Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, has rewarded the overall best-graduating student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Abdullahi Sherif, with a fully sponsored trip to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.
The governor announced the gesture on Saturday during the university’s 42nd convocation ceremony at the main campus. Aliyu, an alumnus of UDUS, said the special Hajj gift was in recognition of Abdullahi’s outstanding performance, after he graduated with a 4.92 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) from the Department of Microbiology.
He commended the university for its contributions to education and development, pledging closer collaboration with the institution in the areas of innovation, skills development, and reforms.
“This university has profoundly impacted lives both within Nigeria and beyond Africa. Its contributions to national and international development cannot be overestimated, and today’s graduates should be proud to be part of that legacy,” the governor said.
Aliyu also highlighted some of his administration’s efforts in education, including the payment of N1.845 billion in accumulated tuition fees for Sokoto medical students studying both locally and abroad, the appointment of four UDUS professors to head key education sectors in the state, and the renovation of schools across all levels in Sokoto.
In his remarks, UDUS Vice Chancellor, Professor Bashir Garba, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education policies, describing them as impactful and transformative.
“The Tinubu administration’s commitment to revitalising public universities has already begun to yield positive results. From improved funding frameworks to policy reforms aimed at enhancing academic quality and institutional autonomy, this dispensation is laying a stronger foundation for sustainable growth in higher education,” he said.
The convocation was attended by dignitaries including representatives of President Tinubu, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Oba of Lagos (Chancellor of the University), members of the National Assembly, diplomats, traditional rulers, academics, and alumni from across the country.
Three personalities were also honored: former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruku Yahaya (retd), who received a Doctor of Science; Islamic scholar, Sheikh Aminu Durawa, who was awarded a Doctor of Letters; and Professor Dejo Abdulrahman, who was conferred with the title of Emeritus Professor in recognition of his service to the institution.
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, Abdullahi Sherif, with a fully sponsored trip to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.){kind=link}
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