Abba Anwar: 
At whatever rate, speed, standard or from any side of the prism one looks at the Kano political arithmetic and configuration, the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, who also doubles as the First Deputy Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, has greater stake and influence on changing the political landscape.
This gentleman, reserved and humble as his political engagement appears, is one political icon who believes in genuine human development. His impact is neither noisy nor boastful. One of his greatest assets is how focused and (re) assuring he is. It is simply an open secret that, DSP proves his mettle and knows his onion.
To him, education, education and education, remains the bedrock or a turning point for progress, growth and sustainable development. Many believe that, Jibrin is not a noise maker, neither is he an empty drum. Reserved, calculative and down – to-earth.
In terms of understanding proper investment in people, youth especially, with education as a driving force, Distinguished Senator has no match in Kano. You cannot compare him with the existing state government in the state, talk less of individual politicians.
After believing that education is key, his faith in breaking mental slavery through education, is firm, steady and structural. So he wastes no time in breaking all jinx.
Let me be very clear here, among all those with positions at the federal government level, either elected or appointed, from Kano North, since from the beginning of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, even before now, no politician can match Senator Barau Jibrin. Whoever that politician could be. Yes among all those enjoying federal “largesse,” as either elected or appointed.
We are talking of people who believe in the progress and development of all sections of people. Those who can work for the welfare of the rich and the poor. Not self – serving with self – first sickness.
I challenge anybody, without an exception, from Jibrin’s zone, who tastes federal presence, as elected or appointed, to show me feats he achieved in the education of our people from the zone. Yes I said, anybody, without being immodest.
He was instrumental for the establishment of the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo, formerly Federal Polytechnic, Kabo, when he initiated Federal Polytechnic Kabo (Establishment) Bill (2023).
He singlehandedly sponsored postgraduate students across the state, for foreign study. He started with fewer to the extent that, he, at a go, sponsored 70, out which 65 were male and 5 female, to foreign nations for their postgraduate studies.
What informs all to know how critical, focused and informed the Senator is, all the students were sent to study modern courses, like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, among others.
He processed and sponsored three hundred (300) students for postgraduate studies in Nigerian Universities, like Bayero University, Kano, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Ife among other primier institutions. Their areas of study also include, all courses selected for the foreign scholarships students. With more additional courses, like Geophysics and others.
To tell you that, this Senator, is highly extraordinary with special interest in genuine human development, his efforts towards our people has no match at whatever length, he sponsored over two thousand (2000) students to go for their first degrees in Federal University Dutsinma, at Kano Learning Centres (Satellite Campuses).
While he played an important role in the establishment of those Centres in six different locations in the state. The six locations cut across all the 3 Senatorial Districts in the state. These are, Tofa, Dawakin Tofa, Gwarzo, Bichi and Dambatta Centres. He also sponsored many students at the already existing Centre located at Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies (CAS Kano).
Over ninety eight percent (98%) of students studying in these Centres, are sponsored by the Deputy Senate President. I learned from reliable source from the university, that, he (DSP) pays tuition fees for complete session. His is not per semester payment. As obtained in some quarters, elsewhere. That is why he stands better and unique.
Even before he became Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator, made sure that, Satellite Campuses of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) were established across all the 13 local governments under his primary constituency, Kano North Senatorial District.
Senator Jibrin cannot, by any measure, be seen as a local champion. His domineering effect, influence, support and popularity, cut across all sections of the state. Even beyond. He has a say in North West region. The quintessential icon is not an enigma. His voice goes beyond the shores of our dear country. Being the First Deputy Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament.
It is on record that, in recent political history and governance in Kano state, no single politician, who answers his name well, nears Senator Jibrin in practicalizing the gatekeeping role of education in individual progress and national development.
During the flag-off of the 300 domestic sponsored students, the DSP made it very clear to the hearing of all, that, “Well, we are here in pursuit of bringing development to our region, to bring development to our state, and to bring development to our nation because education is a bedrock of every society.
And any society’s desire for development must take its educational system seriously. And to build a sound and effective educational system in the country, that is not what a government alone can do.”
He urged all and sundry that, “It’s what everyone, all households, must participate in getting that done. From the government to religious bodies, to height network individuals, in fact, even the ordinary person, everyone must come on board. And that’s why we are executing this initiative
He made reference to few of his programmes in that direction when he reminded that, “We started by sending our students outside of the shores of this country to study artificial intelligence, AI, and other courses and programs so that they can bring the knowledge acquired to develop our country.
I felt that that was not enough. We also have to look at the institutions in this country that have established themselves as comparable to what we have overseas.”
Ths is great mind with human touch. Not political chest beating exercise with no impact in view.
To further justify why some students were selected for domestic institutions, he added that, “We need to have these other ones to study at home, particularly in those areas that are really needed in our country. Apart from AI and the rest, we also have areas like agriculture, which is the bane of our economy, particularly here in the north.”
DSP’s understanding of the true picture of all-inclusive nature of societal development, informs his intervention in infrastructural development. With this, he aided the erection of so many structures in the Federal University of Science and Technology, Kabo. As he intervened in some structures in Federal University, Dutsinma, of Katsina state.
Across all the NOUN Satellite Campuses (13) in his constituency, he made sure that, structures were put in place. If you call him silent achiever you are right. When you speak of him, as unparalleled legislator, you are on right track. So many call him, a no-desperado political heavyweight.
Anwar writes from Kano