Great events and tremendous achievements, by Dr Aminu Salihu Yakudima
Wednesday, the 23rd of March 2022 was a momentous day of remarkable events in Nigeria. In the capital city of Abuja, the ruling, All Peoples Congress (APC) political party, prepared for its national elective convention slated for the weekend. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, former Vice President, formally declared his intention to run for President in 2023. Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON, former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)’s powerful political team visited the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in fanfare to pick up a presidential nomination form for the 2023 elections on his behalf.
On the same day of note, in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held its legal week, an annual ritual during which the association engages in a number of activities, including the bestowing of honours on deserving legal luminaries. This year’s honorees were: Distinguished Senator Kashim Shettima, Hon. Justice Aisha Mohammed Ali, Hon. Justice Aishat B. Kumalia, Hon. Justice Fadawu Umaru, Baba Kura Kaka Esq, and Ali Idris Isma’il Esq.
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Barrister Ali Idris (Baban Yaya), in particular, has a stellar record of not only being among the NBA’s legal stars but also the Chief Registrar of the Sharia Court of Appeal of Borno State. His loyalty and tireless efforts to the Judiciary and the NBA were thus clearly noticed and recognised. The Maiduguri and Biu branches of the NBA also conferred on him an award for meritorious service and outstanding contributions to the Bar. He had been a pioneer Director of Administration and had represented the NBA in several domestic and foreign assignments. The Chief Judge of Borno State, Honourable Justice Kashim Zanna, presented him with the award.
From the international front, there was great joy in several families in celebration of the graduations of their sons from a foreign university. The class of 2020 and 2021 of Middlesex University, Dubai participated in a grand graduation ceremony which was attended by many people including some parents from Nigeria. Middlesex University is a multi-campus institution of higher learning with branches in London, Dubai, Malta, and Mauritius. Its model of learning includes affiliation statuses with several tertiary institutions and is ranked as one of the best in the world.
Middlesex University is committed to quality education, professionalism and a fantastic learning environment. It provides the opportunity for students to be part of a vibrant campus community that brings together students from over 145 different nationalities, give them the opportunity to know each other through sincere collaboration and socialisation. Also, make students have the chance to experience the world through people from different countries and backgrounds, have serious exposure and sound knowledge. With a steadily growing, diverse student body, the opportunity to learn and share many things extend beyond lecture halls and classrooms.
The graduating young Nigerians who made their families proud came from the following states: Borno, Kano, Adamawa, Sokoto, and Lagos. They included two of my children (Salihu Aminu Yakudima and Abubakar Aminu Yakudima); Farouk Umar Dawaki, Abubakar Muhammad Kachalla Monguno, Abdullahi Adam, Junaid Bashir Mijinyawa, Al-Ameen Yahaya, Bashir Layya, and Mohammed Hayatudeen. They bagged their first degrees in various specialisations: Information Technology, Business Information Management, Artificial Intelligence and other IT related courses. They had earlier obtained advanced diplomas in Software Engineering as a prelude to their respective degree programs. It’s pertinent to note that the families of these brilliant young men sponsored their education. There was no government scholarship, or sponsorship by any NGO, involved. This does not mean they are not desirous and entitled, or no efforts exerted to secure one.
The Hausari-Zango community, Fezzan ward, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Borno State have many reasons to celebrate and appreciate their own, considering the graduates of Borno state origin among the young men, have their roots in the communities. These achievements, made possible by the powers of God, determination, hard work and support from their parents, deserves wide and far publicity, blessings, prayers and best wishes.
Dr Aminu Salihu Yakudima writes from No B66, Sultan Dasuki Road, Kubwa, FCT Abuja and can be reached at aminuyakudima622@gmail.com
