THE Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has expressed confidence that Kano State and the northern region will reciprocate President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill and support in the 2027 elections.
Barau made this statement today during his annual undergraduate scholarship programme held at the newly renamed Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education in Kano.
The event was attended by the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata; Kano State APC Chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas; the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Kadage; and the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ado Abdullahi.
In his remarks, Senator Barau commended President Tinubu for approving the long-standing request to upgrade the institution to a full-fledged university.
“I want to thank our President — a leader we are all proud of, who loves Kano, the North, and Nigeria as a whole,” Barau said. “He graciously approved our request to upgrade this institution, and for that, we remain deeply grateful.”
He noted that the demand for the upgrade had lasted nearly a decade, describing the President’s swift approval as proof of his commitment to education and human capital development.
“The rain that beats you is the real rain,” Barau added metaphorically. “We have never asked Mr President for anything and been turned down. Why shouldn’t we love him? We must reciprocate his kindness — and we will, come 2027.”
Barau commended Tinubu’s educational vision, noting that human capital remains the greatest asset of any nation.
“If you get it right in education, you have succeeded,” he said. “That is why we place immense value on developing our people through learning.”
The Deputy Senate President also applauded President Tinubu for approving the renaming of the university in honour of the late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule — a respected statesman, diplomat, and one of Kano’s foremost leaders.
He described Tinubu as the “grandfather” of the institution, while referring to himself as its “father,” pledging continued support for its growth and development.
Barau recalled that the decision to rename a state-owned institution after Maitama Sule during the previous administration in Kano had been reversed by the current state government.
“When I presented a request to the President to name this institution after our elder statesman, he immediately approved it. This shows his deep respect for Kano and our heroes,” he said.
As part of his contribution to education, Barau announced scholarships for 1,000 students from the Kano North Senatorial District and promised to expand the scheme across the state.
He urged students to remain committed to their studies, emphasizing that education is the foundation of any thriving society.
“If I, as a grandfather and a PhD student, can still pursue education, then no young person has an excuse to stop learning,” he remarked.
The Senator reiterated that investing in education remains the most sustainable means of empowering communities and ensuring long-term progress.
In their remarks, APC Chairman Prince Abdullahi Abbas and Minister Yusuf Ata commended President Tinubu for his continued support to Kano and northern Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Kadage, lauded Senator Barau for his visionary leadership and dedication to the institution, recalling that the university’s establishment originated from a bill he sponsored in the National Assembly.