The Council and Management of Northwest University, Kano, conferred honorary doctorate degrees on five distinguished Nigerians on Saturday in recognition of their outstanding contributions to education, entrepreneurship, and national development.
The awards were presented during the university’s second combined convocation ceremony, which brought together dignitaries, academics, traditional rulers, students, and parents to celebrate service, excellence, and leadership.
Among the honourees was former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, who received an Honorary Doctor of Education (Honoris Causa) for his visionary leadership in founding the university and spearheading wide-ranging educational reforms in Kano State.
His initiatives included the establishment of hundreds of secondary schools, vocational centres, and scholarship programmes that benefited thousands of students locally and abroad.
Also recognized was the late elder statesman and business mogul, Aminu Alhassan Dantata, who was posthumously awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities.
The honour acknowledged his lifelong philanthropy, promotion of Islamic learning, and contributions to commerce and social development.
Mariya Sunusi Dantata received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities for her advocacy in girl-child education and humanitarian work.
In the entrepreneurship category, Aliyu Sa’adu Bebeji and Adamu Yahaya Maikifi were each awarded Honorary Doctorates for their outstanding achievements in business and job creation across Kano and beyond.
Speaking at the event, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, praised the awardees for their enduring legacy and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to reviving educational institutions across the state.
Governor Yusuf also revealed that he used his personal funds to construct parts of the university’s staff quarters during his tenure as Commissioner of Works under the Kwankwaso administration.
“Because of my zeal to make sure Northwest University came into existence, I used my personal money to build some parts of the university,” he said.
The governor added that abandoned projects on campus have resumed, and the state now spends over ₦423 million monthly on staff salaries.
He further highlighted his administration’s commitment to education with a 31.1% budgetary allocation in 2025, exceeding the UNESCO benchmark.
The convocation ceremony, which also marked the official restoration of the institution’s original name, Northwest University, served as a reminder of the power of vision, sacrifice, and sustained investment in education to shape future generations.
Credit: Sanusi Bature DawakinTofa
