By Usman Usman Garba
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has announced a ₦50m donation for the establishment of a Technology Innovation Hub at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
The governor made the pledge while attending the university’s 45th convocation ceremony held at the Mamman Kontagora Square, Zaria.
A statement issued on Saturday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, said the donation would be implemented through a partnership involving the Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Foundation and AMA Pharmaceuticals Limited, aimed at promoting youth empowerment, education, leadership development and socio-economic inclusion.
The ceremony also featured the conferment of an Honorary Doctor of Science degree on a former Minister of Finance and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in recognition of her contributions to national and global development.
According to the statement, Yusuf described the donation as part of the Kano State Government’s commitment to forging strategic partnerships with reputable institutions that drive human capital development and sustainable growth.
He said the initiative aligns with his administration’s people-centred agenda, which prioritises education, skills acquisition and the empowerment of young people and women.
The governor commended the Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Foundation for its interventions in leadership training, mentorship, education support and policy advocacy, particularly among underserved communities, while also acknowledging the role of Alhaji Musa Abdullahi Bello and AMA Pharmaceuticals Limited in facilitating the project.
Yusuf noted that Kano State currently has about 6,000 indigent students studying at ABU, adding that the innovation hub would indirectly benefit many youths from the state through expanded educational and development programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Adamu Ahmad, praised the governor for his strong leadership and commitment to education in Northern Nigeria, while the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, also lauded Yusuf’s contributions to improving learning outcomes and academic excellence in Kano State.
The convocation attracted academics, government officials, traditional rulers, development partners and students from across the country.
The statement added that the governor reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to continue collaborating with development partners, foundations and civil society organisations to promote inclusive development and improve citizens’ welfare.
