By Murtala Sani
The story of Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo cannot be narrated without weaving greatness with success and mixing niceness with kindness, for he is a character of dignity and simplicity. His life is a hub of imagination and determination, creativity and possibility, humanism and activism because he is a master of generosity and hospitality. Gwarzo’s life style is full of optimism, strength, zeal, courage, tolerance with no iota of hopelessness and laziness as seen in his commitments and achievements.
Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo is an origin of Gwarzo Local Government, Kano State, pursuance of knowledge took him to France where he obtained all his degrees. He held Bachelors degree in French, Masters of Arts in French, PhD in French Linguistics, and then PhD in High Education. This gave him a room to become a Professor of Modern European Languages and also a Professor of Leadership. Obtaining dual Professorship is a feat that only a genius can attain.
Gwarzo became a Professor in his early fourties, coincidentally; he was the President of Protection Rights of Journalists of Africa (PRJA) in his early thirties when he was active in the field of Journalism. At the young age he fought for the rights and freedom of Journalists across Africa.
His passion for business and entrepreneurship opened doors for him to get opportunities in France where he made a huge success. He was the first person that founded bilingual University in Niger Republic, Maryam Abacha American University, Niger (MAAUN) in 2013. Seven years later, Gwarzo founded Maryam Abacha American University, Nigeria, (MAAUN) at Kano in 2021 after two years he founded two more Universities in Nigeria, Franco-British international University, Kaduna and Canadian University of Nigeria, Abuja the former is the first Franco-British University in Nigeria.
Therefore, within ten years, Adamu Gwarzo founded four universities making him the first and youngest man that founded four universities in Africa.
Gwarzo is the pioneer President of the Association of African Private Universities due to his dedication to the development of education in Africa. Considering his outstanding contributions to education sector, International Union of Universities in collaboration with Association of African Private Universities gave him an award which serves as commendation to his tireless effort in uplifting education within the African continent.
Again, noticing Gwarzo’s impact on the education sector, International Academic and Management Association (IAMA) inducted him as the Member of its Advisory Board. For the same reason, World Education and Ed Tech 2 awarded him as Innovative Leader in New Delhi, India. These are few out of the numerous awards and honors Gwarzo received from various governmental and non-governmental organizations, national and international associations institutions, schools, communities and students.
The generosity of Adamu Gwarzo led him to establish a foundation with which he can easily touch the lives of many people that are in need of assistance, therefore, Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo Foundation was initiated. The philanthropic activities of the foundation revolve around education health, entrepreneurship, empowerment and provision of infrastructural facilities to communities.
For instance, the foundation donated 66 seater bus to Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil (ADUSTECH), 60 seater bus to Bayero University Kano (BUK) , 66 seater bus to Al-Istiqama University Sumaila, 60 seater bus to Kaduna State Polytechnic and 60 seater bus to Niger University. The foundation also constructed more than one hundred boreholes in Gwarzo Local Government area and some areas within Kano State that were in dire need of water. Again, the foundation undertakes the tasks of giving skills and capital to orphans and masses in order to make them self – reliable considering the economic hardship and the rate of unemployment within the country.
Adamu Gwarzo is an enigma. If you see him dining with the elites today, you may see him feasting with the masses tomorrow. His down-to-earth joyous interactions with the masses make him the hero of the commoners. His capacity gives him the opportunity in rubbing shoulders and shaking hands with African, Arabian and European Presidents despite his young age. No wonder Chinua Achebe said a boy that washes his hand well dine with the elders.
His fluency in Hausa and Yoruba languages, plus his mastery of French and English languages speaks volumes of his intelligence. He is peaceful and tolerant because he is he is neither a racist, nor a tribalist, nor a religious jingoist. Muslims, Christians and Jews have no problem with him as seen in his constant navigation to almost every continent of the world. In his entourage, there is no separation between Sunni and Shi’ite believers, therefore, Qadiriyya, Tijjaniyya, Shi’ites and Izala followers work closely with him without segregation. He embraces the actors, musicians, footballers and all sorts of celebrities or legends that swarm around him without stigma.
Adamu Gwarzo is heterogeneous, as a Pan- African, he named MAAUN’s Senate Building after Nelson Mandela, the former South African President and activist that fought against the subjugation of the black people under Apartheid system of government. He named MAAUN’s President Building after Thomas Sankara, that revolutionist that served as the President of Burkina Faso. He named MAAUN’s Deanry Block after Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana and nationalist who fought for the independence of the country. He named MAAUN’s Library after Murtala Ramat Muhammad, the patriotic Nigerian General who was assasinated on power.
Furthermore, as an advocate of girl-child education, he named MAAUN’s Social Centre after Magajiya Danbatta, the legendary female singer who promoted girl-child education in her songs. As a Philanthropist, he named MAAUN’s School of Health Sciences after Aminu Alhassan Dantata, a legendary business man and iconic philanthropist. As a non-partisan, he named MAAUN’s school of Social and Management Science after Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice president of Nigeria and former Nigerian Presidential candidate under PDP. He named the Association of African Private Universities (AAPU) Secretariat Building after Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwaso, the former Governor of Kano state and former Nigerian presidential candidate under NNPP. He named MAAUN’s School of Law Building after Remi Tinubu, the First lady of the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, who became President under Apc. Reciprocally, streets, buildings and schools were named after him by the communities, institutions and schools that benefitted from his philanthropic gestures.
In appreciation of Adamu Gwarzo’s friendly and kinship relationship with people he interacts with, Sarkin Hausawan Turai, a leader of Hausa community living in Europe turbaned him as Wazirin Sarkin Hausawan Turai. A Hausa community living in Agege, Lagos, turbaned him as the Sarkin Zumunchi of Agege. In Niger Republic, African Aminci Cultural Association Niger crowned him as the Sarkin Yaki da Jahilci na Afrika. This is in tune with his ambition where he stated that his ambition is to sponsor the education of one million people.
Currently, Maryam Abacha Amercan University Nigeria (MAAUN) is the 4TH best private University in Nigeria, 17th in Africa and 854 in the world, according to the AD Scientific Regulatory Ranking Body for global Academic Institutions. The ranking is based on capacity in Research Inputs /Outputs, Quality Teaching Aids (Faculties and Facilities), Conductive Atmosphere of Learning, Internalization and Collaborations, Students /Staff (Academic and Non – Academic), Positive Interpersonal Relationships, Community Services and Support, Human and Infrastructural Developments that fit with global standard.
Murtala Sani writes from Gwarzo Local Government of Kano State. He is also an academic staff of Kano State Polytechnic, Department of Basic and Remedial Studies.
