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Who is Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the newly appointed Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC)?

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Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu

Who is Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, the newly appointed Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC)?

Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu FCVSN, the newly appointed Executive Secretary (ES) of National Universities Commision (NUC), was born at Fufore, Adamawa State on 2nd September 1960. He had his primary education between 1967 and 1973. He gained admission in to Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Mubi in 1973 and successfully obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1978. He attended the School of Basic Studies (SBS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria during the 1978/79 session. In October, 1979 he enrolled at ABU Zaria for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree programme which he successfully completed in June 1984. Professor Ribadu served the compulsory one-year NYSC at the Lower Niger River Basin and Rural Development Authority, Ilorin between 1984 and85.

In September, 1985, Ribadu was appointed Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Reproduction, University of Maiduguri. His quest for additional qualifications fuelled by a burning thirst for knowledge made him to return to ABU Zaria from 1986 to 1988 for a Master of Science degree in Theriogenology. In 1990, Professor Ribadu was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship for a PhD at the University of Liverpool., United Kingdom. In 1997, Professor Ribadu was awarded a 2‐ year Postdoctoral Fellowship by the prestigious Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), tenable at Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan.

In terms of academic career, Professor Ribadu rose through the ranks and was appointed Professor of Veterinary Reproduction at the University of Maiduguri in October 2002. Professor Ribadu held several academic and administrative positions at the University level.

In April 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Prof A. Y. Ribadu as the Vice‐Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Yola (FUTY), now Modibbo Adama Univeristy. As the Vice‐Chancellor of FUTY from 26th April 2004 to 25th April, 2009, Professor Ribadu brought positive changes to the university’s landscape.

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Professor Ribadu served as external assessor and examiner to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ibadan and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. He is a competent, efficient and resourceful researcher with enviable research outputs. He has to his credit several publications in peer‐reviewed scientific journals and others presented at learned national and international conferences. His pioneering work on “ultrasonography and endocrinology of ovarian cysts in cattle” at the University of Liverpool has been cited extensively. Professor Ribadu spent one-year sabbatical leave and a further one and half years on leave of absence at the National Universities commission (NUC), Abuja (June 2009 to November 2011) where he served as Chairman, Committee on Monitoring of Private Universities (COMPU). Furthermore, he also served as Visiting Professor/Advisor to Nigerian Turkish Nile University (NTNU), Abuja from January 2012 to June 2013. Professor Ribadu assumed duty as a Professor in the Department of Theriogenology, University of Abuja in November, 2013. He was a Visiting professor at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University (GADVASU) Ludhiana, Punjab, India in 2023. Before his appointment as the ES boss, Professor Ribadu was a visiting professor at the Commision.

In December 2013, the new ES of NUC was appointed as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Jigawa State University,Kafin Hausa which was later renamed Sule Lamido University. He steered the affairs of university, overseeing its take-up and the enrolment of the first student of the University and bowed out, after five years, with a grand style maiden convocation of the university.

Professor Ribadu is a member of several national and international professional bodies. He was awarded membership diploma, College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria (MCVSN) in 2003 and Fellow, College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria (FCVSN) in 2011. He is also a member of Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM), Honorary Fellow, Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (FNIAE), Fellow, Global e‐policy and e‐government institute, Sungkyukwan University, Seoul, South Korea and Fellow Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology (2014). Professor Ribadu was the Secretary-General of Association of West Africa Universities (AWAU). He was also conferred with an Honorary Degree (Honoris Causa) by the Commonwealth University, London on Thursday, 14th December, 2017. Additionally, he is a member, TETFund’s National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRF) from 2021 to date.

Professor Ribadu’s academic and administrative pursuits have provided him with opportunities to travel to many countries including Australia, Belgium, Cameroun, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Japan, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States. Professor Ribadu is fluent in Fulfulde, Hausa, English and a bit of Nihongo (Japanese).

Professor Ribadu is happily married to Aisha Mohammed Abba and is blessed with three children (Asma’u, Hadiza and Zaynab). His hobbies include reading, travelling and playing table tennis.

Opinion

The Need to Solarize Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila

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By Jasrah Gadanga

Electricity is a fundamental necessity for academic institutions, providing power for learning, research, and daily student activities.

Unfortunately, students at Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, are facing severe hardships due to an unreliable power supply.
Currently, electricity in the hostels is only available after Maghrib when the generator is turned on.

However, with one of the generators breaking down, the situation has worsened, leaving some hostels without power for days.

This has forced students to move between hostels just to charge their phones and laptops, creating unnecessary stress and inconvenience.

The lack of steady electricity has had a negative impact on students’ academic performance.

In a digital era where online resources, e-books, and electronic assignments are essential, students struggle to keep up with their coursework.

Those affected by power outages cannot effectively study at night, conduct research, or complete assignments on time, putting them at a disadvantage compared to their peers in institutions with stable power.

Ensuring a reliable power supply would not only support academic excellence but also improve students’ well-being.

The psychological and physical stress caused by the power crisis is another major concern.

Instead of focusing on their studies and personal development, students spend valuable time moving from one hostel to another just to charge their devices.

This daily struggle affects their morale, mental health, and overall university experience.

A reliable power source would eliminate this frustration and allow students to concentrate fully on their education.

A practical and sustainable solution to this crisis is the adoption of solar energy.

Unlike generators that depend on expensive and often scarce fuel, solar power is a renewable and reliable source of electricity.

With adequate investment, solar panels can provide a stable energy supply for the hostels, ensuring students no longer suffer from unpredictable outages.

Several universities and institutions worldwide have successfully transitioned to solar energy, proving its efficiency and long-term benefits.

One of the key advantages of solar power is its cost-effectiveness.

While the initial installation may require a significant investment, it eliminates the recurring expenses of fuel and generator maintenance.

Over time, the savings from reduced energy costs can be redirected toward improving other aspects of student welfare, such as better hostel facilities, internet access, and academic resources.

Investing in solar energy is not just a solution for the present; it is a long-term investment in the university’s future.

Additionally, solar energy is environmentally friendly and aligns with global sustainability goals.

Unlike fossil fuel-powered generators, which emit harmful gases that contribute to air pollution and climate change, solar energy is clean and renewable.

By adopting solar power, Al-Istiqama University can position itself as an eco-friendly institution that prioritizes sustainable development while providing a better learning environment for students.

In conclusion, the challenges posed by epileptic power supply at Al-Istiqama University demand urgent action.

The administration, in collaboration with stakeholders, should explore partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and private investors to solarize the hostels and academic buildings.

Students deserve a stable and reliable power supply to support their education, security, and overall well-being.

Solar energy is the most viable and sustainable solution, and the time to act is now.

Jasrah Gadanga writes from Kano
jasrahforreal@gmail.com

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Re: Re: Kano 2027 Projection: APC Chances, Intrigues and Realistic Reality

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By Abba Anwar

All praises be to The Almighty Allah, that my write – up on the above subject matter ignited discussions, displeasure, sensible and below sensible observations.

My friend Adamu Mukhtar Unguwar Gini, the author of the rejoinder, who chooses to behave as a gentleman, has raised some issues, that I cherish from the bottom of my heart.

My friend I am sorry if some of my answers do not recognize your position as one of the Protocol officers of the National Chairman of APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, and as Chairman Coalition of APC Youth Movement.

Or alleged self-assigned position of Protocol officer of the former Governor, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna or an alleged self-assigned Protocol Officer of Hon Nasir Bala Ja’o’ji. But all my submission I assure you will definitely be centered around issues you raised.

While assuring that you wouldn’t want join issues with me, you opined that, “The intention here is just to point at some salient issues skipped by the writer and underscores (sic) the need for establishing the imperative for peace and unity in our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

You said, “To me what the APC needs most now is peace and unity of purpose in order to wrestle power from the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano. Of course, every political party may have its peculiar internal wrangling, but I insist unity is the only option we have to get what we want.” I absolutely concur!

Let me jump down to the central point you raised, where you said and I quote, ” The three potential candidates mentioned by Anwar from Kano North are forces to (sic) reckon with. But the writer shrewdly skipped one very influential politician of national repute from the zone in person of Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, member representing Bichi Federal Constituency at the National Assembly… who has demonstrably shown that he is a leader who had long chosen to be different from others.”

What you fail to understand here is, JUST LOOK AT THE CONTEXT OF MY WRITE – UP. Hon Bichi does not belong to this context at all. If you really understand the contextual explanation. I did not mean his contributions in the party are ignorable or dumpable.

No where in my piece where I mentioned that, only those I made reference to, were the only people who could make difference in the scheme of things. You need to get this clearly.

In one of my recent write-ups titled “Kano APC Youth Coalition, Nasir Ja’o’ji and Party Survival,” go and Google the caption it is there online, I said, “Stars like Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, former Deputy Governor and Gubernatorial Candidate for 2023 election, HE Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, former Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs and former Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate for 2023 election, HE Murtala Sule Garo, HON ABUBAKAR KABIR BICHI, among others.”

The way I put Hon Bichi and didn’t include some of the names of those I included now, didn’t mean they were not important or relevant. Only that, they do not belong to the context of my piece. So it is the same thing here. Bichi is not within the purview of my context now.

In another recent write-up titled “DSP Barau : A Resilient Senator With Advanced Mind,” I wrote it when Barau sponsored 70 students abroad to study Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Robotic Science. After commending Barau for that and calling on other leaders to copy from him, I said in one of the paragraphs”… Senator Kawu Sumaila of Kano South and HON ABUBAKAR BICHI, representative of Bichi Federal Constituency, in the House of Representatives, HAVE ALREADY GONE FAR IN THIS DIRECTION. KUDOS TO THEM!”

He is reflected therein because the context allowed for that. Why didn’t you or your backers protested that I did not include other Honorable members? So I begin to wonder the sudden protest started and midwifed from somewhere and birthed through you.

Where were you all, when I gave Kudos to Hon Bichi? I think you people are doing bad public relations for Hon Bichi. What you are doing is not good for his image. You are only painting him in a corrosive manner.

Still under “Kano APC Youth Coalition, Nasir Ja’o’ji and Party Survival,” I included many names of party loyalists who are committed to the survival of the party. Simply because the context allowed that.

This is where I said, “People like Musaddique Wada Waziri, Malam Abdussalam Ishaq (Kumbotso), Umar Maiwayo Rimingado, my younger brother Inyass Habibu, Ibrahim Danyaro, Jijitar, Abubakar Indabawa, former Vice Chairman, Warawa, Dini Manchester Kankarofi, Abubakar Aminu, Hon Barwa, Sani Gilashi, Danfillo, Idris Zango, among many others, are playing very critical role in strengthening the grip of the party across the state and the nation at large.”

Why didn’t you protest that, I did not include so and so person or Honourable? Because they do not belong here. But still that does not mean only those mentioned are the best in terms of party survival.

Very committed and hard working individuals like Aminu Dahiru and Barista Baburi, were not mentioned. Why? Because the context did not allow that. But the way I see it both Aminu and Baburi are far better than some of the people I mentioned. But I can’t include them because of contextual concord.

When I did the write – up on APC Youth Coalition, to my surprise, you as the Chairman of the Coalition, did not even call my attention to at least correct me if there was anywhere in the write-up I perceived wrongly. But I continued relating with you happily. Being a friend for that matter.

That was why I am still insinuating that your rejoinder was not merely for the sake of rejoinder, it must have been orchestrated from invisible backers, who do not see reason and wisdom in all that I said in my piece. Why? Because some people were praised beyond any reasonable doubt. Which they do not like. So is this the kind of unity you are talking about?

As you said, “No doubt, loyalty is a pride in political parlance. And Ganduje is an embodiment of loyalty. Rather than to ask his opponent, (sic) the question we should ask ourselves is (sic) how loyal are we to our leader and mentor, Dr. Ganduje? Do we all agree to his decisions in the event he made them?”

I am still grappling to know which part of my piece corresponds with this statement.

As you posit, ” While the APC in Kano may have an array of contenders to the office of the governor, the decision to adopt one remains with the party. We should not be bringing out issues that never existed or even if they do, in order to dent the image of others and promote those we support.”

Though you argued that none of the people cited in my piece, either officially or unofficially declared his intention to run for gubernatorial seat, why then are you acknowledging that, APC may have an array of contenders to the office of the governor? Do you really understand what you are saying here Malam Gini?

The rejoinder continues, “From what I understand, Anwar is saying his mind on where his interest tilted to. Neither the gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the 2023 election nor the current Deputy Senate President have clearly made any official or unofficial pronouncement on their intention to vie for the governor’s ticket.”

Hello hello hello Unguwar Gini are you sleeping? Please wake up from slumber. Are you aware of the political implications of this statement for your political ambition? Let me ask for the second time, do you really understand what you are saying here? Hmmm.

The best way I understand this portion of your submission is, you could be one of those APC people who have the opinion that none of the three would-be-contestants is suitable for the seat. It is indeed being economical with the truth to talk in this way.

With all the praise singing accorded to Bichi in your write – up, no where before now when you did any similar write – up or something deeper in showcasing Bichi. Such behavior to me, is shortsightness in public relations. If you really believe in what you are saying concerning Bichi what other efforts did you make in the past to show to Nigerians how worth is Bichi? A challenge! Just go beyond posting his pictures in Ganduje Online or Gawuna Online, in such a primitive way and manner.

To cap it all, nobody is contesting how productive is Bichi and how progressive are all his interventions.

The rejoinder added, “The writer, while making a suggestion on the consolidation of the party’s strength, spread and unrelenting tempo be left with some hardworking individuals, he, to my understanding, inadvertently forgotten, is the likes of Comrade Muhammad Garba, Chief of Staff to the national chairman of the APC,”

This really shows you are totally out of touch with the context of my piece. People like Mohammed Garba do not belong here. We are talking of full fledged politicians. Not only that, even if one is a politician, he has to fit in to this context. Not all politicians we have in APC that fit in here. Talkless of professionals like Mohammed Garba. Please understand my contextual approach.

As a matter of fact, I think I should be in the better position to tell you, within the circle of professionalism, who Mohammed Garba is.

I laughed profusely when you said, “Another dimension to Anwar’s analysis which I would want to respond to is likening the APC’s victory or lack of it to the lingering Kano Emirate tussle. As somebody who has written widely on the subject matter, I do not think the writer truly believes the APC or its elements are banking on the crisis to settle political scores.”

Another misconception from the writer’s part is this issue of Emirate Tussle. No where in my piece I said so so group of people are banking on the crisis to settle political scores. I was just highlighting a possible feeling that, whoever thinks the issue can do miracle in party’s victory in 2027, such a person is deceiving himself. Simple!

Furthermore, as somebody who wrote in the past about this tussle, I think I should understand the crisis more clearly than Unguwar Gini. Who possibly didn’t write as short as two or three paragraphs in the past about it.

I hope this part is said with all sincerity of purpose and responsibility, “It is my firm belief that all the people mentioned by the writer have contributed to the success of the APC in the past and are ready to continue to lend their support to its success in the 2027 election year.”

Anwar, was Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje CON and can be reached at fatimanbaba1@gmail.com

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Opinion

Locating Nigeria in the Global Digital Landscape by Y. Z. Ya’u, CITAD

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Late last year, the Portulans Institute, an independent, nonpartisan research and educational institute based in Washington, DC, released the 2024 Global Network Readiness Index (NRI 2024). The NRI annually ranks countries across over 100 indicators grouped into four broad areas or pillars: technology, people, governance, and impact. The extensive data used for the ranking allows for an assessment of countries’ progress (or lack thereof) in the preceding year.

In the 2024 ranking, Nigeria is placed 112th out of 133 countries, positioning it near the bottom of the ladder. This ranking indicates a lack of progress, as the country dropped from 106th last year to 112th. Nigeria is not even among the top 20 performing countries in Africa.

The results show that Nigeria’s performance declined in three of the four pillars. For instance, in the Technology pillar, the country dropped from 88th last year to 94th in 2024, while in the People pillar, it fell from 96th to 112th. Similarly, in the Impact pillar, Nigeria moved down from 116th to 118th. The Governance pillar also reflects a low ranking, holding steady at 114th.

Among the three sub-pillars of Technology, Nigeria performed relatively well in Content, being ranked 49th. However, in Access and Future Technologies, it was ranked 110th and 99th, respectively. Access remains a key challenge to the effective utilization of digital technology in the country. With the arrival of Starlink, there is presumably universal coverage, which should improve access. However, affordability has worsened over the year due to predatory pricing by Starlink and the collapse of the national currency. This situation is expected to worsen as telecom operators plan to increase tariffs. Additionally, there have been no significant efforts to improve both connectivity and accessibility in the country.

Despite advocacy for community networks as a means to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities, the country has yet to embrace this solution. While the recent launch of the National Broadband Alliance includes an ambitious plan to roll out more fiber, the reality is that fiber deployment without initiatives to reduce costs will not effectively bridge the connectivity gap.

In the Governance pillar, Nigeria’s rankings are 119th, 113th, and 114th for Individual, Regulation, and Inclusion, respectively. In the Impact pillar, the country is ranked 98th in the Economic sub-pillar, 105th in Quality of Life, and 112th in SDG Contribution.

The overall picture becomes even more worrisome when examining the scoring details. Nigeria’s overall score dropped from 35.73 in 2023 to 34.87 in 2024. Similarly, the Technology pillar regressed from a score of 34.42 in 2023 to 32.50 in 2024. Notably, the Access sub-pillar score fell from 55.57 in 2023 to 38.87 in 2024. The People pillar also saw a decline, from 33.89 to 32.50, while the Governance pillar score fell from 37.40 to 28.40. A slight improvement was observed in the Impact pillar, which increased from 37.20 to 39.89.

Among the indicators where the country performed relatively well are Regulatory Environment (ranked 46th), Cybersecurity (55th), Data Capabilities (55th), Annual Investment in Telecommunication Services (27th), AI Scientific Publications (13th), and Domestic Market Scale (26th). However, indicators such as e-commerce, where Nigeria scored 75.00, reflect a ranking of 87th, indicating that most countries performed well in this area.

It is concerning that several of Nigeria’s higher-ranked indicators are not directly related to digital technology. For instance, the highest score of 86.90 for Regulatory Environment reflects the policies and regulations in place rather than technological achievements. Similarly, the scores for Domestic Market Scale (69.39), AI Scientific Publications (61.77), and Annual Investment in Telecommunication Services (63.90) emphasize the size of the population, academic activity, and speculative investment rather than tangible technological outcomes.

Once again, as in the previous year, many indicators for Nigeria had no data available, which negatively impacted the country’s score. These include critical areas such as Internet Access in Schools, Robot Density, Gender Gap in Internet Usage, AI Talent, Government R&D Expenditure, and Quality of Education.

It seems that as a country, we have not learned lessons from previous rankings. No deliberate efforts have been made to ensure data availability in areas where zero scores were recorded in prior years. Despite advocacy and repeated commitments from the government to bridge the gender digital divide, there is still no relevant data to determine whether these efforts are yielding results. This lack of interest or inability to collect disaggregated data along gender lines highlights the absence of a genuine commitment to addressing the gender digital divide. Progress cannot be achieved within a gender-blind framework.

The government has developed a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, but it has yet to move to the implementation stage. Meanwhile, two bills are currently before the National Assembly, both aimed at ensuring the “proper control of AI usage.”

Rather than progressing, Nigeria appears to be falling behind, as several countries have overtaken it, pushing it further down the rankings. After the release of the 2023 NRI, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) convened a stakeholders’ meeting to review the ranking and made recommendations to improve the country’s performance. One of the key suggestions was for Nigeria to localize the NRI process, conduct state-by-state assessments, and provide incentives to high-performing states to encourage competition. Unfortunately, this suggestion was never implemented, and the release of the 2024 NRI did not even elicit a press statement, let alone a stakeholders’ forum.

While the NRI itself does not fully reflect how countries use and benefit from digital technology, it provides valuable insights into areas for improvement. To address these challenges, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) offers the following recommendations:

1. Convene a stakeholders’ forum to review Nigeria’s performance and implement recommendations from last year’s forum. This would help the country develop strategies to improve its ranking and address the digital divide’s various dimensions.
2. Learn from global best practices by licensing a new tier of last-mile connectivity providers to address gaps while considering affordability. Community networks, managed by communities to meet their communication needs, should be promoted.
3. Reform the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) to support community-based communication operators with loans, grants, and technical assistance rather than relying solely on private sector subsidies, which have proven ineffective.
4. Prioritize data collection and management. The lack of data for key indicators significantly affects Nigeria’s ranking. The government must take data seriously across all sectors, not just ICT.
5. Focus on inclusive policy-making through consultation with key stakeholders to address critical gaps, such as bridging the gender digital divide and improving connectivity. The Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy must pursue more inclusive processes to steer the country’s digital transformation effectively.

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