Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN) Commissioned by Dr Maryam Sani Abacha

Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN) Commissioned by Dr Maryam Sani Abacha

By

Musa Abdullahi Sufi
Maradi, Niger Republic

26th December, 20016

-N 1billion Allocated for Permanent Site construction
-Two Former Nigerian First Ladies graced the event
- Niger Republic First Lady, Higher Education Minister and Maradi Regional Governor joined

Thursday 22nd December 2016 another history recorded between Nigeria and Niger Republic relations as Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN) commissioned at the University’s permanent site located at Jiratawa Village in Maradi, Niger Republic. The school permanent site is about 5 km away from the current occupied temporary site in Maradi Regional Capital, Niger Republic.

The MAAUN management welcomed two former first ladies from Nigeria. Dr Maryam Sani Abacha, the wife of Late General Sani Abacha and Hajiya Turai Yaradua the former first lady and wife of Late Umaru Musa Yaradua.

Other important dignitaries at this historic and colourful event includes; first lady and wife of Niger Republic President Dr (Mrs) Malika Issoufou Mamadou, Niger Higher Education Ministers and Governors.

During the lying down foundation of the permanent site the MAAUN Management confirmed, it will spend N1 Billion Naira for the building of the school permanent site.

The MAAUN pioneer, owner and the school president Dr Adamu Gwarzo lamented that “The N1billion will also be used for the construction of lecture theatres, classrooms, administrative blocks and laboratories in the university,” President said at the ceremony.

“The establishment of the University will bring about boosting of socio-economic development of Niger Republic in general and the state of Maradi in particular.” Mr Gwarzo Shed more light.

The school president further disclosed to the gathering that the school will be equipped with standard state of arts required for the students; particularly in the areas of health, environment and technological sciences and studies.

The MAAUN proprietor Dr Gwarzo further provides details of the construction and the importance of the school for the two countries.

“The management will provide all the infrastructural development at the permanent site in phases. The university pledges to lay solid foundation and contribute its quota in the educational sector with the aim of strengthening the existing relationship between Niger and Nigeria.” He said.

In her address at the commissioning Mrs Hajiya Maryam Sani Abacha who is the MAAUN's Board of Trustees Chairperson, emphasized on the good relationship that exist between the two countries.
“Niger Republic and Nigeria are well known for their close and historic relations which has grown over time.” She lamented.

Mrs Abacha further remarks that “ ….I feel particularly thrilled and confident that this university, being the first English Speaking University in this country will greatly compliment the broad and rich academic culture that already exist in Niger Republic particularly in the universities and other tertiary institutions.
“ I am thus happy that the Thrust of the University is clearly focused on knowledge, creativity, discipline and manpower development. No doubt Niger Republic and the entire West African Sub region now and in the future will greatly benefit from the thrust and vision of this university” She said.

The former Nigerian first lady applauded the administration of the University for naming the School after her.

“For the kind consideration of naming the university, I wish to immensely thank the founder and president of the University Dr Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, the administrative and academic staffs as well the entire university community…” she told the gathering.

MAAUN is the first English University in the country with high records of influx of students from Nigeria due to its proximity, professional lecturers, equipment, support, serene learning environment, respect, friendly and good standard expectations for international students. The MAAUN mission is to provide knowledge for research and development of needed manpower resources for the growth of students and the society at large.

Juyin Rayuwa Teaser 2

President Buhari received appreciation and good commendations from global leaders in New York, USA.

Buhari received appreciation and good commendations from global leaders in New York, USA.

By: M A Sufi. 

Global Leaders commended Buhari efforts while non objective critics in Nigeria are flooding social media with bad comments against the president. 

The selected comments are from Holande of france, UN lead Banki Moon and lastly President Obama of USA. 

Below are some key leaders comments to The Nigerian president. 

Hollande, France President.
“We will invest in Nigeria, we believe in her,” 

"Nigeria is a fertile ground for handsome return on investments.

“Apart from your country’s close relationship with us, you have the same with most of our neighbours.

“We seek more collaboration, particularly in agriculture, mining and security,” President Buhari told Francois Hollande of France.

Banki Moon
"You are highly respected by world leaders, including myself. Your person has given your country a positive image.”

Obama, US President
lamented that President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic reforms is “bold”.

“We discussed broader issues on development and the president is taking some very bold economic reforms in allowing for a flexible exchange rate.

“We are focusing on agriculture and we pledged to offer all the assistance that we can in that area and as the president is trying to stamp out corruption and to recover external funds that may have been illegally obtained and are sitting in bank accounts around the world.

“As he continues to work to see that the security forces inside Nigeria are abiding to professional and human right standards, what we have pledged is that we will partner in any way that we can be helpful,” President Obama said at a briefing after the bilateral talks.

“America is willing to help in any way it can to facilitate a reduction of conflict in the Niger Delta region, a major oil-producing region, but one that has been mired by a number of militant organisations that have appropriated or siphoned off the oil revenues.

“The president, I think, is wisely heading a delegation to bring varying stakeholders together and try to make progress on that front. We want to be helpful in any way that we can,’’ 

My advise to my colleague as activist, critics, parrots and myopic Nigerians on current present Nigerian progress vs challenges; is to please be very honest and objective on using all kinds of words that is not for the development of Nigeria. 

May God bless Nigeria. Ameen. 

Compile by Musa Abdullahi Sufi
Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria

The Man

The Man
By: Musa Abdullahi Sufi

I stand with the man
The exceptional Man
The believable man
The trustworthy man

In assessing the man
Look within and outside the man
Analyse factors for the man
The challenges face by the man
Be objective towards the man
At then you can unbiased judge the man

Fortunate not unfortunate for the man
He took power from a man
Corruption a  must to be fight by the man
Nation revenue source fall not by the man
Global recession hits nations not the man

Rainy season, food shortage blames on the man
But never like this year farmlands used as ambitions of the man
Sticked to sustainable future as focused man

The people expect president fix the state magically as a man
Damage Implants for decades met by the man
Bad eggs in the government of the man
Fighting to escape justice as efforts by the man

Over 170 million expect magic from a Man
To provide food, shelter and everything as a man
Individuals, groups or community roles silent in supporting the man
High expectation of quick results from citizens to the man

A man who fight dependency for national development as a man
Fuel below official price by the man
North east and Kano bombing muted by the man

During economic woes during the man
Zakkat and Sadaqat way to help the man
There is a plan for the nation by this man
CHANGE is the word used by the man
From individuals  appeal by the man

To promote integrity and honestly like the man
For fast and sustainable better Nigeria expect from the man
The change starts with me I stand for the man
For a better future for everyone, man

President Muhammadu Buhari is the man
Let's not allow recession  loose our faith on the man
Let's see if there are plans working by the man
Let's see forces internal and outside militating effort by the man
How accountable government cabinet and chambers apart from the man ?

May God bless Nigeria and the Man!

Unedited : Sufi

I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your knowledge and wealth with those with less income, Buhari Tells Zuckerberg the Facebook CEO

I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your knowledge and wealth with those with less income, Buhari Tells Zuckerberg the Facebook CEO

By Musa Abdullahi Sufi

Kano, Nigeria

Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg visited President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa on Friday, September 2, 2016. His visit came after he visited Lagos and Kenya.  He came for a special meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Osinbajo and other government officials in the state House.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the Chief Executive Officer and also the Co-founder of Facebook social network hosting over 1.7 billion subscribers.

President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr Femi Adesina, said President Buhari made the approval to received the Internet entrepreneur at the State House.

The President during his meeting with Zuckerberg  said that President Buhari told Zuckerberg that the  different meetings hold with Nigerian youths as he arrived  were well-timed, as the Nigeria was already exploring opportunities to offshoot development through entrepreneurship.

Buhari said “Nigeria has always been identified as a country with great potential for growth, especially with our youth population, but now we are moving beyond the potential to reality.”

“I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your knowledge and wealth with those with less income,’’ Buhari emphasized further.

The president also further added that “we are not used to seeing successful people appear like you; we are not used to seeing successful people jogging and sweating on the streets. “We are more used to seeing successful people in air-conditioned places; we are happy you are well-off and simple enough to always share.”

The happy and cheering looking Zuckerberg in his remarks, said he was overwhelmed by the interest, energy and entrepreneurial spirit revealed by young Nigerians in all the ICT camps visited in his first visit.

The CEO and co-founder of Facebook quoted that “I was highly impressed by the talent of the youths in the Co-creation Hub in Yaba (Lagos). I was blown away by their talent and the level of energy that I saw.”

He further added that he came to Nigeria to promote the penetration and diffusion of “fast and cheap” internet connectivity, Express-wifi, that would help people to create online businesses and reduce poverty vanguard news also reported.

The visit was full of happiness, smiles and laughter as well as taking Selfies. Zuckerberg seems extremely happy with the visit and impressed with high confidence in the president of the most populous nation in Africa.  

However, the bottom-line is Nigerian Youths and Exploration of the ICT for Jobs and creative industry will be given a paramount importance. The visit further highlighted to the nation effort in diversification of the economy from highly dependent on Oil to Agriculture, Tourism, and ICT as the answer to our current economic challenges.

Sayyeed Sad story and the untold stories of streets kids in Northern Nigeria

Sayyeed Sad story and the untold stories of streets kids in Northern Nigeria

By: Musa Abdullahi Sufi

Sayyeed is 10 years old according to popular Kano based journalist with Freedom Radio Nasir Nasiru Salisu Zango. 

During Zango interview with the child and he narrated the very ugly part of the story caused by his own biological parent divorced but sacrifice their child to social vices while they are enjoying their new partners. 

The 10 year old street boy narrated that "his parents got divorced while he was 8 years old. His father sent him away to the child mother and his (child ) mother also sent him away; reasoning that her new husband cannot host the child that is not his own" Culled from Zango post. 

Since his parents threw him away from their 2 separate home and no one to take care of him Sayyed decided to venture into street roaming for survival.

" I move around from one location to another and join other beggars to get food since my parent can't stay with me anymore and I am doing this for 2 years now. I sleep anywhere I found myself" shared boy statement. 

This further means he got beaten by rain, cold, breezes and powerful winds as season and weather changes. This also means how his interactions is with the social vices bedeviling the society today. 

To stress his experience he inform the public that he is interested in schooling so that he can be rich and feed people because it is not easy to be hungry he said. 

Sayyeed is one of a thousands of kids roaming the streets with many having their parents alive, healthy and sometimes well to do. 

The kids roaming the streets apart from missing what is love they go through hardships, slavery, child labor , sexual assault and abuse, drug abuse and diseased to mention but few

My concern with Sayyeed and the thousands like him are;
1. How lucky he is not to be taken away by mafians
2. How safe is he against being a victim of sexual abuse?
3. What about the pressure to steal in order to survive?
4. If he continue living as such will he ever have a soft heart for anyone ?
5. How will he think and look at his parent as he grow up?

The questions will continue flowing with much concerns . However, who is responsible for this act of terror against such children. Yes, the act of terror to the future of this kids and the generation for the north and Nigeria ! 

I thinks the following are to be blame for the situation. They include ;
1. Our religious and traditional leaders
2. Community members and families
3. The influentials and elites
4. The teachers and educated (high or less)
5. Filmmakers or the Kannywood for not doing stories of such danger much
6. Our writers especially of the local languages
7. The media who are more interested in negative stories than stories of making change. And no creative programs to hear such cases
8. Government and policy makers
9. Parents and plus 

These aforementioned categories are the causes and the solutions to such unwanted dangerous phenomenon in the society. This is the current state of northern Nigerian children in thousands. 

Finally with my note is to emphasize that , there are thousands of kids males and females roaming the streets with no love or care from anyone. Their life and future is in danger daily. And it is also unavoidable reality that we are also in danger by the payback of our non response to support them timely by all means possible. 

Parents, government, imams. Traditional leaders, filmmakers, media and everyone hand must be on desk to save people like Sayyed and dealt with parents like his heartless parent.

Multiple Suicide Attacks across Saudi Arabia; The home of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Multiple Suicide Attacks across Saudi Arabia; The home of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)....

Reported by Musa Abdullahi Sufi 

At the sundown of Monday 29th of the holy month of Ramadan (4th July 2016) suicide bombers blew themselves in Qatif and Madina of Saudi Arabia. 

The attacked came after Saudi Security foiled another attacked in Jeddah near US consulate earlier. 

Report confirmed the medina explosion took place in the location of a police station outside the prophet's mosque that leads to the death of 4 policemen and 2 civilians.

Arab news reported that , according to police source the police officers were breaking their fast during Iftar when they tragedy happened. 

The police were reported to invite the bomber to join them for iftar as Islam instruct and on getting near he exploded his suicide vest.

A police source told Arab News that the officers manning the post were having their iftar meal when the suicide bomber struck.
The bomber reportedly asked to join the policemen in having iftar and he was welcomed. As soon as he got near, he exploded his suicide vest.

The security forces have cordoned off the Prophet's Mosque and worshippers were not permitted to get in or out as at the time of filing this report. 

The governor of Medina Prince Faisal bin Salman visited the site and Al Ansar Hospital where those affected during the blast are receiving treatment. 

Furthermore, two suicide bombers blew themselves up In Qatif, the Eastern Province outside the Faraj Al-Omran Mosque. Details are scanty at the moment.

Monday 2:15 a.m. earlier another suicide bomber killed himself after he blew himself up close to the US Consulate. His suicide mission was faulted when consulate security confronted him as he drew back suspiciously to a parking lot of Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital.

The spokesman of the ministry of interior Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, confirmed the bomber who is in his 30s, was identified as an expatriate from the United Kingdom he said. 

Muslims and non Muslims condemned the attack and already the saying of prophet Muhammad (SAW) about attacking the holy city reading millions of shared through social media quoted below ;

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "None plots against the people of Medina but that he will be dissolved (i.e. destroyed) like salt is dissolved in water." [al-Bukhari]

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whoever terrifies the people of Madina through oppression, God will terrify him. The curse of God, His angels, and all humans will be upon him. God will not accept his compulsory or optional good deeds on the Day of Judgment." [al-Nasa'i, Sunan; Ahmad, Musnad]"

May Allah continue to protect Islam. 

Musa Abdullahi Sufi compiled the report.

Buy Made in Nigerian Products as Dollar Hike – Is it Buhari Agenda for National Development?

Buy Made in Nigerian Products as Dollar Hike – Is it Buhari Agenda for National Development?

By 

Musa Abdullahi Sufi, Kano, Nigeria

Yesterday Saturday 20th February 2015, within 4 hours of a day I encountered  the following;

1.     The fish seller claiming increase in price of fish he is selling was due to increase in dollar against Naira exchange rate even though he caught it from the pond free

2.     Mechanic who repaired my car charge me high and relate it with same reason like fish seller

3.     Participated in the discussions with some brilliant and intelligent guys. Some believed Buhari is a good choice but quack cabinet members, blaming Buhari for giving Fashola 3 ministries to handle. And others didn’t vote for Buhari because the knew Nigerians will suffer paying tax and militarization of government etc.

4.     In another group discussion, the people including gatemen are abusing Buhari for allowing dollar to go much higher against Naira and causing economic suffering for the populace

5.     I noticed that many people assumed that Buhari is operating devaluation of Nigerian currency.

Is Dollar rising against Naira, a beneficial opportunity for the Nigerian  Economy?

In view of the above statement, I decided to go back to my elementary economics texts and was able to generates some of the following highlights

1.     If dollar is high than naira in exchange market then dollar will be scarce both in black and lawful market, thus less use of dollar in the economy

2.     High Dollar against Naira  our business men and women buying every little thing from abroad will be buying  locally

3.     The Local market products will rapidly keeps increasing as buyers focus to long neglected local products

4.     Already, local business made in Nigerian products in Aba, Lagos and Kano for example is booming  by the hour  and employment created automatically

5.     It seems today buying products abroad will leads the business owner  to bankruptcy as customers cant afford the price of imported goods purchased in dollars. The value to get and use naira  by business men and women is increasing  thus, more value to Naira

6.      

7.     The medical tourism is going down because the price is tripled for curing of minor headache and other serious ailment by the bourgeois

8.     Pursuing foreign education will be at it lowest soon due to cost

9.     More business women will benefits from this change due as some internationally dominants products that destroy local business like the coming Brazilian hair to locally more braiding of hair that employ thousand of local women

10. The market of made in Nigeria products is practically moving. I bought N3000 jeans and school bag N200 few days ago respectively.

11. Made in Nigeria products are now sighted on display and buys everywhere

12. The wide gap between the rich and the poor could be virtually bridge due to simplifying life through developing local economy and creating jobs that leads to more income earners.

Finally, as dollars upsurge against Naira, Nigerians will automatically stop buying from abroad and the investors will find their way to Nigeria with their dollars because Nigeria have the market.  With their investment Nigeria will profited from employment created, tax generated, market and cheap products as locally made. 

Consequently, in a near future if the planned strategies that are partially made known to Nigerians work; our employment, education, health and all other institutions will receive attention much more at the moment. But this is only possible if  ‘We’ Nigerians realizes that ‘We’ can only be great if we value what we have!

Obama recently said “ Hoping your President fails is the same as hoping your country fails, and its NOT patriotism. PATRIOTISM is supporting your Commander-in-Chief, even if you don’t agree with him on everything”

Musa Abdullahi Sufi

Medical and Development Geographer

Kano, Nigeria

Exploring Real National Issues!

My thinking for Development: Dangote vs Zakkat: My Opinion by Musa A Sufi

My thinking for Development: Dangote vs Zakkat: My Opinion by Musa A Sufi

Dangote vs Zakkat: My Opinion by Musa A Sufi

Dangote vs Zakkat: My Opinion

By

Musa Abdullahi Sufi

16/02/2016

Social media this week is highly recommended in the Nigerian context on what sister Ajimot   wrote about Dangote letter about Zakkat. Some hours later another letter replying Sister ... By Abba Dantata  from  Dangote family Surfaced out. Both are great expression of status of truths and very useful to not only Muslims but non Muslims! that explore what Zakkat is all about.

However, my opinion about the Dangote Zakkat and his foundation is that yes many great initiatives are done and even on going but he (Alhaji Dangote) and his team needs to know about the under supported and less privilege persons in our communities .

They are the  people with  one (1) square meal or zero a day, children with torn clothes and moving around with no clothes during harmattan ( cold) or rainy  season. They are mostly living  with no information and or access to healthcare services  and neonatal and child mortality is rampant in this group of people.

In fact, mothers who got no economic or decision making power in the family and community  even while very sick continuously taken away during pregnancy, child birth or after delivery by death known as Maternal death. Most often dies with the baby she suffered carrying  for over 9 months with little poor diet (food) and hard work for the household to survive.

From experience with your support to women in Kano during former State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso resulted to thousands of  women with  poorly business to boost beyond expectations. Similarly,  In similar program  implemented by development partners in some state though on health but using empowerment to improve health.

In this program,  women that were supported  found to be highly health seeking families and supporting the husbands. In fact, marriages stop  broken by over 70℅ and  conflicts between couples dropped by over 90% in the supported communities. Such areas needs support to improve status of many less privilege household.

Some  women during the  project selected from the most poor and voiceless but they turned out to be the best in the group after few months.  In such communities today, individuals and groups are working together to support those who are under supported. Others needs to benefit from Dangote initiatives too.

My call to Dangote and alike  is to deploy experts or build on previous or existing development programs to get  easy access  to support such group of individuals that at times I called them the invisible  members of the society. Such groups are not involved when organizations or government come to support because they are mostly poor, rejected and forgotten due to their status in the society.

Never forget to mention how drug abuse today is rapidly changing the future of present generation more especially younger ones and married women. This area needs urgent attention as it is  t where present  due to  community neglect and poverty among the populace more especially here in the north.

Orphans, widows and divorced mothers  known to be  the victims of rape, trafficking , drug abuse among others mainly because they lack economic power to be secure and independent ( many of then )

It is also proved that poverty is not the only  factor why people find themselves in need of help but some are only requiring moral support through various approaches and strategies to overcome their status of being under supported. . 

While I appreciate Dangote foundation support in many  areas  but his  Zakkat and other initiatives  needs to target the forgotten, absolute poor, broken, third class citizens in our society. If this is taken care then Alhamdulillah but there is needs to spread more on that.

Finally, ,  Dangote, the time to do support them is  actually now. Mentoring, monitoring, coaching and  supportive supervision and the  use of data as evidence to inform initiatives direction, scale up and buys in is  equally vital and necessary to ensure effective project implementation and resources use in an ACCOUNTABLE manner.

Best Wishes

Musa Abdullahi Sufi.

Kano, Nigeria 

From the midst of people who are poorly supported