Baba-Ahmed University, Kano, has held its maiden convocation ceremony, graduating 177 students in a colourful event that showcased Nigeria’s growing academic excellence. Among them, 22 students earned First Class Honours, with women leading the chart in a powerful display of intellect and leadership.
Founded by renowned economist and education investor Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, PhD, who also established Baze University, Abuja, Baba-Ahmed University marked this first convocation as a milestone in its mission to deliver world-class education rooted in excellence, professionalism, and service to humanity.
Delivering his convocation address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adamu Idris Tanko, announced that 22 students graduated with First Class Honours, 57 with Second Class Upper, 65 with Second Class Lower, 32 with Third Class, and one student with a Pass degree.
In a remarkable achievement, two female students—Amina Anna Kabir and Nwachukwu Esther Kelechi—emerged as the overall best graduates, each attaining an impressive Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97 out of 5.00. Professor Tanko noted that 19 of the 22 First-Class graduates were women, calling their performance a reflection of the rising intellectual strength of Nigerian women.
“Ladies are the overall champions,” he declared, adding that some of the First-Class graduates would be appointed as Graduate Assistants to nurture the next generation of scholars.
A major highlight of the convocation was the conferment of Baba-Ahmed University’s first honorary doctorate degree, the Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa, on Ustaz Ahmad Sulaiman Ibrahim, a revered Qur’anic scholar, in recognition of his lifelong dedication to Islamic scholarship and moral education.
Baba-Ahmed University currently runs eleven academic programmes, including Computer Science, Software Engineering, Biochemistry, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, and International Relations. Reaffirming the university’s vision, Professor Tanko said Baba-Ahmed University remains committed to producing graduates of character and competence, equipped to meet global standards and contribute to Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, OON, former Minister of Education, who represented the Chancellor, His Highness Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero, OFR, spoke on “Enhancing Access to Tertiary Education in Nigeria: The Private University Option.” She emphasised that private universities are vital partners in national development, complementing public institutions in building a knowledge-driven, inclusive, and innovative education system.
“Education remains a strategic investment in human capital and the most powerful tool for societal transformation,” she affirmed.
The Vice-Chancellor paid tribute to the late Alhaji Muftahu Baba-Ahmed, a member of the Baba-Ahmed family who passed away in Medina in September 2025, praying for his eternal rest.
The event attracted dignitaries from academia, government, and the private sector, marking a new dawn in Baba-Ahmed University’s pursuit of academic distinction and societal impact.
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