This media and political genius and the humble servant of Allah was honoured by the Bayero University, Kano with  the conferment on him the Degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt), honoris causa:

Chancellor, Sir,

I present to you Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, a distinguished towering inferno of raw scholarship and intellectualism, a media icon, political strategist, an information manager, an innovator, an educator, a power-broker, a diplomat, an empire builder, a veteran civil servant, a writer, and a cultural revivalist.

This media and political genius and the humble servant of Allah is being honored today by the Bayero University Kano with the conferment on him of the Degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt), honoris causa

Alhaji Magaji Dambatta was born to an intellectual Fulani family in the town of Dambatta in 1931. Like all youth in his time, he paid homage first to his antecedent scholastic tradition by taking up his Qur’anic education before enrolling into the Western primary school in 1938. He then went to the Kano middle school in 1942 for post primary education which lasted for five years. From there he proceeded to the School of Arabic Studies (SAS) in Kano for further secondary school course, and more intensive Arabic and Islamic studies as well as training in Shari’ah jurisprudence. This was between 1947 and 1948. After a brief stint with the Nigerian produce and inspection department he took to journalism where his talents seemed to manifest.

Alhaji Magaji Dambatta began his career as a reporter with the first newspaper in Kano, the Daily Comet; -- a paper owned by Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe whose publishing base was transferred from Lagos to Kano in order to provide a political platform for the struggle against British Colonial rule. He was later the first editor of its Hausa section from 1950 to 1953. This Hausa section of the paper -- created to provide a wider platform for mass enlightenment among the Hausa readers -- proved to be a thorn in the flesh of corrupt Native Authority officials and high-handed Colonial administrators.

It was during this period that the political seeds of the towering power-broker that would emerge from Alhaji Magaji Dambatta were sown.

In the afternoon of 8^th August 1950, a group of eight young men met at No. 4 Ibadan Street Sabon Gari, Kano and deliberated for about two hours which resulted in the formation of a political party which they named Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU). Malam Abba Mai-Kwaru was selected the national president of the party while Malam Bello Ijumu in whose residence the meeting was held, was made the General-Secretary. Alhaji Magaji Dambatta was appointed the Assistant General-Secretary. He actually recorded the minutes of that very first meeting. That day’s meeting and the resolution it took turned out to be one of the most crucial events that had happened in Kano which in no time reverberated throughout Northern Nigeria.

Daily Comet became a hot seller due to Alhaji Magaji Dambatta’s fearless and incisive articles on the evils of oppressions, suppression and exploitation of the generality of the masses. To make it a real voice Alhaji Magaji Dambatta opened its pages for contribution of views and complaints of victimization from the general public. The editor also used the paper to mobilize the people to rediscover themselves and their human dignity and to rise against injustices in any shape or form -- in furtherance for NEPU’s ideals. It was a truly revolutionary focus for articulation views, without the usual text-book revolutionary rhetoric.

The paper quite naturally became the mouth-piece and publicity organ of the NEPU soon after its formation. Its articles became campaign materials in spreading the philosophy of NEPU throughout Northern Nigeria. Soon enough stokes of resistance to injustices victimizations and the increasing tightening of the screws by oppressors -- colonials and their native collaborators -- kept pouring on to the editor’s office from various parts of the region. Alhaji Magaji’s task in selecting what to publish was not an easy one, not because of fear of liable or sedition -- Alhaji Magaji Dambatta fears only Allah -- but because of the competing degree of unspeakable atrocities which some of the stories portrayed.

In his activities to build up NEPU and to make it more widely acceptable Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, like most of his colleagues faced many obstacles in his way, which instead of daunting his enthusiasm, actually increased his determination to succeed. He faced a lot of deprivations, untold hardships, and ostracization and in some cases total rejection masterminded by opponents of progress and human emancipation. With the passage of time and increasing awareness of their rights by the people it was a joy to he behold the wide spread grass root support which NEPU began to enjoy. Soon enough NEPU’s appeal began to register even among the educated elements of the society who made overt and or covert contribution to the party’s development.

In all these efforts, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta played prominent roles. He contributed in writing the various petitions sent to the authorities and in helping to research and marshal convincing arguments. He led, or was part of the numerous delegations sent by NEPU to confront British colonial officers, police authorities, the Alkalis, District Heads, and in some cases up to Emirs Councils. And indeed there was the public platform, or soap box arena, where he gave open air addresses and public lectures in which he exposed the rampant misdeeds of the authorities and encouraged his listeners to recognize their worth and refused to be intimidated. And here we are talking of a period when Northern Nigeria was like a bottle with its cork firmly in place.

Alhaji Magaji Dambatta’s experience in journalism and his involvement in the early engineering of politics in Northern Nigeria brought him to the attention of the Nigerian Citizen a bi-weekly newspaper published in Zaria by Gaskiya Corporation. The then editor of the paper, Mr. Charles Sharp, who was recruited from Britain to give new life to the paper, lured Alhaji Magaji Dambatta and appointed him as the political correspondence based in Kaduna. He served the paper for a number of years reporting on Northern Government activities and on parliamentary proceeding from the Northern House of Assembly and the House of Chiefs.

In 1956 he moved to the News Division of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (now FRCN). He served with the NBC from 1956 to 1961 beginning as a Senior Reporter.

While serving with the NBC, he was awarded a scholarship to study Journalism in the United Kingdom where he studied for two years. He further honed his skills as an information manager during his stay in the UK by working at major British newspaper house in Fleet Street, as well as the BBC Overseas service in The Strand. On his return to Nigeria, the professional training earned him rapid and well-deserved promotion to the status of Northern Regional Editor of the NBC. However, he was called to greater and more challenges in 1961 when he was appointed the Senior Information Manager for the Northern Nigerian Government service and posted to the Region’s Agent General’s Office in London as Information and Public Relations Officer up to 1964.

In 1964 he was transferred home and elevated to the post of Chief Information Officer of the then Northern Region. The skill and creativity with which he handled the publicity machinery helped enormously in giving the Northern Region a favorable image abroad and making people receptive to government policies and programs at home.

With the first creation of twelve states in Nigeria, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta was deployed to Kano as the first permanent secretary to the ministry of Education. He led a team of rather small but dedicated and enthusiastic staff -- no doubt motivated by a dedicated and enthusiastic officer such as Alhaji Magaji Dambatta to set up a strong nucleus for the ministry and a sound basis for the expansion of education in Kano State. It was this team that created a formidable intellectual foundation for education in Kano State that is still serving well the citizens of the State.

In 1969 he was transferred to the Federal Government service for posting to the Nigerian High Commission in London as a Counselor for Information in the United Kingdom and Western Europe. This was at the later part of the Nigerian civil war in order to counteract the vicious and untruthful Biafran propaganda on the war. He made useful contacts with British journalists, members of the British parliament, and a number of retired British colonial officers who served in Nigeria as well as cultivated the friendship of many Nigerian students in Britain. Through these contacts and with the use of effective publicity material giving factual state of affairs in Nigeria, a more positive image of Nigeria was impacted on the British people. The success story was more pronounced with the recognition and appreciation of Nigeria’s humane policy at the end of the civil war.

He served in that capacity until 1973 when he was elevated to the rank of Minister and transferred to the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC, United States. Part of his assignment while at the Post was the co-ordination of the participation of the Back Diaspora in the United States, Canada, South America and the Caribbean in the International Festival of Arts and Culture – FESTAC – which was held in Nigeria in 1977. After nine continuous years in the Foreign Service he returned home and retired voluntarily from civil service in 1978 when the ovation was loudest.

The end of his civil service career saw the beginning of new challenges in Alhaji Magaji Dambatta’s life. He found himself presiding over the affairs of some Government parastatals including the Daily Times of Nigeria Group of companies and the Federal Housing Authority.

It was during his time as Chairman of the Daily Times from 1980-1983 that the most advanced and sophisticated printing technology in Nigeria thus far was commissioned at the company’s printing presses in Agidingbi, Ikeja. The newly installed web-off machinery not only enhanced the fortunes of the Daily Times but also reestablished its commanding lead in the Nigerian newspaper industry.

As chairman of the Federal Housing Authority he ensured the movement of the Authority from Lagos to the new Federal Capital Territory of Abuja long before most Federal ministries and parastatals were compelled to join in the movement. As housing provider the early movement of FHA to Abuja was necessary for the speedy completion of its housing estates at Maitama and Asokoro districts as well as its Kubuwa estate. It was also the Board of Alhaji Magaji Dambatta that initiated the construction of FHA’s Kado estate which today is one of the largest public housing facilities in Abuja.

Other public appointments held by Alhaji Magaji Dambatta were:

Ø      Member, Board of Directors, New Nigerian Newspapers, Kaduna, 1965-1966.

Ø      Member, Ahmadu Bello University Council 1967-1968.

Ø      Chairman, Board of Directors of Broadcasting Company of Northern Nigeria (BCNN), whose Radio and Television outfits were taken over by the Federal Military Government, 1967-1969.

Ø      Chairman, Board of Directors, Kano Broadcasting Corporation, KBC, comprising Radio and CTV, continuously for nine years.

Alhaji Magaji Dambatta is not done yet in spite of his age and fulfilling life. For in 1997 he joined other reputable citizens of Kano to form Inuwar Jama’ar Kano, (Kano Forum), a community-centered voluntary organization which is dedicated to addressing the various problems that militate against meaningful progress. In particular the forum is concerned with the rich and standard of education in Kano and is assisting in various ways towards improving the situation. Kano Forum draws its membership from leading opinion leaders who are renowned professionals, academicians, diplomats, the Ulama and bureaucrats and is today the most credible NGO in this part of the country. That Alhaji Magaji Dambatta has been chosen by these gentlemen to lead the organization as its Chairman since its inception is an eloquent testimony to his character and standing in the society.

A veteran journalist, an experienced administrator, a seasoned diplomat, a principled politician, and a respected leader, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta is a worthy citizen whose life should serve as a shining example to up-coming generations. His intelligence, hard work and dedication have been amply rewarded with a number of honors, awards and commendations including being

è    Decorated with the Medal of Merit by the late president Gamal   Abdul-Nasser of Egypt, in 1961.

è    Awarded the Nigerian national honour of the Order of the Federal Republic   of Nigeria (OFR) for meritorious public service in 1982.

è    Called to the Roll of Honour of the Nigerian Union of Journalist in 1985.

è    Honored with the Certificate of Honour by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in 1988.

è  Awarded the Certificate of Merit by Kano state government for distinguished    public service, in 1991.

è    Certificate of Merit awarded by all organs of Nigerian Newspaper journalism for his solid contribution to the development of the Nigerian press in its 140 years history, (1859-1999), in 1999.

è  Chosen as a Good Ambassador to the noble profession of journalism, in 2000.

Chancellor, Sir, here stands before you a great man. A God-fearing man. An honorable man. A man who despite the brilliance of his intellect and his mastery of the political process in Nigeria yet remains a simple and dedicated servant of the people. A great benefactor of mankind, an erudite scholar and man of the people; revered and recognized by his people and the nation. A Fountainhead. A revolutionary. A motivator.  Dattifo!

I request you, Chancellor, by the authority of Council and Senate, to admit Alhaji Magaji Dambatta to the Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) honoris causa of the Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria.

^{21st Convocation Ceremony of Bayero University Kano}

^{Saturday, January 18th, 2003}

^{® All Rights Reserved}

^{Orator: Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu (aundamu@yahoo.com)}

^{Bayero University Kano, 2003}