By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
Members of Board of Trustees for Ahmadu Bello University Endowment Foundation chaired by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, have paid a courtesy visit to His Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.
This was contained made known in a statement by the Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Thursday, 24th March, 2022.
Speaking at the Emir’s Palace in Zaria City, the Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, told the Emir that it was necessary for members of the Board of Trustees to seek the Emir’s support, advice and blessing to be able to discharge their assignments successfully.
Alhaji Yayale, who is the Ajiyan Katagum, described the Emir as a “great pillar”, saying that the University would continue to remain grateful to Zazzau Emirate for all the support to the institution at all the time.
The BoT Chairman said that the role of traditional rulers in Nigeria was being underestimated, especially by those whom he said “did not know yesterday”. He warned that neglecting the traditional institution was akin to destroying the future of the country.
He told the Emir that “as members of Board of Trustees of Ahmadu Bello University Endowment Foundation, we all regard ourselves as being representing you (the Emir) on this Board”.
Alhaji Yayale Ahmed recalled the strong ties between the family of his elder brother, Ambassador Yalwa Azare and that of Magajin Garin Zazzau, Alhaji Nuhu Bamalli, the father of the present Emir. His elder brother, Ambassador Yalwa Azare, according to Yayale, grew up in the foreign service under the tutelage of Magajin Garin Zazzau who was a First Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He used the opportunity to congratulate the Emir on occupying the exalted throne of Zazzau Emirate and prayed to God to guide and grant him good health. The Emir of Zazzau, His Highness, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, in his response, said that he was humbled by Alhaji Yayale’s kind and encouraging words.
Ambassador Bamalli described members of the Board as “distinguished Nigerians”, saying that the Zazzau Emirate Council would give the team all the needed support to succeed.
“I’m very proud to be associated with this great team of distinguished Nigerians. I congratulate the Vice-Chancellor and the University as a whole for carefully selecting these men and women to serve on this all important Board”, he said.
The BoT members present at the courtesy visit to the Emir included former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Azubuike Ihejireka, CFR; former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abdullahi Aliyu, OON; Non-Executive Director, Board of Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Abubakar Abdu; and former National President of Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, Dr. (Mrs.) Henrietta Ogan.
The BoT members were accompanied to the palace by Management staff of the University led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala.
