Sen. Abdurrahman Kawu-Sumaila, the Proprietor of Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila (AUSU), Kano State, has said he established an International-Standard University in his rural community to curb rural-urban migration.
Kawu-Sumaila, representing Kano South Senatorial District, said the establishment of the university was aimed at bringing quality higher education and economic opportunities closer to young people in rural communities.
He stated this at the 2nd and 3rd combined convocation ceremony of the university in Sumaila, on Saturday.
The senator said the decision to establish the university in the area was deliberate, noting that lack of access to higher education and economic opportunities often compelled young people in rural communities to migrate to urban centres.
“Our decision to establish an Islamic university here in a rural setting was a deliberate and mission-driven choice. For generations, young people from rural communities have been drawn to urban centres because of the lack of access to higher education and opportunities. This trend fuels rapid rural-urban migration, strains urban infrastructure and affects the livelihoods of people,” he said.
According to him, bringing a university of international standards directly to rural area, is not only aimed at reversing the rural-urban migration trend but also to ensure that higher education and economic opportunities thrive in rural communities.
The senator added that the institution was also empowering local youths, boosting the rural economy and creating a sustainable ecosystem where knowledge and opportunities could be accessed within the community.
Kawu-Sumaila said the university began as a mission to expand access to quality and value-based higher education in Nigeria but had now grown into an institution focused on academic excellence and character development.
The senator attributed the success recorded by the university to the commitment of its principal officers, leaders, elders, institutions and government.
Also speaking, the Visitor, Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, said the allocation of the lion’s share of the state’s budget to education showed its commitment to the education sector, which he described as a cornerstone of the development of the state.
He expressed the readiness of his administration to support the institution.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdulhadi Sule-Kumurya, said the institution was committed to providing quality education and developing graduates who would contribute meaningfully to society.
Sule-Kumurya said the university honoured the late Kano-born business tycoon, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, with a posthumous honorary doctorate award for his contributions to humanity and the development of society.
He said other personalities honoured with honorary doctorate degrees at the ceremony included Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil and Abdulmumini Maishanu.
The vice-chancellor congratulated the graduands and urged them to use the knowledge and skills acquired from the institution to contribute to the development of their communities and the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 1,104 students graduated during the ceremony.
(NAN)
