How DSP Barau and the FUDMA VC shielded Barau Scholars Amid Study Centres Relocation
By Abba Anwar
The possibility of life without challenges is zero point zero. As His Excellency, Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, PhD, CFR, rightly observed and amplified.
It was during an interactive session, that was held at Convocation Arena of Bayero University, Kano, Tuesday, with the students he sponsored under Barau I. Jibrin Foundation, to study at the Study Centres of Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), in six local governments from his constituency, Kano North. These are Bichi, Dambatta, Dawakin Tofa, Gabasawa, Gwarzo and Tofa.
The session was attended by the management of the university, FUDMA, under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Prof MK Usman, the students of the Centres and their parents. It was meant to discuss the relocation of the affected students from these Study Centres, back to the main campus of the university, in Dutsin-Ma.
According to the Vice Chancellor Prof Usman, the directive was from the federal ministry of education, that these Centres must relocate to the main campus of the university. Meaning, all students would relocate from their respective local governments here in Kano and move to Dutsin-Ma town of Katsina state.
During the session, after prolonged discussion of the situation on ground, by the Vice Chancellor, DSP urged all the affected students to take this as part of the challenges of life. He was live virtually during the session.
He narrated how he intervened between the university and Minister of State, Education, on how the situation could be handled without the relocation. Believing that relocation could be disturbing to students. As many students complained. Citing extra spendings and insecurity as their main reasons against the new development.
DSP Barau narrated in details, how he requested for another option instead of the relocation. Explaining that, the Minister said, there was no room for any arrangement different from the relocation exercise.
One needs to see the humane face of the DSP when he was making his remarks to the students. When he realised that, the faces of the students were requesting for reversal of the new policy, he instantly changed their mood, as he promised to take care of their transportation, keep-up allowances and adequate provision of security escorts for their trips, to and fro.
Apart from all other responsibilities, to encourage them face their studies with all seriousness and commitment. A standing ovation greeted the Senator, during and after his remarks. Human capital development, as he believes and amplified at the session, is the mainstay of any meaningful development. Reason why he believes in investing in the education of his people. For the development of the society.
Fear of living in new environment, due to accommodation problem was allayed, as the Vice Chancellor promised that, all the relocated students would be accommodated freely in the university. It also appears here, the issue of accommodation, that both DSP Foundation and the university would work hand in hand to make the students comfortable.
A standing ovation greeted the entire hall when DSP said, “I will arrange for your transportation to and from Federal University Dutsin-Ma. I will give you resources to help you stay there comfortably. So also security will be provided.”
Among the students who were enrolled in the FUDMA’s Study Centres, some are in their final year, some in level Three, and so on and so forth. The Vice Chancellor assured all the students that, quality would not be compromise. Praising the Deputy Senate President for his unrelenting effort for the betterment of the students.
Even after the interactive session, there were handful few, who still insisted that, they would rather seek for transfer to other institutions, citing family issues as their main reason for rejecting the relocation policy. They are mostly married women. But it appears there could be other arrangement for this category of students.
Many parents who attended the interactive session, commended Senator Barau for being that magnanimous and caring for their wards. Ensuring that, they would aid in the successful relocation exercise.
Highlighting that there were many people out there who could not have similar opportunity to further their studies. Believing that, DSP’s interest in the development of his people, was what made the intervention successful from day one.
Many students and their parents, pointed out that, they were privy to leaked information that, some unpatriotic elements from Kano North were trying to politicize the new development. They further challenged that, the development was not DSP’s making or design. As a result, they vehemently reject any possible political attack of the DSP over the situation.
While acknowledging that, His Excellency, Senator Jibrin did his best through the Minister of State, Education, to see the possibility of policy reversal, but that couldn’t be possible, as revealed by the Senator, the majority of students and their parents, including well wishers, further revealed that, the students benefiting from the scholarship scheme were not members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) only, they cut across party boundaries. So according to them, linking the relocation issue to politics is baseless, needless and uncalled for.
Anwar writes from Kano
Wednesday, 3rd June, 2026