COV/ Ibrahim Suleiman, Zaria
The Masters of International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) Alumni Forum, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has appointed Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as Grand Patron.
Chairman of the Forum, Comrade Isa Nuhu disclosed this during the awards and investiture of the Emir as grand patron, at Ahmadu Bello University main campus Samaru, Zaria.
Comrade Isa Nuhu said the event, which coincides with the celebration of MIAD at 21, was aim at honouring the royal father who is also an alumnus .
He explained that as an Ambassador, the Emir had played many roles in inviting many international organizations to Nigeria towards enhancing the Foreign Direct Investment.
“The royal father also as an alumnus of MIAD had made a lot of achievements, hence the decision by the MIAD forum to honour him and appoint him as a Grand Patron of the Forum”
Comrade Isa Nuhu noted that the Department of Political Science had done so much since the establishment of the programme in the late 1990’s.
The Chairman said that it was the turn of the forum to contribute towards the development of the Department and the university.
In a remark, the Emir applauded the Department for the appointment and urged MIAD students to join the diplomatic service to contribute towards national development.
“MIAD was an excellent course with excellent professors and he was able to put what he learnt from the department into use when he found himself in Thailand as a diplomat” he said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor Prof Kabiru Bala said the emir was in the list of the second set of students that participated in the programme and graduated in 2002.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics Prof. Danladi Ameh explained that the programme was designed by the department to absolve demand for such postgraduate degrees and add value to the prospective students in their place of work.
According to him, since the first set of students that were admitted in 1998/99 session, to date the programme has continued the training of high level manpower for both private and public sectors.
He added that since the inception of the programme in 1998/99 academic session, 2814 students graduated from the programme and it has become a model emulated by many universities in the country.
While responding on behalf of the recipients of the award Special Assistant to the Minister of Finnance Budget and National planning, Haj. Hauwa Yahaya Said the awards were a recognition and appreciation of their various contributions to the development of the country.
She noted that the programme had produced high caliber diplomats, traditional rulers, and top military personnel among others which were indications of its positive impact to the development of the country.
According to her few areas that require intervention were highlighted and few of them pledged to provide support for the department, he therefore, appeals to other members of the forum to emulate them.