09/08/2026
Gwarzo Hands Over MAAUN Presidency To Prof. Ibrahim Lawal, Says MAAUN May Produce Nigeria’s Future President
The Founder of Maryam Abacha American Group of Universities (MAAUN), Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has formally handed over the presidency of Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN Maradi) to Professor Ibrahim Lawal, after serving as president of the university for more than 13 years.
The handover ceremony was held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, where Professor Gwarzo described the transition as part of efforts to strengthen the institution and provide opportunities for other members of the university community to contribute to its growth.
Speaking during the ceremony, Gwarzo expressed optimism that the universities established under the group could produce future leaders of Nigeria, including a president.
“It is my pleasure to see one of us who is a Deputy Governor. Maybe tomorrow I will see one of us as a president of Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that, with the exception of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Nigerian universities had yet to produce a president of the country, expressing hope that one of the universities under the MAAUN group would eventually produce a president.
“I think very soon we'll produce a president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Insha Allah,” he said.
Gwarzo recalled that the journey began about 13 years ago in Niger Republic, describing the institution's early beginnings as modest but driven by determination, sincerity and integrity.
He said the group had since expanded its operations and established three universities in Nigeria, adding that its growth had attracted interest from other university organisations across Africa.
According to him, he recently received calls from some university unions in Africa expressing interest in joining the group.
“Some of them are asking me they want to join our group, and I said my answer was, I am trying to build the group. I cannot accept anyone until I am done with Abuja,” he said.
Gwarzo acknowledged the challenges associated with establishing and managing universities, stressing that running a university was not an easy undertaking.
He, however, said the group had been able to overcome the challenges through determination and the grace of Allah.
“People are thinking establishing a university is easy. It is not easy. You will be having a lot of problems here and there. It is not easy. But with Allah's grace, we were able to manage the journey,” he said.
He added that the group could now proudly state that it had four private universities in Africa.
Reflecting on his relationship with the new president, Professor Ibrahim Lawal, Gwarzo said Lawal was previously his staff member in Niger and had worked closely with him.
He recalled being the first person to award Lawal a professorship in Information Technology at Maryam Abacha American University of Niger, Maradi.
Gwarzo also recounted how Lawal later moved to Bayero University Kano (BUK), where he progressed academically and eventually attained the rank of professor.
He described Lawal as a “double professor,” noting that he is a professor at both Maryam Abacha American University of Niger and Bayero University Kano.
Explaining his decision to hand over the presidency, Gwarzo said it was necessary to allow another member of the university community to take responsibility for the institution.
He said he had served as president for more than 13 years and had personally signed certificates and maintained close contact with students during the institution's formative years.
“I was the President of the University for over 13 years. I have been signing the certificates. I was even in Maradi with the students, which later I cannot even travel to Niger again,” he said.
He added that advancing age had also influenced his decision to step aside.
“So you see, I am getting older. I decided to resign to hand over the seat to my junior brother, Professor Ibrahim Lawal, to take over the seat, so that maybe he can do better than myself,” Gwarzo said.
He congratulated Lawal on his appointment and wished him a successful and peaceful tenure.
“On behalf of the management of Maryam Abacha American Group of Universities, we are congratulating you, and we wish you all the best. Insha Allah, we will see you when you are finishing your administration peacefully,” he said.
Hon Idris Muhammad Gobir, the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State and an alumnus of Maryam Abacha American University of Niger, who attended the ceremony, described the occasion as a significant moment.
He said he was among the pioneer students of MAAUN Niger, particularly the first set of students admitted into its PhD programme.
“I feel honoured to be with you at this moment. I am very happy to meet with you. I am one of those people that are pioneers of MAAUN Niger, and more especially when it comes to the PhD class. We were the first set of the university,” he said.
The Deputy Governor said he remained proud of his association with the institution, noting that he obtained his BSc, MSc and PhD from Maryam Abacha American University.
“I have BSc, MSc and PhD from Maryam Abacha American University. I have become a family of the university. We always pray for the university to go to the sky,” he said.
He also praised Professor Gwarzo for his vision and investment in education, describing him as someone committed to creating opportunities for people to realise their dreams.
“Alhaji Adamu Abubakar is the kind of person that we always pray to have in our community because he is one of those people whose aim is to push people to become better and create opportunities for others to realise their dreams,” he said.
He further commended Gwarzo for investing in education at a level capable of benefiting thousands and potentially millions of people.
“Gwarzo, thank you very much. The kind of vision—God bless you. It is a vision for somebody at your age to think of coming in with this kind of investment in education. This kind of investment, thousands and even millions will benefit from it,” he said.
In his remarks, the newly appointed President of Maryam Abacha American University of Niger, Professor Ibrahim Lawal, expressed gratitude to Professor Gwarzo for entrusting him with the leadership of the institution.
“Today, being 8th August, 2026, I became the President of MAAUN Maradi,” Lawal said.
He thanked Gwarzo for recognising his potential and giving him the opportunity to lead the university.
“I thank Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo for seeing the potentials in me and giving me the opportunity to become the President of this university,” he said.
Lawal also expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for giving him the strength to progress from basic education to the rank of professor.
Before his appointment, Professor Lawal served at Bayero University Kano, where he was Dean of the Faculty of Computing and also served as Head of Department, among other appointments, before assuming his new position at MAAUN Maradi.
The transition marks a new phase in the leadership of Maryam Abacha American University of Niger, with Professor Lawal taking over from its long-serving president and founder, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo.
