By Tgnews
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has counselled fresh graduates of class of 2025 to embody resilience, courage and integrity adding that with such noble attributes, the sky will be their stepping stone.
Abubakar who is the founder of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) while speaking on Deep Dive with Akachukwu, a podcast produced by AUN’s Communications and Multimedia Design department, emphasized the transformative power of education and the enduring values that shape purposeful leadership and meaningful success.
The remarks were detailed in a press statement released by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, highlighting the former Vice President’s inspiring reflections rooted in personal struggle, national service, and an abiding commitment to youth empowerment through education.
Drawing from his own life story, Atiku spoke of a childhood marked by deep hardship. Born in Jada, Adamawa State, he described a time when his desire for education faced not only poverty but resistance from his own family.
“My father was jailed for refusing to allow me to attend school. We had no infrastructure. We sat on bare ground and wrote with our fingers. That is where I started,” he quipped.
My father was jailed for refusing to allow me to attend school. We had no infrastructure
While it’s often assumed that these early experiences motivated him to establish AUN, Atiku clarified that the real inspiration came from American Peace Corps volunteers who taught him in the early 1960s.
“They planted the seed that later became this university. Their impact showed me what was possible through education, and I wanted to replicate that opportunity here,” he said.
He described AUN as Africa’s first development-focused university and a “world-class citadel of learning,” representing a legacy that would outlive its founders and serve future generations.
Atiku noted that the institution stands not just as a place of academic excellence, but as a symbol of what vision, sacrifice, and conviction can achieve.
I’ve been persecuted, vilified, and politically hunted. But I stood firm. Patience is not a weakness
During a mentoring session with the graduates, Atiku who spoke candidly about the challenges he faced in his career and how those moments revealed the true power of patience and moral clarity said, “I’ve been persecuted, vilified, and politically hunted. But I stood firm. Patience is not a weakness—it is a quiet strength, a virtue of the wise. When we fought against military dictatorship, they offered me a governorship without an election. I declined. Later, in 1999, I earned that right and became Vice President through the will of the people.”
He also remembered his late political mentor, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, calling him a fearless leader and role model. “On the day he was meant to be executed, his blood pressure was steady. That is courage in its purest form,” Atiku said.
I hid my wife and children in a wardrobe and walked out to confront the attackers
One of the most powerful moments in his address came when he recalled an assassination attempt in Kaduna.
“I hid my wife and children in a wardrobe and walked out to confront the attackers. They shot at me and missed. I stood up and asked them, ‘Why did you fire?’ That is the essence of courage—facing danger without losing your resolve,” he said.
To the aspiring entrepreneurs among the graduating class, Atiku offered practical and ethical guidance. “Build your business on integrity. Keep it independent. Don’t lean on the government. Avoid unnecessary conflict, but never compromise on your values.”
He also revealed that he is working on a memoir that will chronicle his journey from public service and business to politics, offering lessons for future generations.
The graduation event drew several distinguished guests, including Senator Ben Obi, Chairman of AUN’s Board of Trustees, who commended Atiku’s unwavering integrity and dedication to Nigeria’s progress. Senator Bindow Jibrilla, former Governor of Adamawa State, also praised Atiku’s consistent commitment to education and youth development.
A heartwarming highlight of the ceremony was Atiku’s recognition of 12-year-old chess prodigy Mary Zira, a student at AUN Academy. Discovered at the Queen V Chess Academy, Mary was honored for her outstanding talent, underscoring Atiku’s passion for mentoring and empowering the next generation.
In his closing message, Atiku charged the graduates to let patience guide them through adversity, to face challenges with courage, and to always let integrity define their choices.
Education is the bedrock of every economy