SABMF to hold 12th Ahmadu Bello Memorial lecture, merit awards in Jigawa
Award
By Hussaina Yakubu
Kaduna , Jan. 5,2026(NAN) The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) has announced plans to hold the 12th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture and Merit Awards on Jan. 20, 2026, in Dutse, Jigawa.
The Director-General of the foundation, Mr Abubakar Umar, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Kaduna.
According to him, the event is scheduled to take place at the Government House, Dutse.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2026 memorial lecture will be delivered under the theme: ‘Delivery of Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education in Northern Nigeria A Time for Real Action’.
The foundation said the theme underscored its sustained commitment to promoting equitable access to quality basic education and advancing practical, result oriented policy interventions to address long-standing educational challenges in Northern Nigeria.
It announced Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, a former Minister of Education, as the Distinguished Guest Speaker at the lecture.
Umar added that the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Gov. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, would serve as the Chairman of the occasion while the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III would be the Royal Father of the Day.
Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa will be the Chief Host of the event.
To ensure the successful hosting of the programme, Umar said the Jigawa Government had constituted a Local Organising Committee chaired by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Aminu Usman.
The Vice-President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, is expected as the Special Guest of Honour, alongside Governors of the 19 Northern States, members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional rulers, senior government officials, elder statesmen, development partners and other dignitaries.
The foundation said that the annual memorial lecture and merit awards were instituted to commemorate the legacy and visionary leadership of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.
It added that the platform also recognised individuals and institutions whose contributions reflected his ideals of unity, education, equity, good governance and selfless service to humanity.
According to Umar, five distinguished Nigerians had emerged through a rigorous selection process as recipients of the 2026 Sir Ahmadu Bello Annual Lifetime Achievement and Merit Awards.
The foundation invited policymakers, education stakeholders, development partners, members of the media and the general public to attend the event.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)
HUM/BRM
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani