The Northwest University Kano, a state-owned institution has announced that it will confer posthumous honorary degree on late Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, a business magnet and philanthropist, who died recently at the age of 94.
The university also announced that it will confer the honorary degree on four other Kano indigenes who have significantly contributed to its growth and development.
Addressing journalists on the preparations of the upcoming convocation ceremony, to be hold on Friday July 25 and Saturday July 26, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Muktar Atiku Kurawa said other personnel to receive the honor include Engr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, founder of the university and its sister institution, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil.
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Others include Hajiya Maryam Sunusi Dantata, a renowned philanthropist; Alhaji Aliyu Sa’idu Bebeji, proprietor of Aliko Oil; and Alhaji Adamu Yahya (A.Y Maikifi).
“These individuals have played crucial roles in supporting the university and identifying with our mission from inception. We sought Senate approval to honour them accordingly,” the Vice-Chancellor added.
He noted that the convocation would cover five academic sessions — from 2018/2019 to 2023/2024 — during which both undergraduate and postgraduate students will be convocated.
This includes the university’s first cohort of postgraduate students, following the commencement of its postgraduate programs in 2021.
“This year’s convocation is unique, as we will also install our new chancellor, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I, a retired Supreme Court Justice of Nigeria,” Professor Kurawa stated.
A pre-convocation lecture is scheduled for Friday, July 25, at the university’s City Campus, to be delivered by Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission.
The lecture will be chaired by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.
Speaking on institutional growth, Professor Kurawa revealed that the university has expanded from five faculties to nine, with a tenth — Faculty of Communication and Media Studies — currently under review by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Plans are also underway for a Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, which will offer programs such as Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Physiotherapy, and more.
Additionally, the NUC recently approved the university’s official name change from Yusuf Maitama Sule University back to Northwest University, Kano, following a bill signed by the Governor of Kano State on December 35, 2024 (likely meant to be December 25).
Professor Kurawa described the institution as “first among equals,” asserting that Northwest University is progressing steadily and competing favourably with its counterparts across the country.
While the number of students to be convocated is yet to be finalized, the Vice-Chancellor assured the media that the university would release the breakdown by session in due course.
