About two kilometers along Katsina Dutsinma Road lies a massive 500 unit Housing Estate constructed by Katsina State Government in the year 2014. The Estate was named after the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Region, Sir, Ahmadu Bello. Directly opposite the estate on the western side is an enormous walled edifice with a beautiful gate designed in a form of a slate (Allo) with Al-Qalam University boldly written. That is Al-Qalam University, Katsina.
The university was the first Islamic University in Nigeria and the first private university to be established in the north western Geo-political zone of the country, and the second of its kind in northern Nigeria, as well as the first to be named Islamic University Nigeria. At first, it was called. “.Katsina Islamic University”, but for some reason, Islamic was removed during the registration exercise, leaving it with the name “Katsina University”. It was later changed to Al-Qalam university.
Al-Qalam University has now become a tourist attraction which visitors are anxious to visit whenever they come to Katsina State. A visitor will see magnificent building of the University constructed through some worthwhile patriotic efforts.
The first effort was an appeal fund organized by the founders of the university with the tremendous support and assistance of the Governor of the time, Late Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua. The founders, all stakeholders and patriotic citizens worked round the clock to realize the noble objective.
Another very significant contribution that made the establishment of the University a reality was the tremendous contribution of the eminent personalities who are always passionate and zealous about our educational development. They are the famous Kano Businessman Alhaji Aminu Dantata who has a big house and some members of his family in Katsina, who single handedly contributed many important buildings worth more than a Billion Naira. His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhamamd Sanusi II also contributed a modern, state of the Art ICT centre to the University when he was the Governor of the Central Bank.
The establishment of Al-Qalam University triggered the establishment of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University during his regime as the Governor of Katsina State. It was realized that many indigenes of Katsina could not secure admission into Nigerian universities due to limited space given to Katsina state as its quota. Katsina State Government of the time attempted to take over Al-Qalam University in order to convert it to a state University, but the Government was informed that it wasn’t possible, as the University was established with the contributions of the Muslim Ummah from all over the country. That prompted the Katsina state Government to establish its own University where it used part of the facilities of Hassan Usman Katsina polytechnic as a temporary site of the university pending the construction of the permanent site.
Al-Qalam University Katsina (is a testament to the fact) that any person who embarks upon any activity with patriotism, enthusiasm dedication and commitment will certainly succeed. The story of how the University came into existence is heartwarming and exemplary.
Whenever I pass near the gate of the University I feel extremely happy not only because the university is in Katsina, but because I was among those who played some roles in its establishment. When the Wazirin Katsina Professor Sani Abubakar Lugga mentioned that he would gather some Katsina state indigenes to launch an appeal fund for the establishment of the University, I thought that the Royalist was day dreaming. Any time Ovisited him in his house and saw him battling with his typewriter and a desktop computer working tire lessly typing, correcting re-typing etc, I felt pity for him, wondering how can a University like BUK or ABU, be established in that way? Any time he attempted to explain to me that it was possible, I only listened without believing in what he was saying.
I can rightly say, I was the first Messenger/Public Relation Officer assigned to liaise with journalists on the project. Alhaji Sani Abubakar Lugga is a very resourceful person who has a lot of initiative for creating developmental programmes and projects. He always involves people who have something to contribute for the achievement of success. At first I thought the entire project was for the rich and influential personalities. But when he involved me I realized that he gave all sundry such an opportunity to contribute their worth including ordinary people like humble self.
Before facilitating the establishment of the university, the Waziri established one Arabic learning institution in which both of us were students though in different classes. One day in our class which I happened to be the youngest, the elders in the class raised the issue of the possibility of establishing a university of which most of them felt it was extremely impossible. They advanced many reasons that convinced me of the impracticability of the idea.
Not only me, almost anybody confronted with the idea will express his doubts about the possibility of achieving success. I can recall when the present president of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari was one day invited to the site at the initial stage of the project, when the site was cleared and only few structures were erected. He expressed some doubts about the possibility of achieving success which was carried by some national dailies.
Some years passed, and the university was able to hold its first council meeting in 2005. It was at the meeting held in its Auditorium that all those who contributed in realizing the noble objective were invited and honoured. I happened to be the youngest among those who were honoured. The lessons and significance of the story behind establishment of the University could be made clearer when the waziri, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Lugga writes a book on the efforts made at making the university project a reality.
The University has a spacious Auditorium and an ICT centre which was named after Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano. I also played a little role in getting the ICT centre for the university.
Eighteen courses were accredited for the University by the National University Commission (NUC). The University has successfully graduated 1,678 students from 2009-2015. It has established links with many Universities across the Globe. It is also a proud owner of a sophisticated e-library.
In my effort at gathering information for this write-up, I discovered many problems faced by the University. After compiling the problems and cross checking the facts, I requested an audience with the University Authorities. I wrote two letters to them without receiving any reply. When I wrote the third letter as a reminder I received a reply from the Registrar with a strong warning that they will get their lawyer to sue me if I write any negative report against them.
Since the inception of the university, I never ever requested for anything whatsoever because I consider my little contribution as a Sadakatuj-Jariya expecting my reward in heaven. But now after seeking answer for some questions, I received none but only threats!!!
Muhammad Danjuma Katsina
Author/Journalist, Recipient of Katsina Hero’s Award 2016 for “Excellence in Journalism”
08035904408, mdanjumakatsina@gmail.com
Twitter: @danjumakatsina
