Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and Chancellor of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology (ADUSTECH), Wudil, Kano State, unveiled a ₦15 billion five-year development plan to elevate the institution into one of Nigeria’s top three universities and a leading center of excellence in West Africa, as announced during the university’s 5th combined convocation ceremony, per Voice of Nigeria and Punch. The plan, to be executed through the Dangote Foundation, includes constructing additional male and female hostels, a world-class engineering laboratory, a multipurpose computer laboratory with 24-hour internet access, a mini solar power plant for constant electricity, and a modern Senate building, per New Telegraph and Daily Nigerian. Dangote also committed to providing automatic employment to top-performing engineering and computer science graduates at his companies, including Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Dangote Cement, and introduced awards for the best graduating students, per Leadership.
Dangote, reappointed as Chancellor for a second term, emphasized collaboration with the university’s Governing Council and biannual progress briefings to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf to ensure effective project delivery, per Voice of Nigeria. His prior contributions include settling a ₦284 million electricity debt and funding hostels and staff residences, earning praise from Vice Chancellor Professor Musa Yakasai, who noted Dangote’s role in advancing ADUSTECH’s mission, per New Telegraph and National Accord. Yakasai announced that 18,000 students from seven graduating sets, including 2,950 postgraduate students, received degrees and diplomas, with 41 of 45 programs fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), per New Telegraph and Gazette Nigeria.
Governor Yusuf, the university’s Visitor, pledged to complete all state-initiated projects, including road networks and drainages, and allocated 100 hectares for campus expansion, per Voice of Nigeria and New Telegraph. He also approved ₦2.1 billion to clear inherited liabilities, reducing a ₦3 billion debt, per New Telegraph. The convocation honored five distinguished Nigerians with honorary doctorates: Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Science), Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal (Business Administration), Prince Arthur Eze (Business Administration), Dr. Ahmed Adeniyi Raji, SAN (Law), and Alhaji Mustapha Ado Muhammad (Business Administration), per Leadership. Kwankwaso, speaking for the awardees, commended Dangote’s ₦15 billion pledge and urged graduates to be exemplary ambassadors, per Daily Nigerian.
X sentiment, reflected in posts like @nura_yanchibi and @NigeriaStories, shows widespread admiration for Dangote’s philanthropy, with @greengizie calling his impact “inspirational,” per. However, some, like @Imranmuhdz, emphasized the need for broader educational investment beyond elite institutions, per. ADUSTECH, renamed in 2022 to honor Dangote’s contributions, has grown since its 2001 founding by Kwankwaso, now boasting 7,985 students and international collaborations, per EduBase and My School Portal. The plan aligns with Kano’s 31% education budget for 2025, the highest in Nigeria, per The Will News, positioning ADUSTECH to address regional challenges like out-of-school children, per Voice of Nigeria.
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