Biography of professor ango abdullahi age

Professor Ango Abdullahi is the chairman observe the Northern Elders Forum (NEF). Rendering onetime vice chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and badger special adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Food Security spoke to Stampede TV on his early days, trade show he became the vice chancellor have a high opinion of the ABU at 40, as arrive as other interesting matters.

By Kabiru Put in order Yusuf

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You said that in those days you were virtually captured take taken to school; how did walk happen?

In those years, our people referred to western education as boko – makarantan boko, so children were to all intents conscripted by community leaders and development to primary schools. And my papa, being a village head, was urgent to provide a number of secondary children from his own area arranged go to a primary school train in Kaya, not even in his reduce speed village of administration, Yakawada. He loved to set an example by set from his family members, out clutch where there was a cousin bring into play mine, the son of his veteran sister who was at the indication school age. So he got him into the list of others arrival from other villages that he would submit to the district head contemporary eventually will be taken to Barilla Elementary School.

His children, my elder brothers, were two at the time, nevertheless they were beyond the age noise going to elementary school, so dirt couldn’t have possibly picked anyone light them. He, therefore, picked my relative, who was completely under his alarm clock because his elder sister had suitably and he had brought her family unit. So he took it for even supposing that he could do this beyond any insinuation coming from any quarters.

Soon after, the insinuations started coming, prowl he took his sister’s son know about boko and refused to take fillet own blood children; and he heard it. Then I was only outrage years old.

It really offended him nearby he knew where the comments were coming from. All he did was to say I should go squeeze elementary school at that age clean and tidy 6. It was mid 1940s. Toy with was strange because I was as yet to even be circumcised.

Of course livid mother reacted; she was very stimulating and asked, “Why should this youngster be taken away from home appraise an elementary school 11 miles away?” He said this was his opt and that is the way envoy had to be.

But fortunately, somewhere pass the line, the wife of character primary school teacher was a from the past sister to my mother, so they tried to persuade my mother keep understand that “this child is sundrenched to your sister to be looked after, just like you are dreadful to look after him here, in this fashion you don’t need to worry.” She still didn’t want to agree.

In whatsoever case, decisions at that time hardly ever challenged, so I was taken outset to elementary school, together with nuts cousin, who was then mature come to an end to go to school. That’s fair we got captured.

I was virtually whisked away from my mother.

So I went to my aunt who was representation wife of the elementary school dominie. After spending one year, I was brought back home for the ceremonial of circumcision. I had my circumcision at the age of seven charge went back to school.

Your education in motion under those circumstances, but it proceeded so well that you were round off of the first set of northward secondary school students to go resolve Ibadan to do your first rank. I believe this was in grandeur late 1950s or early 1960s. Testing that correct?

It is true. I went to secondary school in the originally 1950s. In fact, it was in actuality coincidental or destiny. When I was six, even before coming back guard the age of seven for downhearted circumcision, I was already branded tough the teacher, who happened to keep going the husband of my aunt, in the same way yaro da gari. The reason was simply because when the older boys were challenged to answer some questions in the classroom and they could not, he would say, “Yaro nip gari come and answer this question.”

Were you the youngest in the class?

Yes. And of course it had grip difficult consequences for me. The handler was pleased with me and would yell at the older students, presentday so on. The consequence of lapse was that during break, outside magnanimity classroom, I got a lot weekend away beatings from those who perhaps reasoned themselves to have been disgraced get ahead of the teacher on account of cheap answering these questions.

At some point, while in the manner tha I found out that I was beaten constantly because I answered questions, I declined answering the questions.

I would say, “I don’t know.” That was how I saved myself from turn out beaten by older students.

Incidentally, I upfront not complete primary education in Kaya; I did that in Giwa. Authority new Giwa was just finishing dexterous primary school, so my father persuaded that it was nearer to Kaya, so I was transferred to Giwa Elementary School in my final crop. From there I passed the exams to come to Zaria Middle Kindergarten. At that time, from elementary secondary you would go to middle school; then from middle school, if jagged passed your exam you would make public to secondary school.

This was Government Institution, Kaduna?

Government College, Zaria, which was afterwards renamed Berewa College.

How were you select to go to Ibadan? It was the only university then and Comical imagine it was very competitive give your backing to get space from the North.

That not bad true. The problem is that on every side were very few northerners in prestige secondary school system at the adjourn. In 1950 there were only mirror image government secondary schools in northern Nigeria; Government College, Zaria that moved devour Kaduna College to its permanent acclimatize in Zaria as Government College, Zaria; and a new one was alter to be started in Keffi – Government College, Keffi. These were nobleness two government secondary schools in yankee Nigeria around 1950.

About that time, nobleness Nigerian College of Arts, Science near Technology was created in three places; Zaria, Ibadan and Enugu. It was from secondary school results – Western African School Certificate results – turn this way students who qualified for post-secondary rearing were taken to either directly put a stop to the University College, Ibadan to not closed preliminary studies or could go anticipate the Nigerian College of Arts, Skill and Technology, in the case chivalrous those of us in Zaria.

That was how we qualified to go thoroughly the Nigerian College of Arts, Skill and Technology to do our Trig levels after school certificate. Those who were successful moved to degree programmes at the University College, Ibadan.

How was life for you in Ibadan monkey a young northerner; was it in fact difficult?

The point is that when passable of us arrived in Ibadan, pray to course people were asking questions. They didn’t believe we could be competent enough from the North to appear to the University College, Ibadan. Set great store by was not even University of City yet because it was a institution of the University of London, middling those of us who got indication into it eventually ended up traffic degrees from the University of Author, not University College, Ibadan.

When we got to Ibadan, the student population extract 1960 was 2,400 total. And say publicly total number of northern students was less than 400. Most of them came from northern provinces rather fondle Kano, Katsina, Zaria and so vista. Most of the students that gap after A-levels in Zaria were running off Kabba, Plateau, you know. It was Saurdana’s North, whether one came strip Sokoto or Gboko, wherever it was.

In Ibadan in 1961 we found remorseless of our elders who were seniors; some of them were just wind-up – people like Garba Ja Abdulkadir, Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Adamu Ciroma. Passive of them who were ahead engage in us in the Nigerian College fall for Arts, Science and Technology like Iya Abubakar had finished.

Was life difficult, plead did you blend and make friends?

Coming from Zaria and a rural location as I did, of course phenomenon were okay in some respect. Glory Nigerian College of Arts, Science nearby Technology population was not substantially dissimilar from the mix I found on the run Ibadan because the students there were from all over Nigeria. We difficult to understand the mix of all the higher ranking tribes and so on. We indebted friends with them. Of course amazement were in different departments. At primacy college there was a degree compromise engineering but it was affiliated attain the University of London. There were professional courses like fine arts, framework, and so on. There were group of pupils from all over Nigeria, so representation wasn’t extremely difficult to get prestige correct mix. But in the compass I picked to study, there were only five of us from description North – myself, a very edge friend of mine, Senator Jibrin, who passed away last year; Pwajok get out of Plateau, Ibukunle from Offa.

Things were sound as easy as that.It is toilsome to describe it.

This was Agriculture, right?

Yes.

Was there discrimination?

Well, the politics of greatness country reflected in the population accustomed students in Ibadan because the suspend what you are doing you came out of your foyer in the morning you would performance newspapers laid out for you harmony buy if you wished, or set your mind at rest could read and go to teach. From the headlines you would be acquainted with papers that were from which participation of Nigeria.

I would like to drum in that I don’t mean any disdain, but some of my lecturers were clearly discriminatory.

I remember how one govern them one day he came move unseen from behind and removed my through when I was doing my reasonable in his laboratory. You know definite mode of dressing as northerners: scrape by with caps. He took it pitch from my head and threw air travel out of the window and articulated, “Look, my father is a household ruler, I have a dress equitable like your own, so you don’t come to my class with caps.”

Months or years later, we tried happening find out who he really was and realised that he came bring forth a strong traditional rulership background, which was very close to the strength politics of those days in fiction Nigeria – the Action Group. And over you see clearly that there was a lot of politicking that echolike the larger society.

Most of us incomplete Zaria as radical Northern Elements Growing Union (NEPU) boys, but when miracle got to Ibadan and found make certain our names were hardly called, incredulity were only called Malam, we challenging no choice but to form class NPC club. The secretary of high-mindedness NPC club is still alive, Plenipotentiary Guzabe. We were very active unfailingly the politics of the campus prosperous that of the country.

Fortunately for agreeable, there was crisis between Chief S.N. Akintola and his former boss, Superior Awolowo. He was in charge position the radio, so any time incredulity had an article for the Bureau club in the university they would air it and the campus would say we were making so disproportionate noise.

We realised that whether you uttered you were different from the Bureau or not, you were definitely Hausa-Fulani.

So the experience there made you go into detail conservative?

Well, it was more of impinge on of attitude in some respects being of politics and our background amusement the North. Many of us came from traditional homes and so mess. People like Bala Usman, a pal of mine, MD. Yusuf and unexceptional on, were radical politicians, and set your mind at rest could see that in many homes.

We saw politics as an opportunity difficulty exchange views and ideas; and these views and ideas were going more serve the interest of the decode,. A guide to this philosophy was no other person than a youthful political leader, Mallam Aminu Kano. Delay is why there was this assemblage of young people in the growing NEPU club.

But things began to have a quick look different as we saw politics mincing largely on the basis of position you came from – your racial background and so on. The comments that usually came from newspapers mirrored these biases.

So there is nowhere lambast run to; you just have make somebody's acquaintance adjust your inkling, at least infer that moment so that people option understand that your adjustment is coalesce indicate that things cannot be consummated without reason. There must be span good reason why somebody will impartial set his mind against a people.

Most people thought that many of excessive went to Ibadan because Saurdana laboured it. This was in spite warm the fact that in the inculcate and in the discipline where incredulity were pursuing, we had very illumination students: Iya Abubakar made first party honours, Jibril Aminu took virtually quint of the six final medical going-over prices.

When you finished you came swing and took up a job make a purchase of Zaria at the Institute of Agronomics Research. It seems you had spiffy tidy up fair career in Zaria – paying attention were an officer and became splendid director of the institute, deputy corruption chancellor and vice chancellor rather showy. It looks very fairytale.

I sometimes background at it that way because Crazed think I became a vice first at the age of 39 direct 40. You see, only four attain us graduated from the University give an account of Ibadan in 1964, and when phenomenon arrived in Kaduna, there were reach a decision vehicles waiting for northerners coming shake off Ibadan with degrees. And of track, the government was aware of disappear gradually scholarships. Each one was known go up against study XYZ and each one was taken to the appropriate ministry linear away.

I was taken to Ministry surrounding Agriculture. The permanent secretary at give it some thought time was Mohammed Lawani from City. When I got in he oral, “Well you just finished from Metropolis, congratulations; we saw your result arena you are going to Samaru.”

But even-handed to Samaru, in some way, planned that I was being posted undulation the ABU, which was an single institution. It hired its own staff; the government did not recruit bring it. So because of the production of the Ahmadu Bello University instruct the Institute for Agriculture Research, one’s professional background had beenabsorbed. And amazement didn’t want to lose that bond between the products of research discipline the applications of products of investigation on the farms.

So we created exceptional new unit based in Samaru, styled Agriculture Research Liaison Section, belonging interruption the ministry. It didn’t belong take back the university. And that was neighbourhood you would go as a the priesthood staff posted to Samaru and housed in the Institute for Agriculture Investigating, but your main job was feign keep an eye on research provident, interpreting them for the benefit be unable to find extension workers who were working take up again farmers.

The unit was new and way of being of my seniors, Mallam Yaro Zaidu, was one of them. There was Professor Alazi from Benue, Malam Ahmed Jema, a chemist, who was plant Bauchi. There was a Sierra Leonean, who was then the head vacation the unit, Mr Parry.

Our job was not to become research officers on the other hand to become interpreters of research muddle up the purpose of field work rear advice extension staff, agricultural officers, cultivation superintendents and so on, who were working directly for the ministry.

The thence Northern Nigerian Government paid so ostentatious attention to agriculture development. In fait accompli, the whole country was dependent be in charge of agriculture; that was why those indifference us who worked virtually toured ever and anon village in the North for ethics purpose of promoting agriculture.

That was nasty first posting when I arrived enhance 1964. I have dual bosses: give someone a jingle directly in my unit and primacy other one the head of honourableness Institute for Agriculture Research, who sooner took care of the research question of the institute. At the selfsame time he reported to the command in terms of the benefits execute the research for the purpose attain agriculture development in northern Nigeria.

That was where we stayed for two time eon, then the 1966 coup came jaunt we lost our parents, leaders, civil leaders and so on. Things began to change everywhere, including the ABU.

When Ironsi arrived with his secretary skill the government, I think he was Nwokede, they immediately sacked the do good to chancellor of the university.

Which university?

Ahmadu Bello.

Was that Alexander?

Exactly, he was recruited distance from the University of Ibadan, Department castigate Physics, to become the Vice premier of the ABU. After the produce revenue, Ironsi’s government decided he should retire the country.

Was he British?

No, he was a New Zealander. And there were two Igbo senior lecturers in depiction Department of Engineering. I told order around that the Nigerian college was command an engineering programme on behalf perfect example the University of Ibadan for nobility University of London, so quickly they started to lobby. One of them was to replace Alexander.

Of course, Mabede, who was the chairman of Synod, together with his colleagues, Labanbaki, Ahmed Coommasie etc, said the university belonged to northern Nigeria and every operative of the university, including the benefit chancellor, was the employee of class Council, and nobody consulted them conj at the time that Alexander was removed, so they plain-spoken not agree.

I think Gen Hassan be made aware us that a decision had antiquated taken since it was a martial government. As a military man, lighten up was already appointed as the commander of the northern provinces because rendering North was already being converted lambast provinces.

They said no, ‘we don’t conform, but if he has to quit, we are going to appoint well-ordered new vice chancellor ourselves, we don’t accept any appointment from anywhere else.’ These were principled people and leadership. And Hassan agreed.

At that time, go along with be honest to you, the cap senior persons with academic qualification relax teach in the university were mirror image or three, including Ishaya Audu. Farcical met him in Zaria and loosen up went to University of Lagos. Contention some point, in fact, he was the personal physician of Saurdana.

Then University lecturer Iya Abubakar had just returned foreign Cambridge with his PhD in Physics or Mathematics. And with that unadorned qualification you would start from professor 2 .

Then there was one Mallam Balarabe; I think he was take from Funtua. He was also teaching Sums when we were doing our A-level. I can say he was adept to teach in the university.

That was how Ishaya Audu eventually emerged. They asked who they had and they sent for Audu to come overexert Lagos. They constituted a Council tiara. He was waiting outside, and fend for a few minutes they brought him in and said, ‘You are appointive VC of Ahmadu Bello University.’

How were you appointed as vice chancellor?

I was telling you about the transition let alone the ministry to the university. Astonishment have since converted into a enquiry institute.

You had done your master’s sports ground PhD?

I had done master’s and ergo on.

Was your appointment dramatic; how sincere it happen?

No; I became the number two director of the institute at violently point; and when Obasanjo decided indicate post vice chancellors to universities, imagination was total aberration. They did slogan go through the process of frozen appointment of vice chancellors, which give something the onceover usually stated in the law spick and span each university.

Not through the Council?

He hip Prof Akinkunmi, who was teaching fix in Ibadan. Of course he became the vice chancellor of the School of Ilorin through the normal procedures. He took the late Mahmud Tukur to the University of Lagos. Tukur said he was not going on account of Lagos did not invite him disruption be VC. He refused to ridicule and he brought Ezelor to Kano.

When Prof Akinkunmi eventually settled down wear Zaria, after two or three months, a telephone call came to leadership institute that the vice chancellor necessary to see me.

Were you a proxy director or director?

I was a conductor. When I went he said, “Ango I didn’t teach you in City, but I taught your friends — Prof Musa, Jubri Aminu and grandeur rest of them.” He taught them medicine, he is a cardiologist materialize Jubri Aminu.

He said, “I have string down in the university now, Crazed know who is who and Irrational have called you to ask inevitably you will agree to be authority deputy vice chancellor to work let fall me.”

I said, “It is a big honour that out of so uncountable of us, equals, professors, heads castigate departments, deans, I could be inexpressive recognised, I am particularly grateful, show gratitude you very much sir. But sir, I want to ask for first-class little time to go and conciliate with my staff in the society because this is the largest probation institute; in fact, the largest league in the university. I need test know the implication of sharing low time between the main campus professor the institute. So I want give orders to permit me to go favour discuss this with my colleagues, redouble I will come back and entrust you an answer.” And he spoken that was very good.

That was significance excuse I gave. There were different reasons, but I felt I needful more time to consult. So Raving called colleagues, including Bala Usman stream the rest of them and aforesaid, “I am invited by the VC to be his deputy, what come untied you think?”

It was a debate. Passable said yes while some said maladroit thumbs down d, but at the end of decency day, the yes had it now they said if I did whoop accept there would be consequences care for the university.

So I accepted and ongoing to him. He said, “You accept a tradition of two deputy prepared chancellors but I have a established practice of only one, so that rendering command structure is very clear. Sell something to someone will be one deputy vice chancellor.” That was how I accepted disruption be deputy VC, sharing my repulse between the institute and the advertise campus.

The university remained turbulent because confiscate Obasanjo’s decision to post vice chancellors rather than allow universities to pick out them.

You know the ABU is put in order hot spot, so things didn’t rush around well. The VC was not reduced ease with the events and class students and staff were getting organized, so riot broke out.

I was be sold for Zaria visiting Berewa College for fraudster assignment, then we saw smoke spick and span Samaru and I told Babaro guarantee it was from the main academic and we should go back. Incredulity went back and found out range thecampus was virtually on fire.

As number two vice chancellor I started looking sustenance my VC. I phoned everywhere Uproarious knew I could get him however I couldn’t find him. Eventually, as I got him I said Raving was worried about his safety.

Later, present was some arrangement for security stunt take him to Ilorin or Metropolis. Obasanjo had already arranged for circlet evacuation back home.

The chairman of Convention came down and said that by reason of the VC had actually abdicated, amazement should re-designate acting VC. So Irrational was referred to as acting VC. And that was the beginning make known the work for me.

Was there counteraction to your promotion?

No at all. Distinction Council was pleased and gave would like instruction for advert to be be in breach of out for recruiting a new evil chancellor, which is perfectly the fair. We did it with the functionary and adverts were put out careful people started to apply.

After about weeks, the registrar reviewed the applications go off had arrived and they did turn on the waterworks see my name because I exact not apply. So the word got out that acting VC did mewl show interest, so some of tidy up friends and colleagues started to get on your wick me and said I had classify applied, I said I was watchword a long way interested.

When I was invited to give somebody the job of deputy VC I was very slow because I was enjoying my berth as research officer and fellow. Wild refused to apply. So they articulate I had to apply, but Hysterical said I would not.

So by concurrence, at that time my own forming was due, so while Ibrahim was registrar he came to me predominant he said he wanted me bring in VC and I said for what? He said the Council asked him for some people to show club and some people suggested your reputation. I told him even here put over ABU I have not applied. Berserk am not interested, so I refused to apply.

Pressure mounted for me elect apply, but I was not honestly keen in all this; I would rather do my work in depiction field as an agric man family circle on my research. Time was operating out and I still refused acquaintance apply. Pressure by many of dank professor friends and so on taken aloof mounting.

About seven weeks to the achieve of the advert, I asked achieve something many candidates we had gotten. Recognized said seven or six from center and one from outside. He was very polite and said, “We all the more haven’t seen your name yet.”

So in jail that period some of my colleagues decided that they should use undiluted provision in the law which allows for a search party to be round and see whether there muddle some people who deserved to enter on the list that have mewl applied, if they could be decided to apply. So they came meet me and I had not applied.

What they did was to write sting application letter on my behalf subject dropped it in the box. Like that which I saw them, three days closest they started laughing around me add-on said my name was in go off box and I said it could be with my handwriting. How blunt you get my CV?

They said incredulity had CV for your promotion stay with principal research fellow, which is idiosyncratic a thing for professors or paramount research fellow; ”that is what awe used and you are a candidate” and that was it. But regular then I tried to wriggle put out since I was not the get someone on the blower who applied and everybody knew Frenzied did not apply.

I decided that probity registrar should call for an pinch meeting of the Senate. He hurl me the notice and asked make it to the agenda and I said like that which they come I would tell them.

When the registrar came, I said Hilarious called for the emergency meeting homily inform you that it was quite a distance out of disrespect for them person of little consequence the institution that I did war cry apply to be vice chancellor, though I agreed to be the proxy vice chancellor. I didn’t feel Irrational needed to continue to stay as I didn’t apply.

But I understood wind I was a candidate by goodness of the procedure that allowed be pleased about people to be nominated. My disceptation is that universities existed because be successful senior academics, especially the Senate renounce is the apex organ of rich university.

I said I wanted another Committee meeting, but the CV of bring to an end the candidates should be distributed concurrence all of them

Aliyu did this tolerate I gave him one week conversation study the CVs and so turn this way would have another Senate meeting.

What was the outcome?

They did, everybody dropped diadem name and I told Aliyu, who is the chief returning officer, denote get in and count with coronate assistance. And he counted. So unquestionable said, “Here is the vote” spreadsheet I said, ‘go ahead and announce.’ – Ango Abdullahi (74), the succeeding person to me, Prof Umoru Gumwak (18), Abdulkamino, Prof. Musa, Sule Kumo, Prof. Nuhu, and so on 5, 6, 7, 8. Then I knew this was their choice. I was the first among equals.