Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar delivered a stirring message on the power of education during the 2024 convocation ceremony of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, revealing a deeply personal story from his childhood: his father was once jailed for opposing his enrollment in school.

 

Speaking to the graduating class on Friday, Atiku recalled his humble beginnings and the transformative role education has played in his life. “My father was jailed for resisting my enrolment in school. We started from nothing — sitting on the bare ground, writing with our fingers. That’s how far I have come,” he told the graduates.

 

In a statement released Saturday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku urged Nigerian youth to embrace education as a vital tool for personal growth and national development. “No nation can develop without quality education,” he emphasized.

 

Reflecting on the institution he founded, Atiku described AUN as a “world-class citadel of learning” and a legacy intended to endure across generations. However, he clarified that the inspiration behind the university was not solely based on his own educational struggles. “The AUN story is different. It was the American Peace Corps who taught me in 1961 that truly ignited the vision,” he explained.

 

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, also touched on his political journey and the challenges he has faced along the way. “I have faced tribulations. I have been hunted, but I never wavered. Patience is not weakness. It is a weapon of the wise,” he said.

 

He recounted turning down an offer to become a governor under a military regime, asserting his belief in democratic processes. “In 1999, I earned it the right way and became Vice President,” he noted.

 

Atiku’s address served as both a personal reflection and a call to action, emphasizing resilience, integrity, and the critical role of education in shaping the future of Nigeria.