Germany

By Ishaka Mohammed

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nigeria, in collaboration with the University of Rostock, Germany, has announced four fully funded PhD positions in Bioenergy, Green Hydrogen, Waste Management, and Circular Economy.

The positions are under a joint research program between the Bioresources Engineering Research Group at ABU and the Professorship for Material and Energy Valorization at the University of Rostock.

As shared by a lecturer at ABU, Zaria, Dr Muhammad Hashim Suleiman, the positions will involve advanced research in the aforementioned bio-resource fields, aiming to develop sustainable solutions for global environmental and energy challenges. 

Successful applicants will be offered provisional admission to the University of Rostock, Germany, where they will spend six months. However, the main research will be conducted at ABU.

The scholarship will cover tuition fees, stipends for living costs during the research period, and costs of research and laboratory logistics.

Each successful applicant will be required to conduct independent and high-quality research but will submit regular progress reports to their supervisors. 

They are also expected to publish at least two articles per year in reputable and indexed journals, in addition to performing any other tasks assigned by their supervisors, if deemed necessary, from both universities.

An applicant for each position should have a minimum of upper second class in their first degree and a good master’s degree in any field of engineering with a research focus on bioenergy, waste-to-energy, circular economy, or green hydrogen.

Each applicant must also be proficient in both spoken and written English, 35 years old or younger, and not be under any other scholarship at the time of application.

Interested and eligible applicants are required to send the under-listed documents to daie@abu.edu.ng and copy saniabbaaliyu2015@gmail.com before Wednesday, May 7, 2025. 

The documents include a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) showing a publication profile, copies of academic certificates and transcripts, proof of research in bioenergy, waste-to-energy, circular economy or green hydrogen, two reference letters from academic or professional referees, a personal statement detailing motivation and research interests related to the PhD program, a concept note of within five pages on any of the aforementioned research areas, and proof of study leave (if employed).

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is the fourth oldest university in Nigeria, while the University of Rostock, founded over 600 years ago, is the third oldest in Germany.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The political atmosphere in Germany is intensifying as the country approaches its highly anticipated federal elections on February 23, 2025. With multiple parties in the race, the election results are expected to influence Germany’s domestic policies and international stance significantly.

Key political parties are ramping up their campaigns, focusing on issues such as economic stability, immigration, climate change, and Germany’s role in global affairs. Analysts predict a tight contest, with shifting voter sentiments crucial to determining the next government.

Among the key contenders is the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, facing strong challenges from the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) under Friedrich Merz. 

The Greens, led by Annalena Baerbock, are pushing a climate-focused agenda, while the Free Democratic Party (FDP), under Christian Lindner, is emphasising economic liberalisation.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the leftist Die Linke are also competing for voter support, making this election highly competitive and defining for Germany’s political future.

As Germany finds itself at a crossroads, the results of these elections will not only influence the nation’s governance but also have significant repercussions on European and global politics.

By Maryam Ahmad

According to Bild, the German city of Duisburg is taking an innovative approach to encourage voter participation in the upcoming federal elections by offering free beer to those who cast their votes.

Mayor Sören Link explained the initiative, saying, “We want to do something about the low voter turnout and strengthen democracy.”

In the 2021 federal elections, Duisburg recorded a voter turnout of 68.1%, significantly below the national average of 76.6%. The city hopes the promise of a cold drink will motivate more residents to vote.

Non-alcoholic beer and other beverages will also be available for those who don’t drink alcohol.

By Muhsin Ibrahim – Cologne, Germany

Let me say it aloud today: the Kano Hisbah Board’s decision to stop arresting people is quite disturbing.

Of course, I am one of those brave few commentators who criticised their method of arresting suspects some time ago, and I still stand by that view and criticism.

From Berlin to Baltimore, London to Lahore, Tel Aviv to Taipei, and Moscow to Muscat, security operatives sometimes manhandle individuals when arresting them. We are all humans!

If all arrests are halted, people will have free rein in Kano. Soon after Hisbah’s announcement, some socialites from other states and countries began relocating to Kano. They act freely and upload their videos on social media.

Kano is cosmopolitan but has unique norms, values, cultures, and religion that deserve respect. We cannot stop globalisation and cultural diffusion, but we should be concerned when our values are undermined.

Globally, countries still protect their “values” in one way or another. “Muhammad” can be – and is – the most popular baby name in England and Wales, but that doesn’t mean Muslims can, for example, legally practice polygyny. This is just but one example.

Kano State Government should reconsider how it manages Hisbah. You either have a functioning Hisbah or no Hisbah at all.

Hisbah should not be a toothless dog. Several clerics are already preaching (wa’azi, nasiha, etc.). It’s not Hisbah’s role to do just that; they need some power to use “force” at a certain level.

May we be guided, amin.

Muhsin Ibrahim is a Kano-born lecturer at the University of Cologne, Germany. He can be reached via muhsin2008@gmail.com.

Coming to Europe—legally or otherwise—is not easy. Countries, including Germany, have tightened their immigration policies and continue to do so.

Of course, several European countries have a shortage of highly skilled workers. However, they follow due, often bureaucratic, processes to hire those workers.

I don’t know how to hire or influence anybody or any institution to hire anyone. If I knew, my immediate family and close friends would be the first I would bring here, not “random” social media contacts.

I appeal to some people who contact me via DM about job and scholarship opportunities in Germany. I share such openings here and, especially, on LinkedIn. Try your luck and pray. Muhsin may not be able to help you in the way you think.

Everything is available on the Internet. Explore sites and YouTube. But don’t fall for scammers. Your employers will not ask you for money; instead, they will pay you. Scholarships are not for sale. Your qualifications and competence will earn you one.

May the Almighty God make it easy for everyone, amin. May you secure your dream job or scholarship sooner than you anticipate, amin.

Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim teaches at the University of Cologne in Germany and he can be reached via muhsin2008@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim from Sokoto State, Nigeria, has founded a nursing services company in Hamm, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim, a German resident, announced in a Facebook post on Sunday. 

According to Dr. Muhsin, the company, staffed by healthcare professionals from Nigeria, Kenya, Turkey, and Germany, offers critical care services.

Dr. Ibrahim’s achievement demonstrates the potential of African professionals making a meaningful impact globally. 

After studying medicine and surgery in Bulgaria and specialising in anaesthesia, Dr. Ibrahim moved to Germany in 2009.

His success has sparked praise from friends and colleagues, including Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim, a lecturer at the University of Cologne. 

“This is a massive achievement, and we are very proud of Dr. Kabiru,” Mr. Muhsin said.

Dr. Kabiru’s venture serves as a shining example of Nigerian excellence in the diaspora, which fosters economic growth and cultural exchange between Nigeria and Germany.

Admin

I was en route to Casablanca during Ḍuhr prayer. I attempted to do it on the train, but as a traveler, I told myself that I could combine it with ʿAṣr at the famous mosque I was going to visit, Hassan II Mosque.

Completed in 1993 and named after the King of the day, Hassan Mosque is said to be the second-largest mosque in Africa and the 14th-largest in the world.

Unfortunately, it was closed to worshippers when I reached there; only tourists were allowed in. To enter, a visitor has to pay 150 Moroccan dirhams, which is about ₦26,000. I hesitated to do that. The security man told me to wait until 4:30 p.m., the time for ʿAṣr, to enter free of charge.

I left the mosque’s vicinity. After all, I am in a vastly Muslim-majority country. I said I would find another mosque nearby. To my shock, I couldn’t. Even gas stations nearby don’t have any—something strange by northern Nigerian standards.

I returned to Hassan II Mosque. Pressed to pee, I prayed for the opening time. Luckily, they gave us access before 4:30 p.m. I relieved myself, performed ablution, and walked into the beautiful, massive edifice. I was awestruck.

Unfortunately, there were only a few of us in the mosque. We did not fill the first two rows. It felt like I was in Cologne Cathedral, another large and beautiful place of worship with few or no worshippers.

What is happening to us? What are human beings becoming? Frankly, Morocco is far less religious than I thought. This wave is becoming more powerful, perhaps more threatening, than one can imagine. I will say more on this another time.

May we be guided, amin.

Muhsin Ibrahim, who teaches at the University of Cologne, Germany, wrote from Casablanca, Morocco during his short stay in the Northern African country. He can be reached via muhsin2008@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The World Customs Organisation (WCO), in collaboration with the German Federation, has successfully conducted a five-day training program focused on the detection of small arms and light weapons for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Police Force.

The training took place from September 16 to 20, 2024, at the Old Secretariat in Garki, Abuja, and involved 25 Customs officers along with personnel from the Nigerian Police Force and Nigerian Army.

The workshop was officially inaugurated by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) in charge of Strategy, Research, and Policy, Sulaiman Chiroma, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

ACG Chiroma stated the significance of the training in enhancing the participants’ ability to detect illegal arms, a vital component of the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) ongoing efforts to combat weapon smuggling into the country.

“This training has gone beyond what we see today. It’s not just about small arms and light weapons for Nigeria Customs Service personnel, but a national initiative, evidenced by the involvement of other agencies,” ACG Chiroma stated.

He further noted that the training is part of the broader West African Security Project (WASP), aimed at fostering collaboration among West African nations in light of shared borders and security challenges.

Chiroma praised the WCO and the German Federation for their ongoing support in organizing such vital training programs, which play a crucial role in enhancing the operational effectiveness of Customs officers.

He urged participants to apply their newly acquired skills diligently.

He said, “You have learned the terminologies of arms detection, and the challenge now is to apply and expand upon what you have learned. To whom much is given, much is expected.”

Participants were encouraged to share their knowledge with colleagues in their respective commands.

“The facilitators and resource persons have provided you with invaluable insight. Now, it’s your responsibility to ensure that this knowledge doesn’t remain with you alone but is passed on to others in your field,” Chiroma added.

The training covered various critical topics, including the detection of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), understanding cultural chemicals, and mastering techniques to combat insecurity in the West African subregion.

Chiroma noted that this comprehensive approach to security training is expected to enhance efforts against illegal arms trafficking throughout the region.

Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim, a Nigerian scholar teaching Hausa at the University of Cologne in Germany, has expressed joy and pride over his student’s achievement. 

The student recently did a review of Izu Ojukwu’s movie “Amina” published by Istanbul University Press. 

Dr. Ibrahim shared the news on his Facebook page, stating that he was unsure who was happier between him and his student. 

He also mentioned that his student’s mother wanted to express her gratitude to him but was hindered by her limited English proficiency, so she conveyed her greetings and appreciation through her son. 

The review can be accessed on the Istanbul University Press website.

Dr. Ibrahim’s post was accompanied by the hashtag “Alhamdulillah,” an Arabic phrase meaning “praise be to God,” indicating his gratitude and appreciation for the achievement. 

His pride in the student’s accomplishment is a testament to the positive relationship between teachers and students, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers.

By Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim

Some people accused us (Hausa/Fulani folks living in the West) of not doing enough to bring our own here – as our counterparts from the South do. This is not the first time and will not be the last I heard such accusations. In short, they are baseless.

Years ago, we spent hours giving a webinar on how to get scholarships and jobs in Germany under the Arewa Youth Mentorship Program (AYMP) platform. AYMP has been organising such events for years. I have shared it here and with many people personally. One of them complained that it was too long!

I went to bed last night thinking about the accusation. I almost slept when I felt the need to share a website about working, studying, and living in Germany, which I did. However, see how many people reacted to it (30 as I type this; the one before it has almost 1500). One of the three people who commented on the post asked, “How can I apply”? Click on the darn web link!

Folks, it is not easy to come to Europe or any other part of the world via legitimate means for a gainful job. First, you need to have the required skills or qualifications. Second, you must have either an admission, scholarship, or job contract. Third, you must have a visa.

I swear some of those people we praise for ‘helping’ their own follow dubious means. I know several people working with others’ documents and identities. I have heard of people charging astonishing amounts of money to be others’ guarantors (to come here). I cannot do any of these.

I have shared scholarship and job opportunities countless times and have been mentoring people—directly or indirectly—for years. Some of these folks have made it—Alhamdulillah. However, others haven’t. I cannot satisfy everyone.

Others have disappointed me, thinking I should do everything for them. I cannot recall how often I asked some so-called mentees to collect their academic transcripts or write proposals for applications to do their postgraduate studies abroad. Come on! I have other essential engagements myself.

Upon waking up, seek God’s help and avoid falling for scams out of desperation (the topic I discussed yesterday, though in Hausa).

May Allah help us all, amin.

Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim teaches Hausa Studies at the Institute of African Studies, University of Cologne, Germany. He can be reached via muhsin2008@gmail.com.