Federal University Dutsen-Ma

By Hadiza Abdulkadir 

Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, has announced plans to host an international conference in honour of renowned Hausa literary icon and musician, Aminu Ladan Abubakar, popularly known as Alan Waka.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammad Khalid Othman, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to ensuring the success of the event, describing it as an opportunity to promote Hausa language, literature and cultural heritage on the global stage.

Speaking during a meeting with the Local Organising Committee, the Chairman, Professor Ibrahim Garba Satatinu, commended the university management for its support and pledged effective coordination to deliver a successful conference.

In his remarks, Aminu Ladan Abubakar expressed gratitude to the university for recognising his literary contributions, describing the conference as a rare honour. He said the event would inspire younger generations of writers, poets and researchers to preserve and promote Hausa literary traditions.

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professor Bashir Aliyu Sallau, and other university officials also praised the initiative, noting that the conference would attract scholars, researchers and cultural enthusiasts from within Nigeria and abroad.

The conference is expected to bring together academics, writers, poets and students to examine the literary philosophy, poetic style and enduring contributions of Aminu Ladan Abubakar to Hausa literature and African scholarship.

By Uzair Adam 

Two siblings from Rimin Gado Local Government Area of Kano have achieved an exceptional milestone after graduating with first-class degrees in Computer Science from different universities in the same year.

Sulaiman and Maryam Salisu, younger brothers and sisters of a prominent BBC journalist, Aisha Salisu Babangida, both achieved identical Cumulative Grade Point Averages (CGPA) of 4.51 in 2025. 

While Sulaiman studied at Al-Istiqama University in Sumaila, Kano, Maryam attended the Federal University of Dutsin-Ma in Katsina State.

Speaking with The Daily Reality on Wednesday, Sulaiman said his achievement was not just personal but a fulfilment of his late father’s dream.

He stated, “When I saw my final result, I was surprised. I was thrilled because I had fulfilled my father’s dream. He always told me I could do it and reminded me how important it was.”

He explained that his first semester result placed him in the first-class category, which brought joy to his father. But when his performance later dropped, his father sat him down and encouraged him to refocus. “That conversation changed everything,” he recalled.

Sulaiman also spoke about the sacrifices his parents made during his studies, narrating how his mother once sold her goat to send him money for food after he ran out of supplies.

“I only discovered what happened when I returned home during the semester break. I felt like crying when I realised the sacrifice. It motivated me to work harder because I knew my parents were giving their all for me,” he said.

As a member of the pioneer graduating set at Al-Istiqama University, Sulaiman said having no seniors to look up to pushed him to put in his best and even guide his peers.

Similarly, his sister, Maryam, graduated with the same CGPA of 4.51 from the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma. She described her success as a dream she had nurtured for years.

She stated, “I cannot describe the joy I feel. Completing my studies with such a result is something I had prayed and worked for. This achievement is not mine alone; it belongs to my family and to Nigeria as a whole.”

Maryam recalled that she nearly lost focus after the death of their father while she was about to begin her final year, but the support she received from her family, teachers, and friends helped her persevere.

She said her ambition is to pursue advanced studies in Computer Science, with a focus on software development and Artificial Intelligence. 

She stated, “I want to use the knowledge I have gained to bring positive change to society, especially in Nigeria and Africa. 

“I also hope to inspire women and young people to believe that with determination and faith, they can achieve their dreams,” she added.

Both Sulaiman and Maryam expressed gratitude to their family, teachers, and friends, praying for Allah’s reward for their late father and their mother, whose sacrifices they said played a vital role in their success.