How UNN and ABU have produced most of Nigeria’s political and business leaders
Northern Nigeria, which is often regarded as the zone that has dominated Nigerian politics, has produced 10 of the country’s 16 heads of state/presidents/prime ministers since independence in 1960. In the country’s south, the Igbo people, predominantly in Southeast Nigeria, pride themselves as masters in running business enterprises. This skill appears to have been fine-tuned by the Igbos republican nature and the Igba Boi system which promotes entrepreneurship and empowerment.
It is not surprising to see that two notable universities from these two zones – the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna, have earned a high reputation for breeding Nigeria’s business and political leaders, validating the reputations the two regions have come to be known for.
If your dream is to be a political leader, you may need to head to ABU and if you harbour the ambition to be a business leader, UNN is likely your best bet.
Founded in 1955 but opened six days after Nigeria’s independence on October 7, 1960, UNN became the first indigenous university in the country and has maintained a prestigious status, particularly in the Southeast region, ever since. It became a preferred citadel of learning, particularly for Igbos born immediately after the civil war of 1967-1970. In over six decades UNN has produced prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs in the region. ABU, on the other hand, became the first university to be established in Northern Nigeria when it opened in 1962 in Zaria, Kaduna State.
How UNN has produced some of Nigeria’s business leaders:
Often regarded as one of Nigeria’s top 10 universities, UNN became the first indigenous and first autonomous university in Nigeria when it was founded in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first non-elected president of Nigeria.
When classes began on October 17, 1960, with an enrollment of 220 students and 13 members of the academic staff, the university was fully autonomous, with the power to grant its own degrees. Technically, it became the first fully-fledged university in Nigeria, as Ibadan was still a university college granting London degrees at that time. Seven years later, in September 1967, UNN was renamed as the University of Biafra, by secessionists during the civil war. After the war, UNN became the preferred choice for many who wished to advance their education in the post-war era in the region.
With an estimated population of 36,000 students, UNN has produced many notable alumni who have become prominent in business, science, and arts. From Godwin Emefiele, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and ex-MD of Zenith Bank, who graduated at the top of his class with a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from UNN, to Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the first female Group Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc; Cletus Ibeto, Sampson Ogah, Patrick Utomi, Herbert Wigwe (CEO of Access Bank), Obi Cubana, and Tunde Lemo (former deputy governor of the CBN), UNN has no doubt produced earned a reputation of producing some of Nigeria’s most prominent business leaders.
Other notable names associated with UNN include Obiageli Ezekwesili (former Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank), Arunma Oteh (Vice President and Treasurer, World Bank Group), Simon Aranomu (Executive Director of Large Enterprises, Bank of Industry), among many others. In the political space, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Sullivan Chime, former Chairman of Fidelity Bank, ex-governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate, Peter Obi; a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Anambra state governor, Charles Soludo; Akpan Isemin (former governor of Akwa Ibom), Chris Ngige, Peter Odili (former governor of Rivers State), Sam Egwu (former governor of Ebonyi State), and Oserheimen Osunbor (former governor of Edo State) are some of the products of UNN.
Perhaps in a bid to maintain its lead in producing some of Nigeria’s business and economic elite, the management of the institution launched UNN Business School (UNNBIS) in 2018.
Although UNN also has prominent names in politics, its influence in national politics appears to pale when compared to the number of political leaders produced by ABU.
How ABU produced some of Nigeria’s political elites:
Having produced a president, two Vice Presidents, a First Lady, and more than 14 governors, the alumni of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) are predominantly politicians.
Named after Ahmadu Bello, the first Premier of the Northern Region, ABU was established on October 4, 1962, in response to Nigeria’s growing demand for higher education. Often regarded as one of Nigeria’s top five universities, ABU has produced many notable alumni in politics, business, science, and the arts.
In 2007, when Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was elected president, he became the first Nigerian president to be educated in one of Nigeria’s indigenous schools. He gained admission to ABU 10 years after its establishment and graduated in 1975 with a degree in Education and Chemistry. Yar’Adua’s wife, Turai Yar’Adua, is also an ABU alumna.
Before Yar’Adua, Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President (1999-2007), enrolled for a Law Diploma at ABU Institute of Administration in 1967 on a scholarship from the regional government. Namadi Sambo, Vice President of Nigeria during the tenure of Goodluck Jonathan, is another notable politician who attended ABU.
As the first university in Northern Nigeria, ABU is not only one of Nigeria’s oldest universities but is also known for producing a list of notable alumni, particularly in politics. From Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai (immediate past governor of Kaduna State) and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (former governor of Kano State) to Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (former governor of Nasarawa State), Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa (former governor of Kaduna State), and Isa Yuguda (former governor of Bauchi State), ABU has established itself as a breeding ground for political leaders in Northern Nigeria.
While ABU’s reputation extends beyond politics, with notable economic leaders like Zainab Ahmad (former Minister of Finance); Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and former Emir of Kano), and Steve Babaeko, founder of X3M Ideas and President of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, among mny others, the university’s role in educating some of Nigeria’s notable political leaders is perhaps unchallengeable.
Although there are many other business and political leaders who didn’t attend any of these universities, it may not be out of place to say anyone ambitious about building an impressive business or political career in Nigeria may need to pay attention to UNN and ABU.
