The President and Founder of Maryam Abacha American University (MAAUN) Conglomerates and Franco-British International University (FBIU), Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, who also doubles as the President of the Association of African Private Universities (AAPU) was invited to attend the IEDC Annual Presidential Forum in Slovenia.
Professor Gwarzo was the only black African honoured to grace the two-day historic Congress of the Presidents of Universities Forum (PUF) which took place in Bled, Slovenia. The event which is both educational and strategic avails the versatile MAUN President with the opportunity to rob minds with some of the world’s great leaders like the President of Slovakia, Madam Susana Caputova, the President of European Nations as well as, Borut Pahor, the President of Slovakia.
There is something interesting about Madam Susana Caputova that ought to be mentioned here. She is the first woman to hold the presidency, as well as the youngest president in Slovakian history, having been elected at the age of 45 on June 15, 2019, with almost no political experience, after defeating high-profile diplomat, Maros Sefcovic, nominated by the ruling party, in a second-round run-off vote due to her anti-corruption stances in that country.
Unlike Ms Caputova, Professor Gwarzo is a seasoned journalist, philanthropist, and educationist who is dedicated to tackling the scourge of illiteracy and poverty in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Thus, Prof. Gwarzo establishes several institutions both within and outside Nigeria, as well as the formation of the Adamu Abubakar Foundation (AAF), which serves women, the poor, and vulnerable people across the country. The presidential event is being held to celebrate the IEDC-Bled School of Management, which is commemorating its 35th anniversary since its inception in 1986, with over 94,000 executives from more than 100 countries participating in the school’s programs.
The President of the European Union, like the President of Slovakia, is regarded as the most prestigious position within the EU. He heads the commission as the executive and cabinet of the European Union. The Head of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, who previously served as Prime Minister, is also present at the glorious occasion. A lifelong member and past president of the Social Democrats party, Pahor served numerous terms as a member of the National Assembly and was its speaker from 2000 to 2004. Pahor and Gwarzo have something in common: they both speak English and French proficiently.
However, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo had been invited and shared his extensive knowledge with dignitaries at similar high-profile gatherings in various areas of the world in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the advancement of education in Sub-Saharan Africa. Allan Bloom, an American philosopher, famously remarked, “Education is the Movement from Darkness to Light,” and it is apparent that Professor Gwarzo is aware of this noble statement. Since their independence, African governments have encountered various challenges in delivering education to their vast populations. As a result, there is a growing demand for education philanthropists across the world.
Professor Gwarzo’s unwavering commitment to African education is one of the unique attributes that set him apart from most of his contemporaries. His meeting with these world leaders, particularly with two Presidents, Madam Susana Caputova, President of Slovakia, and Borut Pahor, President of Slovenia, as well as EU leaders and other key stakeholders from across Europe, is a watershed moment that could help Europe and Africa progress educationally. In his speech, Prof. Gwarzo underlined that “in order to alleviate the gloomy state of our educational system in Africa, myself and some foreign leaders will strive aggressively towards the growth of education in Africa.”
The seasoned educationist observes that the importance of education and knowledge to a country cannot be overstated, adding that education is seen as a fundamental and critical human right in many areas of the world. Education is a crucial criterion for measuring a country’s growth, progress, and improvement. Professor Gwarzo established institutions in the Niger Republic, Nigeria (Kano and Kaduna), Togo etc. in order to meet the ever-increasing need for education in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
It is crucial to highlight that education philanthropy plays a significant role in Africa, as well as many other regions of the world.
Human capital helps governments to leverage talents, knowledge, and innovation in order to build their economies and increase citizens’ well-being. Over the last 25 years, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have struggled to deal with the challenges that face education in their countries. Increasing employment and income prospects require obtaining an education. It is critical to ending the poverty cycle. For all Africans, education is the key to opening the golden door of freedom. It is the foundation of social and economic progress. Education is essential because it is a form of human capital investment. This has enormous implications on a variety of levels and domains. It is beneficial to the person, the family, the community, and the country. Education is a long-term solution to poverty alleviation and long-term transformation. This realization by Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo is the major factor that influences his decisions to establish Adamu Abubakar Foundation (AAF).
As a result, one of AAF’s main concerns is to support young men and women with a high-quality education that reflects the idea that every child has inherent human rights and should be treated with respect. Poverty, violence, abuse, exploitation, and other negative outcomes occur when children do not have access to education. As a result, Professor Gwarzo is well-positioned to provide chances for bright but underprivileged African children and youth.
Nevertheless, during the grand occasion, MAAUN’s founder also commends Prof. Danica Purg of IEDC Bled School of Management and presents a gift on the 35th anniversary of her institution. The two-day meeting’s key topics are Leadership and Capitalism: New Perspectives for a Sustainable Future. Equally, the hope to achieve and improve educational development in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic were discussed.
By: Habib Awais Abubakar, Researcher, University Sultan Zainal Abidin, Malaysia.
