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31 Jan 2012 By Sule Ya'u Sule
The Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin a
private institution whose founders envisioned with the
noble philosophy of promoting academic and moral
excellence in Nigeria in choosing to honour men who
had distinguished themselves in positions of trust,
this young institution is punching above its youthful
weight while making a strong case for a glorious
reputation. At its maiden Convocation ceremonies for
the investiture of its First Chancellor on Friday last
week, the institution voted to award an honourary
doctorate degree (Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa) on
His Excellency, the former Executive Governor of Kano
State, Malam (Dr.) Ibrahim Shekarau, Sardaunan Kano, a
decision seen as in tandem with the original vision of
its founder, Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Oladimeji, in
providing "high level qualitative education with a
strong moral content".
In life, timing is everything and
therefore the significance of Al-Hikmah honouring
Malam cannot be over-emphasized. Honouring Malam after
he had left office in a blaze of glory is the kind of
statement a University can make to cement its place
among the greats and to show the world that its values
are founded on superior moral judgment. Malam is
indeed worthy of the honour in his capacity as a
teacher, examiner, administrator and someone who has
contributed immensely in the development of education
in Nigeria. As Governor, Malam had been lavishly
honoured at home and abroad, by his peers in education
and by reputable institutions, and these are for
obvious reasons.
As Governor of Kano State, Malam
recorded giant stride in repositioning the state's
educational sector between 2003 and 2011. What his
administration met in the education sector in 2003 was
a shambles. Teachers had been sacked and morale was
low. Local and foreign training had been suspended;
where facilities like Laboratories, Libraries,
Technical equipments and teaching aids existed at all,
they were too few and obsolete. There were almost no
Computers or modern equipments. However, in eight
years, his administration recorded landmark
achievements, especially in student enrolment,
construction of new classrooms, equipment of
laboratories and boosting teachers' morale. In
response to his administration's policies to restore
Kano's lead in education and human development and the
massive investments in infrastructures and especially
Information and Communications technology in its
school system, school enrolment increased
exponentially during the period. Kano State under
Malam increased students' scholarship allowances by
25-50 % with effect from the 2004 – 2005 session and
revitalized scholarship awards to 29 courses of study
that were earlier rationalized by the previous
administration. It spent over
To Malam's teeming supporters who
trooped to the Convocation venue to witness history in
the making, the honour done to him by Al-Hikmah
University was particularly heartening because he is
out of power. Popular thinking goes that once out of
power, a man is deserted and forgotten. Malam's
rousing reception in Ilorin proved the lie to this
aphorism. His reception was a spectacular display of
affection for a former public office holder. It goes
to confirm that integrity and honour is the sole base
of character. It was a celebration of a man who
served Kano and Nigeria with distinct honesty and
without blemish. The recognition by Al-Hikmah
University offers a ray of hope to Nigerians that the
eyes of the world are beamed upon those holding public
trust. If they discharge the trust with integrity
like Malam, they will be remembered and honoured when
they leave office.
The caliber of other eminent Nigerians
honoured alongside Malam spoke volumes of the high
moral standard to which Al-Hikmah aspires. The
institution's Pro-Chancellor is none other than a
former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji (Dr.)
Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomasie, Sardaunan Katsina, who was
installed at the event. Others honourees include Al-Hikmah's
Founder, Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Oladimeji (Doctor of
Business Administration) ; Dr. Salih Bin Sulyman Al-Wubay,
Secretary General, World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY),
Saudi Arabia (Doctor of Science) and pioneer Chairman,
Independent Corrupt Practices and Related offences
Commission (ICPC) and Chairman, the University's Board
of Trustees, Hon Justice Mustapha Akanbi (Doctor of
Letters)
Malam's acceptance address showed he
was still in touch with the harsh realities of the
Nigerian project. As Governor, he fought hard to
reduce poverty but in Ilorin, he reiterated a strong
voice against this phenomenon afflicting millions of
Nigerians. "Nothing degrades the dignity, the image
and the influence of a human being and a nation more
than poverty. A poor nation is a weak nation and is
always susceptible to the domination and
marginalization by wealthier powers", he said. Always
a champion of the downtrodden, Malam made a passionate
appeal against poverty and its negative consequences.
He lamented a situation where Nigeria despite the
country's natural and human resources, a large
percentage of Nigerians still lived in abject
poverty. He challenged Nigerians on poverty, arguing
that "the solution lies in our critical evaluation of
our leadership and our readiness to modify our
opinions on why we elect the people we elect".
Malam, who flew the flag of the All
Nigerian People's Party (ANPP) in the April
Presidential election, described the vote as "the most
divisive and polarizing in the history of the
country". "Coming at a time when patriotism and
national unity are brutally battered, such a sharp
rise in divisiveness and polarization could propel the
country towards instability. Consequently, one major
governance challenge is to cement palpable cracks
amongst all sections of the country". He challenged
those in government at all levels to take their
responsibility very seriously by providing power, jobs
for teeming youths and reversing the trend in the
country's commercial and industrial decline.
As someone respected nationwide for
refusing to enrich himself in office, Malam's comments
on the link between corruption and violence, while
speaking to newsmen after the investiture, resonated
with the segment of our population still seeking a way
out of the insecurity conundrum. "The issue of
insecurity in Nigeria is very unfortunate. There are
many factors that could cause this. Though there is
no community that could live without a crisis, but it
should be minimal. One factor that is responsible for
this is the role of the leadership. If the leadership
is so ungodly, God will not allow their followers to
obey such leaders. "Whether we like it or not, it is
written in both Holy Qur'an and Bible that ungodly
leaders shall be blessed with ungodly followers.
Secondly, our security agencies welfare is not well
taken care of. Many of them are always on the roads
without one naira. Many years after they retire they
could not claim their pensions. If these issues are
not addressed, I do not see any solution to the
problem of insecurity."
These were the wise words of a great
man who was honoured for living above board outside
his own state. The honour done to Malam by the
authorities of Al-Hikmah University was a s historic
as it was timely. It goes to show that integrity
still pays and that whatever good a man sows,
especially when occupying a position of trust, so he
will reap. It was a fitting and deserved tribute that
the authorities of Al-Hikmah graciously asked him to
commission the New Science Laboratory Complex of the
school, perhaps in recognition that as Governor, he
invested wisely on science education, building and
equipping laboratories and technical schools,
abolishing school fees and giving Kano's
once-foundering education sector a new lease of life.
SULE YA'U SULE is a Senior Special Assistant, Media
and Public Relations to Sardaunan Kano/former
Executive Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim
Shekarau |
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