Former Niger State Governor Abdulkadir Kure, who died in Germany on January 8, has a special place in the hearts of the staff and students of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), which he founded in 2004. ABDULSALAM MAHMUD reports how he was mourned.
University students do not hold procession for the fun of it. It is either to commemorate an association’s week or a significant anniversary. In some instances, it is to mourn a departed colleague or lecturer, and it usually takes place within the campus.
But, the students of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL) in Niger State staged a four-hour procession on major roads last Wednesday, to honour former Governor, Abdulkadir Kure, who died on January 8 in Germany of liver-related illness.
Kure was governor of the state from (1999 to 2007) and the university’s founder.
Major routes in Minna and environs witnessed gridlock during the procession.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the students trooped out in their thousands, for the 70 km trip from the Kobo and Lapai campuses to Minna.
The students, who arrived early in the morning in a long convoy of school buses, commercial vehicles and private cars, carried huge banners with inscriptions and eulogised the late Kure in solidarity songs.
They moved along Tunga, Bosso, Airport Quarters, Mobil, Government House, Bahago, Stadium Road and other major streets.
Before the procession, the students converged on the Minna Eid Prayer Ground to observe the Jana’izah (funeral) prayer at about 1 pm with two former Heads of State, some serving and former state governors, past and serving National Assembly members, first class traditional rulers, revered religious clerics, renowned politicians and other worshippers.
The prayer was observed with the inside the hearse because of the large crowd of students and other sympathisers.
The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Minna Central Mosque, Alhaji Isa Fari, after a top Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Lemu, had sensitised the congregation on its requirements.
CAMPUSLIFE observed that some IBBUL students’ groups, such as, the IBBUL News, IBBUL Campus Gists, IBBUL Newsline, IBBULITES, IBBUL Students, IBBUL Academic Excellence had flooded social media with photos of Kure adminitration’s landmark achievements since the news of his demise.
Inside the Kobo and Lapai campuses tributes, articles, pictures, and press releases by students and their associations struggled for space on the notice boards last January 9.
CAMPUSLIFE also gathered that some IBBUL social media groups used the proclamation of the establishment of their university in 2004, by the late Kure as their timeline status, to honour him.
The proclamation reads: “This government, Insha Allah, will establish a university named Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University for Niger State. Also, I have indicated that the planned university will, Insha Allah, take off in October, 2005. We are irrevocably committed to this university project. We intend to make haste with thoroughness, so that we could bequeath a legacy of a very sound university to the state.’’
A source said Kure made the public pronouncement while inaugurating the Evaluation and Implementation Committee of the university at the Government House, on December 22, 2004.
The IBBUL Students’ Union Government (SUG) president, Comrade Ahmed Sadiq Paiko, described the former governor as a politician imbued with impeccable leadership qualities who was committed to developing human capital resources.
“The fact that a visionary leader with an uncommon leadership pedigree has departed at a time his portent advice and wise counsels are most needed, is to say the least, tragic and shocking. As a leader who knew the value of quality education, he established the state university, so as to give indigent Nigerlites the opportunity to acquire sound and productive knowledge at an affordable fee.
“While the state, and perhaps Nigeria, will definitely miss him, the entire students of IBBUL shall remain indebted to him for giving them the opportunity to acquire university education in a great citadel of learning,” Sadiq said.
The SUG president, who led the students’ procession, urged the government to immortalise Kure, adding that generations of IBBUL students will live to remember and idolise the former governor who was not only a loving father, but a big-hearted philanthropist, an advocate of peace and a true icon of hope.
300-Level English Department student Aisha Muhammad said the rich legacy the late Kure left behind is still enduring.
She described him as a detribalised leader who meritoriously served his people with the fear of God, regardless of their political, religious, ideological and cultural inclinations.
Aisha said: “He knew that education is the only weapon and veritable tool that can be used to empower humanity. As such, he not only established our university, but tremendously supported the growth and development of the university, in and out of office as governor. Again, while he was in office, the alarming rate of prostitution and prevalence of other social vices were drastically reduced, even as Niger State students in various tertiary institutions were promptly paid their scholarships.’’
An official of the National Association of Nupe Students (NANUS), IBBUL Chapter, who simply identified himself as Muhammed, saluted the unbending courage, matured foresight and resolute political will of the late Kure.
He said: “It is my prayer that Almighty Allah grants the family of the late former governor and the good people of Niger State the fortitude to bear this devastating loss. Today, as the entire students of IBBUL honour their university founder, it is our belief that his noble soul will find tranquility in the Lord’s bosom.”
In a tribute, a lecturer in IBBUL’s Department of Mass Communication, Mr Israel Ayegba Ebije, said: “He was a man of many sides. I am confident that many Nigerlites will remember his character traits. But the most relevant was his generosity, affability and religiosity. It is believed in most circles that his generous attributes touched many lives. I believe he perfected stomach infrastructure long before the Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose introduced his own.
“Many people believe he spent more money on ‘welfarism’ than he would have spent on projects in the state, among other achievements. Some however, are quick to respond that he was responsible for most rural electrification projects in the state before 2007.”
Ebije, who was Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the late Kure’s successor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, added that he might have established the university to cushion admission deficit suffered by indigenes of the state in other higher institutions across the country, but was more concerned on how it would positively impact on Nigerians, irrespective of religion or ethnicity.
“His aim of encouraging the advancement of learning regardless of distinction of race, creed, sex, religion, ethnic group, political conviction, no doubt has been achieved since the establishment of the institution,” he said.
Earlier, IBBUL management led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Lapai, Alhaji Umaru Bago Tafida (III), at his palace as part of activities to commemorate the event.
Maiturare, who extolled the virtues of the late Kure, said beyond his sterling achievements in reshaping and transforming the education sector in the state, he also entrenched love and sincerity among his people.
“The late Kure will forever be remembered and honoured for his laudable contributions to peace, stability and progress in his community and the country,” the VC added.
The emir thanked the VC and his entourage for the visit, saying the Lapai Emirate will always promote the progressive ideals which the late former governor, who was a Lapai indigene, advocated and radiated in public service.
Alhaji Bago said: “It is heartwarming that within just a period of 11 years since IBBUL was established by its late founder, the institution has become a prestigious citadel of academic and moral excellence.”
A pioneer graduate of the university, Mrs. Fatima Usman Bida, said: “It is to the eternal credit of the departed governor that most IBBUL’s academic programmes were fully accredited by the NUC at its inception. He also facilitated the construction of state-of-the-art lecture halls and laboratories, recruited competent lecturers and supported the growth of the university in no small measure.”
Our reporter, who visited the university’s two campuses last Friday, gathered that academic activities were still crippled, despite the lapse of the three-day mourning declared by the government.
