Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Misguided Reversion of Sa’adatu Rimi University: A Setback for Kano’s Educational Development.
In what can only be described as a disturbing and politically motivated decision, the Executive Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf, has recently approved the reversion of Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education back to its former status as a College of Education. While the institution will still technically retain its degree-awarding capability, this move marks a significant setback for higher education development in Kano State. The people of Kano are left wondering: what kind of graduates will this system produce under the guise of a rebranded College of Education?
This retrogressive step is not just an attack on the quality of education but a thinly veiled political move to erase the educational legacy of former Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. In targeting Ganduje, Governor Yusuf has ended up dismantling years of progress that saw the elevation of Sa’adatu Rimi University to a full-fledged institution of higher learning. Instead of focusing on educational quality and streamlining management within Kano’s higher education sector, the governor appears intent on scoring political points at the expense of the state’s future.
A Politically Motivated Reversion
There is no denying that this decision reeks of political bias. It is public knowledge that Governor Yusuf and his administration, heavily influenced by the Kwankwasiyya movement, have an agenda to reverse many of the policies put in place by the Ganduje administration. However, to play politics with education—an area so crucial to the future of Kano’s youth—is both short-sighted and reckless.
Who exactly were the so-called “advisers” behind this decision? It is clear that the committee tasked with making such an impactful decision lacks real expertise in education. Their reasoning, citing potential risks such as the loss of experienced lecturers, salary disputes, and administrative challenges, is unconvincing and hollow. What they fail to understand is that this will lead to greater instability in Kano’s educational system, with long-term consequences that will affect students, teachers, and future graduates.
Sacrificing Education for Political Gains
If the governor’s objective is truly to fight Ganduje’s legacy, then he should engage in political discourse rather than dismantling educational institutions. The people of Kano are aware that this is a vendetta dressed up as an administrative decision. Instead of attacking the progress made under Ganduje, Governor Yusuf should focus on building upon that foundation. Yet, his administration seems more interested in replacing skilled lecturers and administrators with loyalists from the Kwankwasiyya movement. The dissolution of the university’s management and the targeted removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Yahaya Isa Bunkure—an educational visionary—makes this clear.
The vice-chancellor, Professor Bunkure, poured his time, effort, and expertise into developing Sa’adatu Rimi University into an institution capable of producing high-caliber graduates. This reversion to College of Education status represents not just a professional insult to him but a direct assault on educational progress in the state. How can we expect the students, whose studies will now face disruptions, to succeed in this environment?
An Unfortunate Pattern of Reversals
The reversion of Sa’adatu Rimi University to its former status is not an isolated incident. We witnessed a similar situation years ago when the dream of F.C.E. Kano and other institutions to become universities was also shattered. This troubling pattern of downgrading Kano’s educational institutions sends a message: the current administration is more interested in dismantling than developing.
Private universities across Nigeria, including the likes of Igbinedion University and others, continue to operate successfully. How can it be that a state-run institution like Sa’adatu Rimi, which is far superior in many respects, is being systematically destroyed? Is the governor so blinded by political vendettas that he cannot see the harm he is causing?
Education Should Not Be Politicized
Education policies should never be determined by political motivations. The future of our state and its citizens depends on the quality of the education we provide. Governor Yusuf’s actions show a complete disregard for the importance of education and the development of Kano’s youth.
If this reversion stands, what will follow? Will the governor’s administration move to close down Kano’s technical schools, primary schools, and secondary schools as well? It seems that the only goal is to erase the accomplishments of the Ganduje administration, even if it means sacrificing the future of Kano’s students.
In the end, this policy must be rescinded for the sake of Kano State’s educational future. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may be able to reverse Ganduje’s policies, but he will never be able to erase the collective will of the people of Kano. They deserve a governor who prioritizes education, not political revenge.
Written by: Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Former Press Secretary and SSA on Media to Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
