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ABCOAD Matriculates 739 New Students for 2024/2025 Academic Session

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Written by: Abdu Saidu

The Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Dambatta (ABCOAD), held its matriculation ceremony on May 28, 2025, formally welcoming 739 new students into its diverse academic programs. The event marked the beginning of a transformative academic journey for the fresh intakes.

The ceremony, rich in academic tradition and optimism, officially inducted the students into the vibrant intellectual and professional community of one of Nigeria’s foremost agricultural institutions.

In his keynote address, the Provost of the College, Professor M. A. Wailare, congratulated the new students on their successful admission. He described ABCOAD as a “citadel of learning with a proven track record of academic excellence and agricultural innovation.”

“You are privileged to be here today; gaining admission into this institution is not just an academic achievement but a call to higher responsibility—to contribute meaningfully to the development of our agricultural sector and the socio-economic growth of our nation,” he remarked.

Prof. Wailare reiterated the college’s commitment to producing not just certificate holders but solution-driven professionals capable of transforming the agricultural sector through innovation in crop production, livestock, environmental conservation, and agribusiness.

He assured the students of a conducive learning environment, competent faculty, and world-class facilities designed to support their academic and professional growth.

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With 14 operational departments, ABCOAD offers a variety of academic programs—including remedial, certificate, part-time, and full-time courses—catering to students with diverse backgrounds and career aspirations.

In line with its philosophy of hands-on training, the college has distinguished itself in practical agricultural instruction. Recently, ABCOAD partnered with the French Embassy and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to train 500 students in agribusiness entrepreneurship. The initiative aimed to empower students to become self-reliant and industry-ready, particularly in areas such as farm management, agri-value chain development, and food processing.

Prof. Wailare highlighted the institution’s dedication to transforming students into job creators, citing the initiative as a testament to the college’s broader mission.

He also expressed deep appreciation to the Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his unwavering support for ABCOAD. He commended the Governor’s education-focused policies aimed at uplifting the living standards of citizens and tackling poverty and societal ills.

“It is pertinent to acknowledge the support we received from the Kano State Government, especially the accreditation fund that facilitated the visit of the NBTE accreditation team in February, resulting in full accreditation for 12 academic programs,” the Provost said.

He further noted that the government’s intervention extended to covering overhead costs, slashing registration fees by 50%, sponsoring ABCOAD alumni for postgraduate studies abroad, and initiating major infrastructure projects. These include the renovation of the female hostel and the construction of a perimeter fence—both approved by the Kano State Executive Council to enhance security and comfort on campus.

Prof. Wailare also lauded the dedication and professionalism of both academic and non-academic staff, acknowledging their indispensable role in the college’s continued progress.

Barrister Salisu Haruna Ahmad administered the matriculation oath to the new students, officially recognizing them as bona fide members of the college community. He urged them to uphold discipline, respect institutional rules, and remain committed to academic excellence.

The event featured remarks from Heads of Departments, from the Dambatta community, and parents—all of whom encouraged the students to stay focused, disciplined, and patriotic.

The 2024/2025 matriculation ceremony reaffirmed ABCOAD’s status as a leader in agricultural education and innovation in Nigeria. As the college continues to grow in stature and impact, its newest students are poised to carry forward its legacy of excellence, transformation, and service to the nation.

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Uber Shutdowns Operations in Nigeria

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Ride-hailing company, Uber, has shut down its operations in Nigeria.

In a statement, the company, which came into Nigeria in 2014, said its exit is effective from September 2, 2026.

“We are writing to share some difficult news. After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026.

“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2014, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily life connecting you with independent transportation providers.

“Whether it was a morning commute, a ride to see loved ones, or exploring the city, thank you for trusting the platform to connect you to a driver to get you there safely. We know this may cause disruption to your routine, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.”

In a memo on Wednesday, the ride-hailing company also announced elimination of roughly 3,300 positions.

The job cuts focused on management and coordination roles, according to its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.

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“Today, we’re making a number of significant organizational changes across Uber. We are removing layers, simplifying team structures, refining our global location strategy, and focusing our people and investments against the biggest opportunities ahead of us.”

“As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10%. Everyone whose role has been affected has already been notified, except in countries where we will follow the required local process.

“This wasn’t a decision we made lightly, because it will have a real impact on our teammates and friends who have worked hard for Uber. It’s important to say that these changes are about how we’re organized and what we’re prioritizing, not about anyone’s contributions to Uber, which we will always value.

“I’m sure you’re asking, ‘Why, and why now?’ particularly since our business is performing so well. Over the last 5+ years, Uber has grown by orders of magnitude, with our top line nearly tripling. We’ve built new products, expanded into new businesses, reached more consumers and supported more earners, and become a much larger and stronger company. But that growth has also brought complexity: more layers, more coordination, more fragmented ownership, and in some cases structures that made sense when businesses were smaller but no longer serve us well at our current scale.

“Our opportunity from here is enormous: we have the chance to bring Uber to hundreds of millions more people; to invest even more in drivers, couriers and merchants; and to innovate across our core businesses and build the autonomous future.

“The changes we’re making today are designed to do two things: make Uber simpler and faster, and create more capacity to invest in our future. A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating. It will also generate savings that we intend to reinvest in growth, innovation, and the capabilities that will matter most over the coming years.

“It’s our job as leaders to make these difficult calls, and to give you transparency into our thinking and our decision-making process.”

The layoffs are the latest round of job cuts for Uber, which eliminated roles in customer service and HR earlier this year.

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Author of ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ Languishes in Billion Dollar Debt

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the bestselling ’Rich Dad Poor Dad’ book, has accumulated an estimated $1.2 billion debt connected to his aggressive real estate investment.

According to reports, the debt is the estimated amount the 79-year-old author and his business partners borrowed to acquire approximately 1,500 property units as Mr Kiyosaki continues to expand his real estate holdings.

Despite the significant debt, Mr Kiyosaki does not appear apprehensive about the liabilities, maintaining that borrowing money to acquire income-generating assets is a strategy commonly used by wealthy individuals.

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“So, I’m a billion two in debt,” the author said on the ‘Get Rich Education’ podcast recently, adding that people “should not do what I do, right? But I studied it since 1974… If you’re going to learn to use debt, you’d better take some education.”

In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Mr Kiyosaki’s ex-wife and business partner, Kim Kiyosaki, revealed that the debt did not reflect the amount her ex-husband personally owes.

She stressed that it is connected to the real estate properties owned by them and their business partners, adding that Mr Kiyosaki’s personal share of the liabilities is small.

Vanity Fair estimated Mr Kiyosaki’s share of the debt at around $30 million to $60 million.

“We have a lot of apartment houses with our partners. So technically, yes, we have all this debt,” the ex-wife told Vanity Fair.

Speaking to the magazine, Mr Kiyosaki stated, “If it all comes to hell, you can talk to my attorney. Firewalls—that’s the way the rich play the game.”

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Maulud: Best Choice Specialist Hospital Congratulates Kano Governor, Muslims Globally

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The Chairman of Best Choice Specialist Hospital, Kano, Auwal Lawal Muhammad (Dan Malikin Garo), has congratulated the executive governor of Kano State Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the good people of Kano State and Muslims across the world on the occasion of the Maulud celebration commemorating the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In a statement he personally signed, Lawal commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his efforts towards fostering unity among the people of Kano State.

According to the statement, the chairman was amazed on how governor Yusuf placing emphasis on the development to the state particularly in matters concerning religion, saying such initiatives would help reduce divisions, promote mutual understanding and strengthen peaceful coexistence across the state.

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He urged Muslims to use the occasion of Maulud to strengthen their relationship with Allah through increased devotion and prayers for peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria and Kano State.

The Chairman of Best Choice also praised the Governor for his efforts to improve the healthcare sector in the state.

He cited the renovation and upgrading of healthcare facilities, provision of modern medical equipment, as well as the training and development of healthcare workers as some of the administration’s efforts towards improving healthcare delivery in Kano.

Auwal Lawal further commended Governor Yusuf for his dedication, compassion and commitment to the wellbeing of the people, noting that his efforts continue to have a positive impact on the lives of residents across the state.

He prayed for continued peace, unity and prosperity in Kano State and Nigeria, while wishing the Governor and the people of Kano a blessed Maulud celebration now and beyond.

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