NORTHWEST University, Kano, on Saturday conferred honorary doctorate degrees on five distinguished Nigerians for their outstanding contributions to education, entrepreneurship, and national development.
The event, held during the institution’s second combined convocation ceremony, drew together academics, political leaders, traditional rulers, parents, and students in a celebration of excellence, leadership, and service.
Former Kano State Governor and presidential candidate, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE, received an Honorary Doctor of Education (Honoris Causa) in recognition of his foundational role in establishing the university and spearheading major educational reforms across the state.
His administration was noted for building hundreds of secondary schools, vocational centres, and initiating scholarship schemes that benefitted thousands of Kano youth both at home and abroad.
The late elder statesman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, was posthumously honoured with an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities for a lifetime of service in Islamic education, commerce, and community development.
Hajiya Mariya Sunusi Dantata, mother of billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, was recognised for her long-standing advocacy in girl-child education and humanitarian efforts, also receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Humanities.
Two other notable business leaders, Alhaji Aliyu Sa’adu Bebeji and Alhaji Adamu Yahaya Maikifi, were also conferred honorary degrees for their outstanding contributions to entrepreneurship and job creation within Kano State and beyond.
Speaking at the event, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, commended the honourees and used the moment to share a personal anecdote revealing that he used his own funds to construct parts of the university’s staff quarters during his time as Commissioner of Works under Kwankwaso’s administration.
“Because of my zeal to ensure Northwest University came into existence, I used my personal money to build some parts of the university,” Yusuf said. “Unfortunately, when we left office, the succeeding government abandoned the vision.”
The governor announced that previously stalled projects at the university have resumed, with contractors back on site, while the state now spends ₦423 million monthly on staff salaries, a testament to the administration’s renewed commitment to education.
He also revealed that 31.1% of the 2025 state budget has been allocated to education, surpassing the UNESCO-recommended benchmark of 25%. In line with campaign promises, Governor Yusuf also restored the university’s original name, Northwest University reaffirming his commitment to preserving the legacy of the institution’s founding vision.
The ceremony stood not only as an academic milestone but also as a tribute to the enduring impact of visionaries and benefactors in shaping the future of education in Kano and Nigeria at large.
