ABU’s message to Sardauna

It is about 10 am. The hallowed procession winds its way through the main gate of the Mamman Kontagora Square towards the grand stand, slow-marching to the rhythmic drum beat and the musical sound of the beagle of the leading band. It comprises the Senate; Congregation; Academic Secretary; Deans and Directors; visiting Vice Chancellors and […]

It is about 10 am. The hallowed procession winds its way through the main gate of the Mamman Kontagora Square towards the grand stand, slow-marching to the rhythmic drum beat and the musical sound of the beagle of the leading band.
It comprises the Senate; Congregation; Academic Secretary; Deans and Directors; visiting Vice Chancellors and Registrars; Principal Officers; Vice Chancellor; Chancellor; and the Visitor to the University.
The Visitor to the university, President Muhammadu Buhari, is represented by Professor Akaneren I. Essien, visiting professor to the National Universities Commission (NUC). The Chancellor is the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe CFR.
This is a ‘mega-institution’, so claims, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Garba.  
The procession burrows through the thronged canopies in a fascinating file.It snakes through the thronging graduates present, some beaming smiles, others vibrating with giggles and jokes, yet others, especially the majority of the elderly recipients of higher degrees, sitting with a comported mien, majority exchanging pleasantries, all exuding the satisfying mien of a significant life accomplishment. The Deans of the various faculties stand proxy for those unavoidably absent at the occasion .
The ‘train’ railed up to its ‘terminus,’ the long row of assorted cushion seats at the grand stand, meeting the VIPs, as the trite expression describes such personalities, most-notably comprising the Emirs of Kano and Zazzau, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, Alhaji Shehu Idris CFR, former President of neighbouring Niger Republic, Alhaji Salou Jibo, himself the university’s Masters degree holder, and former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido.
Outside, the square is a rowdy crowd of spectators, friends and well-wishers, parents and relations of the graduating students, and a large number of invited guests who are just minutes later than the passage of the procession. After the procession, the gate is closed. 
Since the previous few days, peaking on Friday, January 29, the entire university has been vibrating with festivities and what the graduating students and the university authorities pride themselves with as enviable accomplishments.
The euphoric activities at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), climaxing with the 38th Convocation ceremony today, Saturday, January 30, 2016, stirs in the minds of the vast array of stakeholders in its entire existence, the nourishing reminiscences of the so long talked-about purposeful life and times of its founding father, Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of the defunct Northern Region and Sardauna of Sokoto, who established it on October 4, 1962.
The Sardauna was, himself, hailed as Gamji dan kwarai (Gamji the worthy son) and Gamji dan Hassan (Gamji the son of Hassan – Hassan dan Mu’azu was one of the Sultans of Sokoto). Gamji is a tropical tree famous for its stature and solidness in the ground, guaranteed by its exceptionally rugged deep-sinking taproot and other far-sparse roots, guaranteeing it a broad-based solidness. His likening to the Gamji tree, so say the elders, is a cheering allusion to his solidness with regard to his stature; and his soaring legendary personality, name, fame and accomplishments in the history of the Nigerian nationhood.
So unshakeable was his personality in all ramifications of the country’s struggles for independence, the construction of the foundations of its nationhood project, as well as the solidification of the unity and prosperity of the diverse peoples of Northern Nigeria, that he is hailed as Gamji dan kwarai to this day, perhaps to the end of time.
Ahmadu Bello University itself abundantly exudes the disposition of one of the very few enduring crucial structures, the Sardauna has bequeathed to posterity in the educational sphere.                                         
This Saturday, the university he established, and which bears his name, shows the disposition of emerging from his tall personality and, by this token, inherits, in spirit, the name by which he was generally hailed: Gamji, earning it, not claiming it, with regard to what it prides itself with, as its impressive array of accomplishments by upholding the revered tradition of desirable character moulding and functional scholarship.
The public address control cubicle has already stopped playing the recorded music of Mamman Shata and Dankwairo in the praise of the late Sardauna, as the national and the ABU anthems are played accordingly, followed by the opening prayers.
“This convocation ceremony coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the death of our founder, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. He certainly left behind an enduring legacy,” the  Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Garba, begins his address, brandishing the condensed significance and exceptionality of the ‘founder’ and the ‘legacy.’
The commencement of the convocation ceremony the previous day, Friday, with the pre-convocation lecture titled: “The Role of Entrepreneurship in National Development – The Story of the Dangote Group, delivered by the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, an occasion chaired by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, himself an alumnus of the university, is to express the university’s commitment to purposeful transformation with regard to scholarship and intellectualism, as well as other key development services , conventionally expected from the academia in every developing and prosperous society.
This seems in accord with the key economic policies of the recent administrations in the country in attempts to close ranks with the advanced and fast developing economies on the development of entrepreneurship as sure-vehicle to sustainable economic prosperity.
 “It is important to note that this university has continued to discharge its mandate of teaching, research, innovation and community service,” the Vice Chancellor says, continuing, “It has from its inception, continued to train men and women without any distinction on grounds of race, religion or political beliefs. It has remained the most national in character in the Nigerian University system.”
According to Professor Garba, “Ahmadu Bello University is a mega-institution with 82 academic Departments, 12 Faculties and 12 Research Institutes and Specialised Centers,” complaining, “Our size and scope is a huge endowment but carry also along enormous responsibilities and challenges. It is, therefore, incumbent on all stakeholders to offer a helping hand while we the operators of the University give our utmost best to ensure we uphold its great name.”
Alhaji Aliko Dangote has already offered to build ten blocks of hostels to broaden the university’s student accommodation space.
Professor Garba announces: “The Chancellor will in today’s ceremony, confer a total of 13, 149 first degrees and 4,598 higher degrees and diplomas to deserving graduands for the 2013/2014 and 2914/2015 academic sessions,” breaking the total down to 89 First Class, 2,086 Second Class Upper Division, 7,108 Second Class Lower Division, 3,161 Third Class, 262 Pass, 443 Unclassified Degree, 305 Ph.D, 2,669 M.As and M Scs, and 1,624 PGDs.
 Igwe Achebe CFR, neither stammers nor flounders as he observes the ritual of shuttling between his seat and the podium, complying with the Registrar, Dr. Isa Mohammed Abbass’, invitation to him to confer degrees on the graduands, with the Deans of the faculties taking their turns to instruct: “Will the graduating students of the Faculty of … rise and remain standing,” presenting them to the Chancellor for the conferment of the relevant degrees.  
“Ahmadu Bello University is one of the 10 African Centers of Excellence (ACE) supported by the World Bank, our own mandate being research on Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology,” he revealed, noting, “There are many other research and innovation products from other faculties and units of the university.”
Most notable among the accomplishments of the university in the areas of research and innovation, according to the vice chancellor, include: the development of zeolite-Y and zeolite ZSM-5 catalysts used in petroleum refining from locally sourced kaolin clay using a novel processing technique in the Department of Chemical Engineering. It is a research funded by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). It has received a patent and intellectual property right from the federal government.
“Right from its establishment on October 4, 1962, Ahmadu Bello University has been offering students all over Nigeria and beyond, world-class education that has made it stand out among its peers,” Alhaji Aliko Dangote observes at the pre-convocation lecture on Friday, maintaining further, “Indeed, ABU alumni have continued to excel ahead of their contemporaries from other institutions, producing reputable leaders in both the public and private sectors, including, I must add, our respected Chairman of today’s lecture, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano, and the Executive Governor of Kaduna State.”
According to the industrialist, renowned intellectuals have also found ABU a fertile ground for breeding ideas that have redefined the country’s socio-political ethos.
“In the spirit of the times and with an eye to the future needs of our newly independent country, from inception Ahmadu Bello University focused on Agriculture and Engineering in recognition of the vast expanse of arable land in the country and the need to accelerate industrialization of the national economy,” he recalls, continuing, “Agriculture was the mainstay of the economy; with palm produce the main revenue earner for the Eastern Region, cocoa in the Western Region, and groundnut and cotton in the Northern Region.”
The visitor to the University, President Buhari, carries his administration’s war against corruption to the institution.
“May I use this opportunity to reiterate the commitment of my administration to the fight against corruption,” he says through his representative, Professor Essien, stressing, “This is a fight every [patriotic Nigerian should participate in. In the university, every lecturer, student and even parents of students should hate, resist, and expose every manifestation of corrupt tendencies and practices.”
According to him, “Corruption in all its forms – if allowed to thrive in the university will systematically destroy the nation and the future of the vibrant youth population. Dear students, fighting corruption now will safeguard your future.”
And, so, ABU reports by telepathy to Sardauna Ahmadu Bello that it has grown and prospered in the broad trajectory of the cardinal purpose for which he established it, transforming along according to the emerging needs of the Nigerian society and the imperatives of the times.