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From Imrana Abdullahi
Ahmadu Bello University will confer honorary doctorate degrees on four
distinguished Nigerians at its 42nd/Diamond Jubilee Convocation
scheduled for Saturday, 28th January, 2023.
Ina statement Signed by Auwalu Umar,
Director, Public Affairs Directorate,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and made available to newsmen revealed that
The degree awardees include former military governor of old Kano State
Col. Sani Bello (Rtd) and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Ms. Amina J. Mohammed. Others are former Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Jibo and Katsina-based philanthropist Hajiya Fatima Lami Usman Kurfi.
The decision by the institution to confer the honorary degrees on the
illustrious Nigerians followed recommendation of the Honorary Degrees
Committee to the Senate of the University.
The Senate approved the Committee’s recommendation and made same to
the Governing Council of the University which it (Council) finally approved
for the conferment of the honorary degrees.
Col. Sani Bello (Rtd), who as a military governor of old Kano State in 1977
established the two famous Science Secondary Schools in Dawakin Kudu
and Dawakin Tofa, whose products have continued to make positive impact
nationally and globally, is to be conferred with a Doctor of Science Degree
(D.Sc.).
The former governor, now a community leader and an educationist in his
native town of Kontagora in Niger State, established Mustapha
Comprehensive School and Sani Bello Vocational Training Centre as a
philanthropic gesture to his community. The centre has provided over 3,000
youths with specialized skills among whom 418 are people with special
needs.
And through Sani Bello Foundation the former governor has continued to
provide free medical outreach to more than 7,000 beneficiaries and over
5,000 scholarships to indigent students in public universities.
The University will confer a Doctor of Law Degree (LL.D) on the Deputy
Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations
Sustainable Development Group Ms. Amina J. Mohammed.
Amina was a Minister of Environment during which she steered Nigeria’s
efforts on climate action and efforts to protect the natural environment.
When she first joined the United Nations in 2012 as Special Adviser to the
then Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon with the responsibility of post 2015
development planning, Amina led the process that resulted in global
agreement around the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the
creation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The former Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa
Jibo, is to be honoured with a Doctor of Literature Degree (D.Litt) for being
a humanitarian who has demonstrated a track record of honesty above
personal gains.
Jibo’s trajectory of public service in various public and private institutions
in Nigeria is remarkable and exemplary. His sincerity and commitment to
service earned him the position of the second indigenous person to be
appointed Bursar of the University, a job which he served diligently and
sincerely.
Hajiya Fatima Lami Usman Kurfi will be conferred with a Doctor of
Education Degree (D.Ed.) for being philanthropist and a dogged advocate
for girl child education.
Her effort in this regard culminated in her setting up a school in her home town of Kurfi in Katsina State which provides a
mixture of Western and Islamic education.
As a septuagenarian, Hajiya Fatima enrolled into Al-Qalam University,
Katsina and earned a degree in 2015 at the age of 75.
She has worked with
several NGOs building schools and providing services in Lagos, Kano,
Kaduna, and her home state of Katsina.
His Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, will confer the honorary degrees to the awardees
at the upcoming convocation ceremony.
