IN a moment of continental recognition, the President of MAAUN Group of Universities, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has been honoured with the 2025 Thabo Mbeki Award for Excellence in Leadership, a prestigious accolade celebrating transformative African leadership.
The award was conferred by UNESCO, in collaboration with the University of Texas, USA, and the Toyin Falola Foundation, during the 14th edition of the Toyin Falola International Conference on Africa and the African Diaspora (TOFAC), held at the Multipurpose Auditorium of Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, from July 1 to 3, 2025.
Professor Gwarzo was celebrated for his outstanding contributions to university education in Nigeria and his unflinching commitment to the advancement of the African continent, particularly through higher education and research.
The award was received on his behalf by Prof. Ahmad Maigari Ibrahim, Dean of the Postgraduate School, and Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Haruna, Director of the Institute of Africa Higher Education, Research, and Innovations (IAHERI).
The Thabo Mbeki Award recognizes visionary African leaders who exhibit ethical, people-centered governance and who champion the values of the African Renaissance, pan-Africanism, and continental unity. Previous recipients include trailblazers in education, diplomacy, and development.
Prof. Gwarzo, who is also the founder of Maryam Abacha American University in both Nigeria and Niger Republic, has become a symbol of academic transformation in the Sahel region.
His network of institutions and initiatives continues to empower thousands of young Africans, particularly in underserved communities.
With this recognition, Prof. Gwarzo joins a select league of African icons driving sustainable development and educational empowerment across the continent.
