By Peter Omopo
Sokoto, September 7, 2025 — The Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Professor Bashir Garba, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education policies, describing them as impactful and transformative for Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Garba made the commendation on Saturday during the university’s combined 50th anniversary and 42nd convocation ceremony, held at the institution’s main campus.
“The Tinubu administration’s commitment to revitalising public universities has already begun to yield positive results,” the vice chancellor stated. “From improved funding frameworks to policy reforms aimed at enhancing academic quality and institutional autonomy, this dispensation is laying a stronger foundation for sustainable growth in higher education.”
Representing President Tinubu at the event, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, reaffirmed the federal government’s determination to expand access to quality education. She highlighted the creation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major intervention to help young Nigerians pursue their studies without financial obstacles.
“President Tinubu has also earmarked N120 billion for vocational education, underscoring his commitment to equipping Nigerian youths with practical skills for nation-building,” she said.
Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, an alumnus of UDUS, celebrated the university’s milestone achievements and pledged stronger collaboration with the institution in the areas of innovation, skills development, and education reforms.
Governor Aliyu also announced a reward for the institution’s best graduating student, Abdullahi Sherif of the Department of Microbiology, who finished with a 4.92 CGPA. He awarded Sherif a Hajj seat in recognition of his outstanding performance.
“This university has profoundly impacted lives within Nigeria and beyond. Its contributions to national and international development cannot be overestimated,” the governor said. He further disclosed several initiatives by his administration, including the payment of N1.845 billion in accumulated tuition fees for Sokoto medical students at home and abroad, the appointment of four UDUS professors to head key education sectors in the state, and ongoing renovations across all levels of education in Sokoto.
The convocation attracted top dignitaries, including representatives of President Tinubu, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Oba of Lagos (Chancellor of UDUS), members of the National Assembly, diplomats, traditional rulers, senior academics, and alumni from across the country.
Three distinguished Nigerians were also honoured at the event: former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruku Yahaya (retd), conferred with a Doctor of Science degree; renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Aminu Durawa, conferred with a Doctor of Letters; and Prof. Dejo Abdulraman, who was decorated with the Emeritus Professor award for his decades of service.
The ceremony, which doubled as the university’s golden jubilee, underscored UDUS’s legacy of academic excellence and its enduring role in shaping Nigeria’s intellectual, socio-economic, and cultural development.
