Kano varsity to award posthumous honorary degree to Aminu Dantata

Northwest University, Kano, has announced plans to confer a posthumous honorary doctorate on late Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, a revered business mogul and philanthropist who passed away recently at the age of 94.

The university, a state-owned institution formerly known as Yusuf Maitama Sule University, will also honour four other distinguished Kano indigenes during its combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Speaking at a press briefing, Vice Chancellor Professor Muktar Atiku Kurawa revealed that the honourees were carefully selected for their significant contributions to the growth and development of the university.

Among the recipients is Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the founder of the university and its sister institution, Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil. Others include Hajiya Maryam Sunusi Dantata, a renowned philanthropist; Alhaji Aliyu Sa’idu Bebeji, proprietor of Aliko Oil; and Alhaji Adamu Yahya (popularly known as A.Y. Maikifi).

“These individuals have played vital roles in supporting our institution’s mission and progress since inception. The university senate approved these recognitions to reflect their impact,” Professor Kurawa said.

The upcoming convocation will span five academic sessions — from 2018/2019 to 2023/2024 — and will include the university’s first batch of postgraduate students, following the launch of its postgraduate programs in 2021.

Highlighting the uniqueness of this year’s event, the Vice Chancellor announced that the university will officially install its new chancellor, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I, a retired Supreme Court Justice of Nigeria.

A pre-convocation lecture will be held on 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 (NUC). The session will be chaired by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad.

On academic growth, Professor Kurawa disclosed that the university has expanded from five faculties to nine, with a tenth—Faculty of Communication and Media Studies—currently under NUC review. Plans are also underway to establish a Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, which will offer programs in Nursing, Radiography, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, and related fields.

He also confirmed that the NUC has approved the university’s name change from Yusuf Maitama Sule University back to Northwest University, Kano, following the signing of a bill by the state governor in December 2024.

Describing the university as “first among equals,” Professor Kurawa emphasized its rising profile and competitive strength among Nigerian institutions.

While the exact number of graduating students is yet to be released, he assured that a full breakdown by session will be provided ahead of the ceremony.