News

By Uzair Adam Imam

Prominent Saudi universities have expressed interest to build a strong collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU), stating that the university has attained a considerable standing in teaching and research, the Consul-General, Royal Consulate General of Saudi Arabia, Kano, Khalil Ahmed Admawi, has disclosed.

The Consul-General made the disclosure today, 18th November 2021, when he paid a familiarisation visit to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he had an interaction with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, in his office.

This was made public in a release signed Thursday, 18th November 2021, by the Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Mr. Admawi, who led a three-man delegation to the University from the Saudi Consulate in Kano, said it was a “great pleasure” for him to have visited Ahmadu Bello University for the first time.

He added that long before his coming to Nigeria to serve as a diplomat he had been hearing about ABU’s greatness as clearly manifested in the quality of products produced by the institution over the years.

The Consul-General also explained that his visit to ABU was primarily to acquaint himself with the institution, and to subsequently link many Saudi universities with Ahmadu Bello University for possible collaboration on various academic fields.

Admawi, who expressed immense appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage, further said that the visit would open more doors for different academic linkages between ABU and Saudi academic institutions.

Receiving the Consul-General, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, recalled the kind of relationship ABU had with the Gulf countries at its early years of existence.

Prof. Bala further said that such collaboration ceased to exist with the death of Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, who founded the University in 1962.

“Thereafter, ABU has been trying to resuscitate such collaborations with the Gulf countries. It is my hope that your visit will eventually revive the collaborations not only on Islamic Banking but also on other academic fields”, he said.

The Consul-General and his entourage were later conducted round some places within the University, including Department of Arabic, where he briefly interacted with the Head of Department, Prof. Jafar Abdulmalik and other staff members of the Department.

A renowned Islamic scholar at the Faculty of Education, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Sani Birnin Kudu, and Malam Ahmad Idris Yunus, a staff at the Consulate, were part of the Consul-General’s entourage.

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Uzair Adam Imam

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has described Nigerian leaders as greedy who lack the intellectual capacity and vision in terms of how to usher in developmental projects.

Jega stated this on Monday, 15th November 2021, at the Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series, organised by the Students Wing of Coalition of Northern Groups (SW-CNG), in Katsina.

He also added that the insecurity and economic challenges that have been bedeviling the country for a long time are as a result of the country’s bad leadership.

Jega said: “The major indices of these crises manifested themselves from the Northern part of this country, whether it is poverty, youth unemployment, security challenges, maternal mortality, out-of-school children, lack of girl-child education and early marriage as well as the challenge of reproduction of our females.

“Anything you can think of, the terrible statistics come from the Northern part of this country. And why is it so? That is the key question. Today, we remember the Maitama Sule, the Amadu Bellos, Isa Katais and many others.

“These were people who led and protected the North and ensured that the North developed in accordance with its ability and their own abilities as leaders. While we cherish the memories of what had happened in the past, what kind of leadership have we got from the Northern part of this country?

“We have so-called leaders who are selfish, who are not selfless, greedy, who have a narrow vision in terms of how this country can develop not to talk about the region where they come from. They really lack intellectual capacity to be classified as leaders,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has commiserated with the President Dangote Group of Companies, Aliko Dangote over the death of his brother Sani Dangote, who was the Vice President Dangote Group of Companies.

A statement signed Monday 15th November, 2021, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State, Malam Abba Anwar disclosed.

Mr Dangote died at a US hospital on Sunday evening after a protracted illness, and until his death he sat on the board of several companies and was the deputy chairman of African Gum Arabic Producers Association.

The governor said that we received the information about the passing away of this gentleman, Alhaji Sani Dangote, with shock. Kano state, our dear country Nigeria and the business community lost and illustrious son” he mourned.

However, he also lamented that the death was not only shocking to the immediate families of the deceased “…but to all of us particularly those from Kano state. We lost a rare gem in the business community.”

“It is therefore on behalf of the government and good people of Kano state, that I, the governor of Kano state, am sending our heartfelt condolence to the immediate families of Alhaji Sani Dangote, to his brother, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, over his death,” he stated.

He prayed for Forgiveness from the Almighty Allah for the reposed soul of the deceased. Adding that, “May Allah forgive all his shortcomings and reward his good deeds with Jannatul Fiddaus, ameen,” the statement added.

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad