In a heartwarming celebration of his 60th birthday, peace advocate and the Chief Executive Officer of Face of Peace, Mr Salis Muhammad Abdusalam, unveiled his book titled “TA’ALOL (A Life of Reflections, Lessons, and Legacy)”.
The celebration held at Odilins Event Center Jos, brought together family, friends, and colleagues from various sectors to mark this significant milestone in his life.
Reflecting on the day, Salis expressed his gratitude for the love and support he received from those around him. “I feel fulfilled,” he shared, adding, “God has blessed me with good health, lovely children, and a loving community, including a constituency of NGOs and CSOs practitioners. For that, I thank God.”
The book, “TA’ALOL”, provides a deep dive into Salis’ life journey, offering insights into Nigeria’s evolving cultural and societal landscape. The book explores his experiences navigating through the analog era into the complexities of the digital age. It touches on key issues such as the erosion of societal values, the rise of ethnic and religious intolerance, and the importance of family and community ties. Salis also emphasizes the power of storytelling in bridging cultural divides, a theme central to his peace-building efforts over the years.
Salis highlighted that one of his core motivations has always been fostering happiness and peace in the lives of others. “I want to be remembered as that person who brings happiness to people,” he said. He added that for him, fulfillment comes from seeing others happy, noting, “You experience the presence of the Almighty in your life through the goodness of other people.”
Known widely as a messenger of peace, Salis reflected on how his name “Abdusalam,” meaning the “messenger of peace,” has shaped his life’s mission. “Peace is godly,” he remarked, invoking the teachings of both Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Jesus Christ as central figures of peace. He stressed the importance of understanding that peace should be the first priority in every aspect of life whether at home, in the mind, or within the community.
Looking ahead, Salis outlined the next phase of his life and work. He called for stronger structures to be put in place to entrench peace in communities, noting that many challenges remain, including what he referred to as “a conspiracy of silence” and the hypocrisy of people speaking “with two sides of their mouth.” He emphasized the need for communities to do more in fostering unity and lasting peace.
Salis expressed his physical and emotional rejuvenation, expressing joy in dancing and gratitude for the well-wishers he was surrounded by.
Salis’ book “TA’ALOL” offers a personal history, resilience, and empathy, emphasizing the importance of sharing stories to shape our collective future.
