Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy President of the Senate, on Monday expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside the people of Kano and the northern region, will reciprocate the benevolence of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Barau made the remarks during his annual undergraduate scholarship event at the newly renamed Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education in Kano.
The event also featured the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, Kano APC Chairman Prince Abdullahi Abbas, Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdullahi Kadage, and ASUU Chairman Ado Abdullahi, all of whom lauded President Tinubu’s contributions.
Senator Barau said, “I extend my gratitude to the President of our nation—a leader we all hold in high esteem, a President who genuinely cares for Kano, Northern Nigeria, and the entire country. He graciously approved our long-standing request to elevate this institution to university status, and for this, we are profoundly thankful.”
He noted that the effort to achieve this upgrade had spanned nearly a decade, and President Tinubu’s prompt approval reflected his administration’s dedication to fostering human capital development.
“The real test is the support you receive without asking,” Barau stated metaphorically. “We never solicited favors from Mr. President, yet he has always responded positively. This inspires our affection for him, and we look forward to returning this goodwill in 2027.”
Barau added, “Whenever we make a request, he assures us, ‘I’ll do it for you.’ When he approved the university’s upgrade, we expressed heartfelt appreciation. Today, human capital, rather than natural resources, drives global production. Prioritizing education is a crucial path to success, and we therefore value it highly.”
He also commended President Tinubu for approving the renaming of the university after the late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, a distinguished minister, diplomat, and respected elder statesman of Kano.
Describing the President as the “grandfather” of the institution and himself as its “father,” Senator Barau pledged ongoing support for the university’s growth and advancement.
“It was disheartening when the previous Kano administration overturned the decision to name this state institution after Alhaji Maitama Sule. Upon submitting the request to President Tinubu, he immediately sanctioned it, demonstrating his respect and affection for Kano and its heroes,” he said.
To further support education, Barau announced scholarships for 1,000 students from Kano North Senatorial District, promising to extend assistance to other areas of the state.
“I urge students to remain committed to their studies. Education forms the foundation of any society. If I, as a grandfather and a PhD student, can continue learning, young people have no excuse to slack,” he emphasized, highlighting education as the most enduring path to community empowerment and sustainable progress.
Kano APC Chairman Prince Abdullahi Abbas praised President Tinubu for the conversion and renaming of the institution, while Minister Yusuf Ata acknowledged the President’s numerous interventions across Kano and the North.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Abdullahi Tukur Kadage commended Senator Barau for his “visionary leadership and unwavering support,” noting that the university’s establishment originated from a bill he sponsored in the National Assembly.
