. We will better appreciate who Gyunka is and has been and what he has done to his community throughout his glorious and happy years on this planet earth. Fourty eight years ago, precisely on 22ndJanuary, 1963 in a quiet but great village call Ngagon of Gwanje District, a child was born, the first blessing to the humble family of Late Rev. & Mrs. Ladan Aruwa Gyunka, this birth did not bear any eloquent testimony like others as best described in an old proverbial saying that, “some are born with silver spoons in their mouth”. A low key event was marked to celebrate the birth and the naming ceremony after eight days, neighbors and multitude of well-wishers gathered to witness the humble start of ‘FILIBUS’ (the heartbeat of the people). Indeed he was born as the heartbeat of the people considering the turn up of people during the naming ceremony.He did not spend his childhood on a bed of roses as he was not born rich, he was raised by parents that could only carter for the family’s daily needs. Despite all these, Philip Aruwa Gyunka did not give up the struggle for survival. Like any other child, this great man began to grow, but his growth was unusual because humility was found in him and he took the nature of a leader in character and in action. He is a true result of God’s blessing on his late father who was a clergy man that served God faithfully. Philip A. Gyunka believed from his birth that, the adventure of his life is to LEARN; the purpose of his life is to GROW; the nature of his life is to CHANGE; the challenges of his life is to OVERCOME; the essence of his life is to CARE; the opportunity of his life is to SERVE; the secret of his life is to DARE; the spice of life generally is to be a TRUE FRIEND and the beauty of his life is to GIVE.This simply summarizes the different spheres of life of the enigmatic member of the State House of Assembly, representing the good people of Akwanga South Constituency. 1-le is an embodiment of courage from his childhood, full of focus and a daring spirit, tenacity of purpose, sagacity, compassion, friendliness, justice, scholarship and dynamism.Gyunka has been on leadership role since his early life, labour and creativity prefect during his primary school, a house captain during his secondary school; student president during his OND in the university, zonal treasurer for NUBIEFI and the state secretary for ASIBIFI he believes that “leadership is not just about having a powerful position, anytime you use your influence to affect the thoughts and actions of others, you are engaging in leadership”. He was a leader from his early life which gave him the bigger aspiration to help people and to represent their interest now He is widely known as Hon. Philip Aruwa Gyunka, a man committed to his constituency, loved by his people; widows/ widowers bless him always, and youths see him as a model and wish to be like him. He is a leader that first breathes life into the hope and dreams of others and enables them to see the exciting possibilities that the future holds. He brought the unity of purpose by showing his constituency how the dream is for the common good; he also ignited the flame of passion in others by expressing enthusiasm for the compelling vision of his group. He communicates their passion through vivid language and expressive style. He truly challenges the PROCESS of democracy in Akwanga.

 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Hon. Philip A. Gyunka’s early school days were quite challenging considering the financial strength of his parents, considering also that he had to trek a distance to the school with his books at hand, all the trying times never despaired his focus but he considered them all as adventures which led to a greater zeal and determination. He had a quest for higher education beyond the ordinary. His quest for education started at Baptist Primary School in Kawo, Kaduna State in 1971, CMS Primary School Wamba1972-1973, LEA Primary School Kogon River 1973- 1975 and finally, CMS Gudi 1975-1976 where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. Due to the Parents financial constraints, Philip could not proceed immediately to secondary school, despite the fact that he gained admission into federal government college Kano immediately after his primary school; Due to his brilliant performance, Philip was offered provisional appointment as a pupil’s Teacher and posted to Dutsen kogo Primary School, he taught in the primary school up to 1979 and further proceeded to the famous Mada Hills Secondary School Akwanga in 1979 and graduated in 1983. As usual, he gained admission into three tertiary institutions, viz:

• Oxford University London,

• University of Maiduguri and

• SPS Keffi,

he was compelled to choose SPS to save cost yet financial obstacles dealt ruthlessly with him. As the first born in the family of ten children, the younger ones were also part of his responsibilities hence he has to leave school for alternative means to assist his poor parents in raising financial support for the family in 1985; Philip was gainfully employed as a Senior Clerical Officer in Bank of the North Ltd. During his services in Bank of the North Ltd, he used the opportunity to train his younger ones and also trained himself academically thus:

•University of Jos - Diploma in Banking and Finance-i 996.

•Kogi State Polytechnic National Diploma (ND) in accountancy 2007.

•University of Abuja Bachelor of Science (B Sc.) Economics 2010.

•Benue State University Master Degree (M Sc.) in VIEW in International Relation.

•Fellow Chartered Economist (FCE) institute of chattered Economics of Nigeria (2009)

As a young vibrant and brilliant youth, he began his career as banker with Bank of the North (presently Unity Bank) in 1985 and worked in various department of the bank among which is the Inspectorate Unit (the search light of the Bank), his productivity earned him rapid promotions and was retained in that unit for over ten years to sustain the strength of the bank for a long time, until he joined politics in 2006.Gyunka rose to the rank of the Branch Manager to many branches before destiny brought him back to his home town Akwanga to manage the bank’s branch. He expanded the customer base of the bank and established a sound public relation of the bank with his community. His flair for developing and empowering his community increased beyond imagination, he saw potentials that needed to be enhanced in the community, he saw future leaders in the youths of his community and he began to offer much assistance and support to everyone in dire need; he empowered individual families and reconstructed the structures of the community. Since it was a destiny and a call of God to serve his community, he got the mandate of the entire people of his constituency to represent them in the Nasarawa state House of Assembly, Lafia. Gyunka considered the mandate as a trust and promised to deliver the real dividend to them.