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| Managing Editor, Blueprint Newspapers, Clem Oluwole (right) presenting a copy of Blueprint to Professor Ahmed Tijani Mora, President, ABU Zaria Alumni Association (centre); while Ms Kande Daniel, Secretary, ABU Compendium Committee, looks on. |
Echoes of ABU Alumni Association Compendium Committee’s
visit to Blueprint
visit to Blueprint
By
Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Uji Abdullahi Iliyasu
Abuja
The
president, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria Alumni Association, Professor
Ahmed Tijani Mora has said that before the change of government in 2015, one
out of every four Nigerians or 25 per cent of Nigerians were governed by ABU
alumni.
president, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria Alumni Association, Professor
Ahmed Tijani Mora has said that before the change of government in 2015, one
out of every four Nigerians or 25 per cent of Nigerians were governed by ABU
alumni.
He
stated this when the committee of ABU alumni compendium paid a courtesy visit
to Blueprint corporate headquarters in Abuja Tuesday.
stated this when the committee of ABU alumni compendium paid a courtesy visit
to Blueprint corporate headquarters in Abuja Tuesday.
He
said he was at Blueprint headquarters to solicit its help for the ABU alumni compendium
they hoped to launch in July 6 this year.
said he was at Blueprint headquarters to solicit its help for the ABU alumni compendium
they hoped to launch in July 6 this year.
On
his entourage were Ms Kande Daniel (Secretary of the Compendium committee,
Mahmud Muhammad Danjuma, chairman, compendium committee and Alexander Manchika
Atta, member of the compendium committee.
his entourage were Ms Kande Daniel (Secretary of the Compendium committee,
Mahmud Muhammad Danjuma, chairman, compendium committee and Alexander Manchika
Atta, member of the compendium committee.
Giving
a brief history of the institution, he said, “ABU was established in 1962, but
before then, there were other of units and institutes of the university, for
example, Institute of Administration wh-which was established at Kongo in 1947, the first in West Africa; School of
Agriculture at Samaru, established in 1978. All these were taken over in 1962
to found the Ahmadu Bello University by the late premier of northern region,
Sir Ahmadu Bello.
a brief history of the institution, he said, “ABU was established in 1962, but
before then, there were other of units and institutes of the university, for
example, Institute of Administration wh-which was established at Kongo in 1947, the first in West Africa; School of
Agriculture at Samaru, established in 1978. All these were taken over in 1962
to found the Ahmadu Bello University by the late premier of northern region,
Sir Ahmadu Bello.
“ABU
Zaria is the largest university in Nigeria, West Africa and sub-Sahara
Africa. We are all old students of the
university. I read Pharmacy. I graduated
in 1978, and I was the deputy national
president of the association from 2010-2015, then national president from 2015
to date.
Zaria is the largest university in Nigeria, West Africa and sub-Sahara
Africa. We are all old students of the
university. I read Pharmacy. I graduated
in 1978, and I was the deputy national
president of the association from 2010-2015, then national president from 2015
to date.
“We
have the largest alumni association among all the Nigerian universities. We
have 50,000 students and also the heterogeneous nature of ABU is incomparable
with any institution of higher learning in Nigeria. There is no local
government in the country that is not represented in the institution in terms
of admission.
have the largest alumni association among all the Nigerian universities. We
have 50,000 students and also the heterogeneous nature of ABU is incomparable
with any institution of higher learning in Nigeria. There is no local
government in the country that is not represented in the institution in terms
of admission.
“I said it with all sense of humility. It is
the national of all universities in the country and we taught we should produce
a compendium to showcase what the university has produced in terms of
leadership.”
the national of all universities in the country and we taught we should produce
a compendium to showcase what the university has produced in terms of
leadership.”
Professor
Mora said the first civilian president of Nigeria to acquire university degree,
the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was an alumnus of ABU, adding that at present,
ABU alumni have eight state governors.
Mora said the first civilian president of Nigeria to acquire university degree,
the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was an alumnus of ABU, adding that at present,
ABU alumni have eight state governors.
“In
fact, in 2015 before the general elections, we had 11 of them and minister of
FCT making it 12. Simple arithmetic shows that 25 per cent of Nigerians were
then governed by the alumni of ABU or one out of every four Nigerians.”
fact, in 2015 before the general elections, we had 11 of them and minister of
FCT making it 12. Simple arithmetic shows that 25 per cent of Nigerians were
then governed by the alumni of ABU or one out of every four Nigerians.”
Mora
also stated that many ministers, chief executives, vice chancellors, security
and military personnel and a host of
others, making waves all over Nigeria are ABU alumni.
also stated that many ministers, chief executives, vice chancellors, security
and military personnel and a host of
others, making waves all over Nigeria are ABU alumni.
He
further stressed that ABU gave birth to Bayero University Kano (BUK);
University of Maiduguri (UniMaid); Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto (UDUS),
Kaduna State University, Gombe State University and so many universities.
further stressed that ABU gave birth to Bayero University Kano (BUK);
University of Maiduguri (UniMaid); Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto (UDUS),
Kaduna State University, Gombe State University and so many universities.
“So
we thought there is need to profile the institution in a compendium which shall
be launched on July 6 at International Conference Centre, Abuja.
we thought there is need to profile the institution in a compendium which shall
be launched on July 6 at International Conference Centre, Abuja.
“We
have invited His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari to be the Special Guest
of honour. And Alhaji Aliko Dangote will serve as the Chief Launcher. Our Royal
Father of the Day will be His Majesty Igwe Ugochukwu Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha
and Chancellor of ABU, will chair the
occasion.”
have invited His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari to be the Special Guest
of honour. And Alhaji Aliko Dangote will serve as the Chief Launcher. Our Royal
Father of the Day will be His Majesty Igwe Ugochukwu Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha
and Chancellor of ABU, will chair the
occasion.”
He
said there was no way the compendium team could achieve their aim without the
support of the media, that was why they came to solicit the support of
Blueprint during and after the event.
said there was no way the compendium team could achieve their aim without the
support of the media, that was why they came to solicit the support of
Blueprint during and after the event.
In
her response, the compendium committee secretary, Ms Kande Daniel, said the
committee had been actually looking forward to meeting with Blueprint for many
reasons, one of which was the support of the media.
her response, the compendium committee secretary, Ms Kande Daniel, said the
committee had been actually looking forward to meeting with Blueprint for many
reasons, one of which was the support of the media.
“Now
that we have the support of the media we are more confident with the
prosecution of the project. We have a
lot of confidence in Blueprint management and staff.
that we have the support of the media we are more confident with the
prosecution of the project. We have a
lot of confidence in Blueprint management and staff.
“We
also want Blueprint to help us identify members of our alumni among its staff
today or tomorrow so that we can continue to enrich our membership.”
also want Blueprint to help us identify members of our alumni among its staff
today or tomorrow so that we can continue to enrich our membership.”
She said they wanted ABU alumni in Blueprint
so that they could work and grow together and give back to their alma mater
collectively.
so that they could work and grow together and give back to their alma mater
collectively.
In his remark, the Managing Editor of
Blueprint, Mr Clem Oluwole, said he missed being an ABU student in whiskers.
Blueprint, Mr Clem Oluwole, said he missed being an ABU student in whiskers.
“I
was torn between studying Fine Art and Journalism. ABU gave me admission to read Fine Art, but
the seduction from Journalism camp was overwhelming.”
was torn between studying Fine Art and Journalism. ABU gave me admission to read Fine Art, but
the seduction from Journalism camp was overwhelming.”
He
said after completing his journalism course, he was posted to ABU, which he
described as the citadel of learning. He
further said that his association with ABU came to a higher level during the
17th NUGA games it hosted. He described how he was well treated by the then
Dean of Student Affairs.
said after completing his journalism course, he was posted to ABU, which he
described as the citadel of learning. He
further said that his association with ABU came to a higher level during the
17th NUGA games it hosted. He described how he was well treated by the then
Dean of Student Affairs.
“However,
when I finished my Journalism course, I was posted to The New Nigerian in
Zaria. Of course, ABU was the citadel of learning that gave birth to other
universities in the north. My work with The New Nigerian peaked when the ABU
hosted the 17th NUGA games. The Dean, Student
Affairs asked to give me accommodation in the main campus with meal ticket. The
coverage I gave to NUGA games was so marvellous that when The Standard of Jos
was established, they came for me based on the ABU NUGA games coverage.
when I finished my Journalism course, I was posted to The New Nigerian in
Zaria. Of course, ABU was the citadel of learning that gave birth to other
universities in the north. My work with The New Nigerian peaked when the ABU
hosted the 17th NUGA games. The Dean, Student
Affairs asked to give me accommodation in the main campus with meal ticket. The
coverage I gave to NUGA games was so marvellous that when The Standard of Jos
was established, they came for me based on the ABU NUGA games coverage.
Even
before then, I had been writing for ABU at that time the university had a
population of only 13000. But today one can easily get lost because of the
massive infrastructure at ABU. I used to wonder whether ABU is a global village
or community.
before then, I had been writing for ABU at that time the university had a
population of only 13000. But today one can easily get lost because of the
massive infrastructure at ABU. I used to wonder whether ABU is a global village
or community.
“Because
of the long association with ABU, I thought I would have been given honorary
doctorate degree during its last convocation.
of the long association with ABU, I thought I would have been given honorary
doctorate degree during its last convocation.
“I
personally have soft spot for ABU because apart from my close association with
the institution, many of my family members are alumni of ABU,” he said
personally have soft spot for ABU because apart from my close association with
the institution, many of my family members are alumni of ABU,” he said
The
Managing Editor described the visit as a welcome initiative.
Managing Editor described the visit as a welcome initiative.
“Because
this will create a bond among members. You will get the best support from us ad
I hope this is the begining of a long lasting relationship with us.”
this will create a bond among members. You will get the best support from us ad
I hope this is the begining of a long lasting relationship with us.”