Education

By Ibrahim Aliyu Gurin

There are lectures you attend and forget, and there are those that stay with you and encourage you to rethink familiar ideas. The 59th Inaugural Lecture at Bayero University Kano belonged firmly to the latter.

The BUK’s 59th Inaugural lecture delivered by Adamu Idris Tanko, FRGS, FANG, a Professor of Geography at Bayero University Kano, titled: “One World, Different Nations… and the Many Lessons to Learn,” offered a simple but powerful message: development is more than economic growth.

From the beginning, Professor Tanko explained that development is not a fixed goal. Instead, it is a continuous process that changes over time and across places. What progress looks like in one country may be very different from what it looks like in another.

In the past, development was mostly about economic growth, meaning how much a country produced and earned. However, over time, this idea expanded. Attention shifted to education, healthcare, housing, and later to environmental sustainability and quality of life.

Today, we can agree that growth alone is not enough. This is clearly shown in global tools such as the Human Development Index (HDI), developed by the United Nations Development Programme, which assesses health, education, and living standards. In the same way, economist Amartya Sen argues that development should be about improving people’s freedom and opportunities.

However, the lecture also showed that even these measures do not always tell the full story. A country can grow economically while many people remain poor. In other words, growth does not always improve everyday life.

This is why geography matters. Development is not the same everywhere. In richer countries, people may focus on better living conditions and environmental quality. But in poorer regions, the main concerns are still basic needs like food, shelter, and healthcare.

While the difference is visible in Sub-Saharan Africa, the region, including Nigeria, has great potential, especially because of its young population. At the same time, it faces serious challenges, including weak infrastructure, inequality, and climate-related problems.

Additionally, even where progress is visible, it does not reach everyone equally. Improvements in health or education can easily be affected by economic problems or conflict. As a result, development is often slow and uncertain.

One of the most important parts of the lecture focused on youth. As the lecturer noted, “our estimates suggest that over 60 per cent of the population in Nigeria is youth and under the age of 35.” This, in itself, should be a major advantage. However, many young people still struggle to find jobs after school, and their skills and energy are often underutilised. This creates a bigger problem because they must eat, and when legitimate means are unavailable, they find their own ways. In most cases, their formal and non-formal ways may not be legitimate and often lead to criminality, and this is not just about unemployment—it is about wasted potential.

To address this, the lecture called for new approaches. These include improving technical education, supporting entrepreneurship, and expanding digital skills. It also stressed the importance of the service sector in creating opportunities.

Interestingly, Professor Tanko also spoke about the role of sports. At first, it may sound a bit unusual, but when you think about it, it actually makes sense. In places like Kano, you see young people every day on open fields and street corners, playing football and other games. They show real passion and raw talent. The problem is that this energy often goes unnoticed and unsupported, leaving so much potential untapped.

If properly developed, sports can create jobs and opportunities. It can involve many areas such as coaching, healthcare, media, and event management. It also helps build discipline, teamwork, and confidence. In this way, sports can become part of a broader development strategy.

Overall, the lecture reminds us that development must reflect real life. It must focus on people, not just numbers. It must also take into account local realities and provide practical solutions. For Nigeria, this message is important. The country’s future depends on how well it supports its people, especially its youth, and, most importantly, on how it turns ideas into action.

It is a clear reminder to policymakers, scholars, and society that progress should be measured by how much it improves the lives of ordinary people. The real challenge is not just to grow, but to ensure that growth is meaningful, inclusive, and sustainable.

Ibrahim Aliyu writes from Baba Ahmed University, Kano. He can be reached via ibrahimaliyu5023@gmail.com.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Federal Polytechnic Bauchi has announced the death of one of its staff members, Malam Ahmadu Maidorawa, following a motorbike accident along the ATBU Gubi campus road in Bauchi.

According to the institution, Maidorawa died on Monday afternoon as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. His sudden passing has been described as a profound loss to the Polytechnic community, where he served in several key academic and administrative roles.

Maidorawa was a former Head of the Department of Computer Science and the immediate past Dean of the School of Science and Technology. Until his death, he was the Deputy Director of the ICT Geospatial Centre of the Polytechnic.

Family members have announced that his janaza (funeral prayer) will take place later today at his family residence in Unguwar Bauchi, Bauchi.

Colleagues, students, and well-wishers have expressed grief over his death, praying for Allah’s forgiveness and eternal rest for the deceased, and for strength and comfort for those he left behind.

By Dr Eric Chinedu Omazu

On Saturday, 25 April, 2026, Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu bowed out of the service of Bayero University, Kano, upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70. The symbolism of that date should not be lost on anyone. The retirement date fell on a Saturday. The attained age was seventy. 

In mystical numerology every ten is reduced to one, each decade stands as a year and seventy years are but seven years, and seven years are but seven days. The Holy Bible records that God, the creator of the universe, rested on the seventh day, on a Saturday. And so did Professor Adamu. This is no coincidence. It was neither planned nor wished for. The stars merely realigned for a man whose whole life is a manifestation of a divine spark. He lived by his name, servant of Allah. And Allah honoured him with a rest on His day of rest.

Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu is a professor’s professor. His entire life is a classroom. In a world where preachers mount the rostrum to deliver sermons they themselves cannot live by, Professor Adamu lives by the highest standards he has set for himself. He excuses others when they try and fail to rise to those standards. The world, as he understands it, is a field of experiments and mistakes. His only rule is that failure should not be driven by impunity. Impunity is an affront to justice. 

Anything said about a great man is an understatement. In Professor Adamu’s case, what my mind knows and my heart feels cannot be fully conveyed by existing words in the languages I speak. This leaves me with only approximate estimates. In that light, Prof. Adamu is my Boss, father, mentor, teacher, friend, guiding light, and so much more that my approximations still cannot capture. The foregrounding of all these modes of being is his role as a teacher. He taught me how to live. No, not just how to live, but how to live like a human. With love, compassion, empathy, understanding, wisdom, respect and contentment. These, too, are understatements.

I first met Professor Adamu ten years ago when he was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria. In that role, he demystified public office. I was a close witness to all that he achieved. 

So, mine is more of a testimony to the lived experiences I witnessed. For example, I witnessed an effortless resolution of one of the knotty problems in political philosophy: reconciling idealist and realist recommendations in public space. The idealist recommendation: simply follow the just. The realist recommendation: follow the powerful. The evil of the two systems is that the just without power is impotent, and power without justice is tyrannical. Now the conundrum: How do we make the just powerful or the powerful just? 

Put in another way, where can we find a man in whom justice and power mix? I swear by the heavens that I witnessed the resolution of this conundrum in the person of Abdalla Uba Adamu during his tenure as NOUN VC. If I were to generate a postmortem motto for his tenure in NOUN, it would be: Power in service of justice. This is based solely on what I witnessed. 

As a leader, Professor Adamu was guided by a mantra: only the known best action is worth taking. He dispensed justice, promoted scholarship, demonstrated kindness, protected the weak, maintained equity, and entrenched standards. He was so down-to-earth that clerks, gardeners, and security staff regarded him as one of their own. He was the only Vice-Chancellor they could stop on the road and whisper their words in his ears.

Beyond his human touch in leadership, Professor Adamu transformed NOUN in ways no one imagined. The infrastructure he conceived and built remains the cynosure of all eyes in NOUN. The reforms he initiated are the backbone of NOUN’s operation to date. 

The biggest of them all, he did all these and left NOUN with his integrity intact. Zero scandal. Zero allegation of corruption. Now he retires in peace of mind and happiness.

Congratulations, Sir, on your retirement. And happy 70th birthday anniversary.

Dr Eric Chinedu Omazu is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, NOUN. He served as Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor during Professor Adamu’s tenure as VC, NOUN.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

After nearly half a century of dedicated service, Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu has formally announced his retirement from Bayero University Kano, marking the end of an extraordinary academic journey defined by intellectual curiosity, resilience, and lasting impact. 

Born in Kano in 1956, Adamu began his studies in education sciences before shifting to media and communication, where he made his greatest impact. This change was key, forging a career linking pedagogy, culture, and media scholarship. Over time, he became a leading figure in Hausa media, popular culture, and communication with a unique interdisciplinary voice.

He joined the university system on 24 July 1980 as a young Graduate Assistant, rose through the ranks with distinction, and, in 2014, contributed to the conceptualisation of the Faculty of Communication. 

Prof. Adamu’s career, spanning forty-six uninterrupted years, reflects a rare blend of dedication and innovation. From the Department of Education to the Department of Information and Media Studies, his trajectory mirrors the evolution of media scholarship itself.

Beyond the classroom and research, Prof. Adamu has been a consistent voice in public discourse, including his longstanding contributions to The Daily Reality, a platform he has not only enriched intellectually but also supported materially. 

Prof. Adamu’s reflections on retirement, posted on Facebook, capture a life lived with purpose. Yet, true to form, he makes it clear that this is no final bow. With ongoing research and forthcoming book projects, the scholar remains as intellectually vibrant as ever.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

A Professor of Plant Pathology and Mycology at the Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK), Prof. Kasimu Shehu, has warned that fungal diseases are exacerbating hunger and posing serious health risks in Nigeria.

Shehu made the assertion on Wednesday while delivering the university’s 4th Inaugural Lecture in Birnin Kebbi.

The lecture, entitled “Invisible Enemies, Visible Losses: A Lifetime of Confronting Fungal Threats to Nigerian Agriculture and Public Health,” examined the growing impact of fungal infections on food production and public health.

The don said fungal diseases were responsible for significant losses in major crops, thereby worsening food insecurity across the country.

“Losses of up to 30 per cent of marketable produce occur due to fungal infections during pre- and post-harvest stages,” he said.

He identified maize, rice, groundnut, onion and vegetables as highly vulnerable crops, noting that poor storage and handling practices further increased contamination.

According to him, beyond reducing food availability, fungi also produce toxic substances known as mycotoxins, which pose serious threats to human health.

“ Chronic exposure to aflatoxins has been implicated in growth retardation, immunosuppression and increased disease susceptibility, particularly among children,” Shehu said.

He added that fungal contamination contributed to food insecurity by reducing both the quantity and quality of available food.

“ Contaminated crops may either be discarded or consumed despite health risks, thereby exacerbating malnutrition and poverty, especially in rural communities,” he said.

The professor identified high moisture levels, poor drainage and inadequate storage systems as major factors driving the spread of fungal diseases.

“ Elevated humidity levels in storage environments, as well as co-storage of infected and healthy produce, facilitate cross-contamination,” he said.

Shehu also warned that environmental and climate changes were accelerating the emergence and spread of fungal diseases.

He called for improved post-harvest handling, adoption of resistant crop varieties and increased investment in research and food safety systems.

“These constraints underscore the need for coordinated, multidisciplinary approaches to food safety mechanisms that integrate scientific research, policy development and stakeholder engagement,” he said.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of FUBK, Prof. Muhammad Zaiyan-Umar, who chaired the lecture, commended the lecturer for his contributions to research and national development.

The event attracted academics, including the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Gusau, Prof. Mu’azu Abubakar-Gusau, as well as students and stakeholders from the biosafety, agriculture and health sectors.

The inaugural lecture forms part of the university’s efforts to promote research aimed at addressing critical national challenges.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the full digitisation of the authentication and evaluation of academic credentials, marking a major shift toward automated public service delivery.

In a press release dated April 15, 2026, the Ministry said the new system is part of ongoing efforts to improve transparency, strengthen data management, and enhance efficiency in the education sector.

Under the new arrangement, all applications for credential authentication and evaluation will be processed exclusively online through the Ministry’s official verification portal. Applicants are required to register, upload necessary documents, and follow the outlined procedures digitally.

The Ministry also directed applicants to request their awarding institutions to send academic transcripts directly from official email addresses to the designated verification channel for processing.

It emphasized that physical visits to its offices for credential verification are no longer necessary, as the entire process has been automated.

According to the statement, the transition is expected to reduce processing time, simplify procedures, and improve the credibility of academic credential verification in Nigeria.

The statement was signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has distanced itself from an incident involving the alleged discrimination against a hijab-wearing candidate at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre in Ibadan.

In a statement shared on his verified social media account, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, said the Board became aware of the incident during its routine monitoring of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening process on Thursday.

According to him, the situation occurred during the first session of the examination day and was traced to an “overzealous” ad hoc staff member who acted in violation of established guidelines. He stressed that the action was neither authorised by JAMB nor part of the official procedures at the centre.

Benjamin noted that the Board immediately intervened, directing that no candidate wearing a hijab should be asked to remove or alter it under any circumstances. He added that the staff member involved had been cautioned accordingly.

“JAMB respects the religious beliefs and customs of all Nigerians,” he said, assuring candidates that their rights to religious expression, including mode of dressing, remain protected.

The Board further disclosed that all ad hoc personnel across examination centres have been re-briefed on proper screening procedures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

The academic and Islamic communities in Nigeria are celebrating a significant milestone as Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar has been officially elevated to the rank of Full Professor of Hadith at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

The promotion, recently ratified by the University Council, recognizes decades of rigorous scholarship, prolific research, and a profound commitment to the preservation and teaching of Prophetic traditions.

Professor Umar, a globally respected authority in Islamic jurisprudence and Hadith sciences, currently serves as the President of the Supreme Shari’ah Council of Nigeria (SSCN) and the Chief Imam of the landmark Al-Furqan Mosque in Kano.

Professor Umar, a scholar-statesman whose elevation to Full Professor of Hadith at Bayero University Kano marks a pinnacle of academic excellence in the service of faith and society.

Professor Bashir’s journey to the peak of the ivory tower is viewed by many as a natural progression of a career spent bridging the gap between classical Islamic scholarship and modern academic rigour.

At BUK, he has been a pillar of the Department of Islamic Studies and Shari’ah, mentoring hundreds of postgraduate students and producing seminal works that analyze the authenticity and application of Hadith in contemporary life.

As the President of the Supreme Shari’ah Council, he has been a vocal advocate for justice, social reform, and the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria’s diverse religious groups.

Through his sermons at Al-Furqan Mosque, he has translated complex theological concepts into actionable guidance for the people, focusing on ethics, family values, and civic responsibility.

The rank of Full Professor is the highest academic honor bestowed by a university, requiring a “contribution to knowledge” that is recognized internationally. In the field of Hadith studies, this involves not just memorization, but the critical analysis of chains of narration (Isnad) and the contextual application of the text (Matn).

Colleagues at Bayero University describe the promotion as timely, citing his influence on the national curriculum for Islamic studies and his role in various international Fatwa committees.

The elevation of its leader is expected to bolster the intellectual weight of the Supreme Shari’ah Council of Nigeria. By rooting the Council’s advocacy in the highest levels of academic discipline, Professor Umar provides a robust framework for Shari’ah-based solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.

At Al-Furqan Mosque, congregants expressed joy at the news, noting that their Imam’s new title is a testament to the quality of “the University and the Pulpit” which the Sheikh has led for years.

Millions of Muslim faithfuls and even some non-Muslims are benefitting from the sermons, lessons and peace advocacy, especially on social justice as it relates to the vulnerable societies in Nigeria and beyond. His intellectual discourses were mainly on Islam, jurispuridence, peace, banking and finance as well as social justice.

By Uzair Adam

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), in collaboration with TaRL Africa Nigeria, has commenced the review of the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) curriculum aimed at improving access to education for out-of-school children and youths.

The development was disclosed in a statement on Sunday following a national stakeholders’ dialogue held at Villa Park Hotel, Abuja, on April 8, 2026, where the review process was formally flagged off.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said the review became necessary after several years of implementing the current curriculum approved by the National Council on Education in 2019.

Shehu explained that the ABEP was designed as a targeted intervention to cater for children and youths aged 10 to 18 who had their education disrupted and are now overage for the conventional school system.

According to him, the programme ensures that such learners are not denied access to quality education as provided for in national policy frameworks.

He added that accelerated education programmes are globally recognised as flexible systems that allow learners to catch up and transition into formal schooling.

“The need for ABEP arose from the demand for a standardised national framework that can be adapted across states facing similar educational challenges,” he said.

The NERDC boss further noted that the programme is structured into three levels covering primary and junior secondary education, each designed to run within a shorter timeframe using flexible and learner-friendly approaches.

In his presentation, the Head of the Curriculum Development Centre, Chima Egbujuo, said the primary objective of ABEP is to provide an alternative learning pathway for out-of-school children and youths.

He noted that the programme also supports their reintegration into formal education or transition into vocational training and other livelihood opportunities.

“ABEP is a condensed version of the nine-year basic education curriculum, with clearly defined minimum standards for teaching and learning,” Egbujuo said.

He added that the programme has already recorded significant impact, revealing that it has been piloted with over 10,000 learners, while more than 300,000 are currently benefiting from its implementation across the country.

The statement noted that goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of key education stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, Universal Basic Education Commission, and the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, among others.

By Uzair Adam

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commenced the review of the 0–5 years Early Childhood Education Curriculum as part of efforts to strengthen foundational learning in Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a statement on Sunday shared with The Daily Reality, which noted that the exercise is aimed at addressing gaps in the existing Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) curriculum first developed in 2007.

According to the statement, the review process follows a writing workshop held between March 19 and 24, 2025, where stakeholders worked on updating the curriculum to better support early childhood development and improve learning outcomes.

Speaking at the ongoing critique workshop held at the NERDC Conference Centre in Agidingbi, Lagos, the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said the review is designed to align the curriculum with global best practices while making it responsive to the developmental needs of young learners.

Shehu noted that curriculum review is a vital process for maintaining the relevance of educational programmes in a rapidly changing world. He added that the exercise is expected to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of the curriculum.

“The review of the 0–5 years Early Childhood Education Curriculum is intended to align it with current global standards while ensuring its suitability for the developmental needs of young learners,” he said.

He also appreciated UNICEF for its continued support, describing the collaboration as crucial to strengthening early childhood education in Nigeria.

In his opening remarks, the Director of the Special Programmes Centre, Dr. Ugbalu Egbita, urged participants to approach the workshop with dedication and professionalism, noting that their input would significantly shape the outcome of the exercise.

“The quality of this curriculum will determine the kind of foundation we lay for our children,” Egbita said, stressing that participants’ expert contributions are key to its success.

The statement added that the curriculum provides guidance for teachers and caregivers in creating stimulating learning environments that encourage children to explore, think, communicate and imagine, while also easing their transition into formal education.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from NERDC, UNICEF, development partners, ministries, departments and agencies, as well as civil society organisations and other stakeholders.