By Saidu Abubakar
His Excellency, Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON, has commended Ahmadu Bello University for maintaining the standards for which it is known for since its establishment in 1962.
Radda said the glory of its founding father, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the defunct Northern Region, was still trailing the university, Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria said in a statement.
Governor Radda made the remarks when the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Adamu Ahmed, led a high level delegation on a courtesy visit to him at the Government House, Katsina, today – Friday, 26th September, 2025.
The governor also said the university was still among the leading institutions in Nigeria and beyond because it was established with a sincere intention.
Radda, a distinguished alumnus of the university, stressed that any northerner, no matter where he or she came from, must be proud of the northern premier institution, the statement added.
“The glory of the university is ever there; we are always proud to say we are the products of Ahmadu Bello University”, he said.
According to him, the history of Katsina State could not be complete without the mention of ABU given its great contributions to the development of the state.
He recalled former Katsina Governor Umaru Musa ‘Yar’Adua’s love for education, stressing that ‘Yar’Adua’s passion for education made him to significantly contribute to the establishment of ABU SBRS in Funtua.
While sincerely thanking the Vice-Chancellor and members of his team for the visit, Governor Radda pledged to attend the forthcoming 45th convocation of the university if time permitted.
Earlier in his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, told the governor that he led the high level delegation from the university to condole with him and the good people of Katsina State over the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Vice-Chancellor, according to the statement, further commiserated with the governor personally over the unfortunate road accident he recently suffered in the course of official duty.
Prof Ahmed pointed out that the news of the governor’s recovery brought relief and excitement to ABU staff and students who remained proud of his resilience and devotion to duty.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to the governor for granting them audience despite his very tight schedule.
The ABU delegation comprised the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, Prof Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi; the Registrar, Rabiu Samaila; and the Dean of Students, Prof Sahalu B. Junaidu.
Others were the Director, Directorate of Advancement and International Education, Prof Sani Abba Aliyu; and former Chief Medical Director, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Prof Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi.
Executive Director, IAR, Prof Yusuf A. Ado; Executive Director, NAPRI, Prof Mohammed Rabiu Hassan; and Executive Director, NAERLS, Prof Yusuf Sani Ahmed, were equally part of the delegation.
They also included the Dean of Administration, Prof Muhammad Kabir Isa; Director, SBRS, Funtua, Dr. Sanusi Gambo; Director, PAD, Auwalu Umar, Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ibrahim Sani Kaita; and Senior Assistant Registrar, Ahmadu A. Ishaq.
On the part of Katsina State government, Governor Radda’s Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Turaji; and Hon. Commissioner, Lands and Physical Planning, Dr. Faisal Umar Kaita, were present during the courtesy visit.
Others were Hon. Commissioner, Higher Technical and Vocational Education, Isa Mohammed Musa; and Director-General, New Media, Alhaji Maiwada Danmalam.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Power, Alhaji Hafiz Ibrahim Ahmed; and Technical Assistant, Renewable Energy, Alhaji Abdulaziz Abdullahi Kabir, were equally there.
