By Olawale Lamina
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, has assured that the people of Kano State and northern Nigeria generally would reciprocate President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill and developmental strudeswith significant political support come 2027 general election.
In a statement, Barau, through his Media Aide, gave the assurance yesterday during the launch of his annual undergraduate scholarship programme at the newly renamed Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education, Kano.
The statement emphasized that the programme was graced by political and academic figures, which include the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata. the Kano State APC Chairman, Prince Abdullahi Abbas; the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Tukur Kadage; and the Chairman of ASUU, Comrade Ado Muhammad Abdullahi.
The attendees commended President Tinubu’s developmental initiatives in the North.
The Senate Deputy President expressed deep appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the upgrade of the institution from a college to a full-fledged university, which requests had stayed nearly a decade.
Barau said: “I would like to thank Mr. President, the president of our country, the president that we are all proud of the president, who loves Kano, who loves Northern Nigeria, and who loves Nigeria,
“He graciously approved our long-standing request to upgrade this institution to a university, and for that, we remain deeply grateful.”
According to him, President Tinubu’s approval reflected his administration’s strong commitment to education and human capital development.
He said, “The rain that beats you is the real rain. We have never asked or canvassed for anything from Mr President, and he said no. Why shouldn’t we love him? We have to reciprocate, and we are waiting for the time to do that, come 2027.”
He also commended Tinubu for approving the renaming of the university after the late Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, a revered statesman and former minister from Kano, noting that the gesture was a mark of respect for northern heritage and leadership values.
“When I presented a request to President Tinubu to name this institution after our elder statesman, he immediately approved it. This is how he continues to demonstrate love and respect for Kano and our heroes.”
Barau described Tinubu as the “grandfather of the institution” and himself as its “father,” announced scholarships for 1,000 students from Kano North Senatorial District, with plans to improve on the scheme across the state.
“Education is the bedrock of every society. If I, as a grandfather and a PhD student, can continue to pursue learning, then there is no reason for any young person to relent,” he said.
He reaffirmed that sustained investment in education was the surest way to empower communities and secure long-term progress.
Also, the APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, commended President Tinubu for his interventions in Kano and the North, while Minister Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, described the president’s actions as evidence of his inclusive leadership.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Kadage also thanked Barau for his “visionary leadership and unwavering support,” recalling that the university’s establishment originated from a bill sponsored by the Deputy Senate President in the National Assembly.
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