The Cité Universitaire de Paris, one of France’s most prestigious academic institutions, has conferred an Award of Excellence on Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, Founder of the MAAUN Group of Universities and President of the Association of African Private Universities (AAPU), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to education across Africa.
The award ceremony, held on Friday, June 13, 2025, marked the university’s 100th anniversary and coincided with a high-level international forum on the Internationalisation of African Higher Education and Research. The event brought together leading scholars and education policymakers from around the world.
Presenting the award, Cité Universitaire President Senator Jean Mac Sauve praised Prof. Gwarzo’s transformative work in the education sector and his efforts in bridging academic collaboration between Africa and Europe. “As an alumnus of a French institution, Prof. Gwarzo makes France proud through his leadership and dedication to expanding educational opportunities across the African continent,” Sauve remarked.
Representing Nigeria at the ceremony was Ambassador Dr. Hajo Sani, Nigeria’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. She commended the university for recognizing Prof. Gwarzo’s legacy and described the honour as a testament to his deep commitment to human capital development through education. “Two of my children are direct beneficiaries of the institutions he established. His vision is impacting lives beyond borders,” she noted.
Prof. Gwarzo, who has singlehandedly established three universities in Nigeria under the MAAUN umbrella, expressed gratitude for the recognition. “This award motivates me further to invest in education not just in Africa, but globally,” he said. He also used the opportunity to urge African scholars in the diaspora to return home and contribute to the continent’s development. “Africa remains largely untapped and needs the intellectual capital of its people,” he added.
The recognition cements Prof. Gwarzo’s status as a key advocate for educational advancement and global academic integration, as his institutions continue to expand quality higher learning across Africa.
