MAAUN produces 5 nursing college provosts, 100 lawyers, others in 12 years

Twelve years after its establishment, the Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN), based in Maradi, Niger Republic, has produced five provosts leading nursing colleges across Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Taraba, and Kaduna States in Nigeria.

Dr Hadiza Sabo, a Nursing graduate of MAAUN, currently serves as Provost of Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery in Damaturu, Yobe State. Similarly, Dr Hadiza Yahya heads the College of Nursing Sciences in Maiduguri, Borno State, while Dr Rakiya Saleh leads the College of Nursing Sciences in Bauchi. All three hold their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from MAAUN.

Kiloh Nifor, Provost of the College of Nursing Sciences in Jalingo, Taraba State, and Dr Yusuf Bello, Provost of the Kaduna State College of Nursing Sciences, are also alumni of MAAUN, underscoring the institution’s growing influence in Nigeria’s healthcare education sector.

Founded by Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, a renowned philanthropist and scholar of French linguistics, MAAUN has consistently contributed to the advancement of education in Nigeria. Its Faculty of Law, established in 2015, has graduated over 400 law students, more than 100 of whom have been called to the Nigerian Bar. Additionally, over 1,000 Medical Laboratory Scientists have graduated from the university, with many practising in both Nigeria and abroad.

MAAUN was the first institution in Niger Republic to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Since launching the programme in 2012, the university has graduated over 2,000 nursing officers, many of whom now work in hospitals across Nigeria and abroad.

Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, President of MAAUN, praised the institution’s contribution to Nigeria’s healthcare sector, stating, “The Nursing Degree programme has significantly increased the number of qualified nursing graduates in Nigeria, positively impacting healthcare delivery both at home and internationally.”

Dr Umar Isa Sulaiman, a law lecturer at MAAUN, highlighted the achievements of the university’s law graduates: “Our alumni are working in various government agencies, some as Sharia Court Judges, Magistrates, and even in the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Many are also in private practice, contributing immensely to Nigeria’s legal system.”

MAAUN’s influence extends beyond academics. The university has notably increased the number of trained professionals in fields where such opportunities were previously limited. A graduate of nursing, Hamisu Iliyasu from Sokoto State, expressed his gratitude: “Universities in the North traditionally don’t offer Nursing degrees. MAAUN has given us the opportunity to advance our careers, rescuing many of us from stagnating at lower levels.”

Dr Kabiru Mahmud, a lecturer in the Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting MAAUN’s role in increasing the number of Medical Laboratory Scientists in Northern Nigeria. “Before MAAUN, many only held diplomas in this field. Today, our graduates are working in top medical institutions across the country, including the National Hospital in Abuja and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.”

Findings reveal that MAAUN boasts the highest number of nurses from West Africa currently working in Canada, the USA, and other countries. The institution continues to shape the future of healthcare and law in Nigeria, proving its commitment to educational excellence.