Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar revealed that his father was imprisoned for opposing his education as a child.
Atiku, the founder of the American University of Nigeria, encouraged Nigerian youths to prioritize education as it has the power to change their lives.
In a statement by his media aide, Atiku emphasized the importance of quality education for personal and national development during the university’s graduation ceremony.
“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,” Atiku was quoted to have said in the statement.
He described the AUN as a “world-class citadel of learning” and a legacy that will endure for generations.
He reiterated his belief that education is essential for progress and highlighted that AUN was not solely inspired by his personal experiences.
“The AUN story is different. It was the American Peace Corps who taught me in 1961 that truly ignited the vision.
“I have faced tribulations. I have been hunted, but I never wavered. Patience is not weakness. It is a weapon of the wise. When we resisted military dictatorship, they offered me a governorship without an election — I rejected it. In 1999, I earned it the right way and became Vice President,” he said.
