Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that his late father was once jailed for resisting his enrollment in school — a turning point that shaped his lifelong commitment to education and public service.
Speaking on Friday at the 2025 convocation ceremony of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Atiku delivered an emotional address to the graduating class, drawing deeply from his personal history to inspire the next generation of leaders.
“My father was jailed for resisting my enrollment in school,” Atiku told the gathering.
“We started from nothing — sitting on the bare ground, writing with our fingers. That’s how far I’ve come.”
Atiku, who is also the founder of AUN, described the institution as a, “world-class citadel of learning” and a legacy that would serve generations to come.
However, he clarified that the motivation behind establishing the university was not directly tied to his childhood experiences.
“The AUN story is different,” he explained.
“It was the American Peace Corps which taught me in 1961 that truly ignited the vision.”
In a speech laced with anecdotes and life lessons, the elder statesman emphasized patience as a virtue and a tool for transformative leadership.
“Patience is not weakness,” he said.
“It is a weapon of the wise.”
Reflecting on his political journey, Atiku recounted how he rejected an offer to become governor during the military era because it was not earned through democratic means.
“When we resisted military dictatorship, they offered me a governorship without an election. I rejected it,” he said.
“In 1999, I earned it the right way and became Vice President.”
He also paid tribute to his political mentor, the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, describing him as the epitome of courage.
“His blood pressure was normal on the day of his scheduled execution. That’s a soldier. That’s courage”
