By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna
Baze University has nominated Alhaji Bawa Garba, popularly called ABG for the award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science (honoris causa).
The investiture where the pioneer Satellite Television entrepreneur in Sub Saharan Africa would be honoured, is scheduled for November 19, 2022 at the 9th Convocation Ceremony of Baze University, Abuja.
According to a letter signed by registrar of the University, Mani Ibrahim Ahmad (PhD), ABG was nominated for his service to humanity and contribution to the development of Science in Nigeria in both private and public sectors.
” It is my honour on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Governing Council of Baze University to convey the decision to nominate you for the award of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science (honoris causa) of the University.
” The award is in recognition of your service to Humanity and Science in both private and public sectors, most especially your role as pioneer entrepreneur in satellite television,” the letter added.
While congratulating ABG for bagging the Baze’s award, a Public Affairs Analyst and Activist, Bala Yola commended the Abuja based university for recognizing a deserving Nigerian whom he said had stood out for six decades in providing jobs and growing the nation’s economy.
As his contribution to Nigeria attaining the status of food efficiency and self-reliance, Yola revealed that the billionaire was in the process of establishing a 90 metric tones per hour of a fertilizer blending plant in Kaduna in 2023, which he noted would crash the prices of the commodity in the market and provide job opportunities to a teeming number of Nigerian youth.
” ABG, for decades had been a household name in Nigeria and beyond in communication, transport, education and manufacturing industries.
” The Octogenarian, known to have funded and convened the ever first Kaduna International Trade Fair under military administration of Air Marshall Ibrahim Alfa in 1979 after going round the world canvassing and convincing participants to grace the occasion and display their products which were sold at giveaway prices to buyers.
” The contributions of the Chairman ABG Group in growth and enhancement of the county’s economy through manpower development can not be complete without mentioning the role he played in 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War when he established Arewa Advancement Classes in Kaduna to fill in the gap created in human resources as a result of the strifes.
” The business genius in 1987 established a foundry in Lagos and Kaduna where dishes were produced locally, employing hundreds of youth in the process and saving the county’s foreign exchange.
” It was to his credit as a player in the nation’s electronic manufacturing industry when in the 80s, ABG in partnership with Blapunkt (BOSCH) started assembling car radios, television and video cassette recorders, taking the country a notch higher on global stage.
” In sports development, the philanthropist established and funded the ABG Babes, a football club which rose to the National League Division ll in its heydays.
” He is credited to have paved the way in the nation’s satellite broadcast industry by the use of high-tech communication equipment, predating regulators.
” Despite, achieving all these feats for his fatherland, the government is yet to deem it fit to confer a National merit award on an illustrious son of the soil whose contributions to growth and development of the country’s economy cannot be erased from history,” said Yola.
