The Prepared Leader: From Nation-Building in Education to Rebuilding Nigeria
By Jerry Adesewo
In the constant churn of Nigerian politics, a familiar question is being asked with renewed urgency: “Who do we trust to fix this?” The search often circles back to a single, elusive quality: preparedness. Not the preparedness of lofty promises, but of proven, tangible achievement. In this light, one name demands a deeper look, beyond the convenient shorthand of “Obi’s running mate.” That name is Senator Yusuf Datti-Baba Ahmed. To understand who he is, and why his name has been on people’s lips, one need not look to political slogans, but to the living, breathing institutions he has built: Baze University in Abuja, and the burgeoning Baba-Ahmed University in Kano.
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These institutions are not mere lines on a resume; they are physical manifestos, microcosms of the Nigeria Datti-Baba Ahmed is equipped to build. Baze University, his flagship project, stands as a powerful case study. While the nation grapples with an erratic grid, Baze’s campus operates on a sophisticated 8.5MW independent power plant, ensuring 24-hour electricity—a simple yet revolutionary proof of concept that reliable power is not a fantasy. Amid a crisis of crumbling public infrastructure, the university’s meticulously maintained facilities, from its libraries to its laboratories, demonstrate that quality, long-term engineering is possible in Nigeria.
Most critically, in an era where access is often mistaken for excellence, Baze upholds a ruthless, merit-driven system, attracting a faculty with over 80% holding Ph.D.s and producing graduates who compete globally. This was not built by a career politician with a budget allocation, but by a visionary entrepreneur with a Ph.D. in Economics, who understood that theory without execution is merely trivia.
But the story of his commitment to human capital does not end in Abuja. The ongoing development of Baba-Ahmed University in Kano reveals a deeper, more strategic vision. This project, consciously rooted in the North, speaks to a leader dedicated to national balance and inclusive development. It represents a direct, personal investment in bridging the alarming educational deficit in a region crucial to Nigeria’s future. Where Baze serves as a model of high-functioning excellence, Baba-Ahmed University’s mission is one of catalytic intervention—aiming to unlock potential in a region brimming with untapped talent. Together, these institutions bookend a philosophy: nation-building requires both centres of elite excellence and deliberate, grassroots empowerment. This dual focus showcases a leader who thinks systemically, understanding that Nigeria’s revival hinges on developing talent everywhere, not just in the federal capital.
This is the first pillar of Datti-Baba Ahmed: Competence forged in the crucible of real-world creation. He is not a theorist of development but a practitioner. He did not just debate power solutions; he financed and managed a power plant. He did not merely lament regional disparities in education; he is pouring resources into bridging them. This is the competence Nigeria desperately needs—the ability to diagnose a problem, marshal resources, and deliver a functional result. It is the mindset of a builder, wholly different from that of a distributor of political patronage.
The second, inseparable pillar is Integrity. In the aftermath of the 2023 elections, his steadfast, constitutional stance was painted by some as obstinacy. In truth, it was the logical extension of the man who built institutions on principle. The same unwavering commitment to rules and standards that sustains a university’s credibility was applied to the sanctity of the nation’s democratic process. For Datti-Baba Ahmed, integrity is not a convenient slogan; it is the operating system for his life’s work—evident in the transparent governance of his universities and his consistent public conduct. In a nation weary of betrayal, this consistency is not a weakness but his most potent political asset.
Therefore, to ask “Who is Datti-Baba Ahmed?” is to ask a different question: “What does a prepared leader look like?”
He is the architect who demonstrates that reliable infrastructure is possible, having already built it.
He is the educator who understands that human capital is the ultimate national resource, and is investing in it from Abuja, Kano, and beyond.
He is the strategist who thinks in terms of national balance and systemic change, not isolated projects.
He is the senator whose legislative work was rooted in tangible impact.
He is the patriot whose respect for the rule of law is non-negotiable.
The narrative must shift. He is not just a former Vice-Presidential candidate. He is the man whose life’s work—brick by brick, student by student, campus by campus—presents a compelling, evidence-based argument for his leadership. The “Prepared Leader” is not a promise of what he will do, but a record of what he has already done, scaled in ambition from the lecture hall to the national stage. The task before Nigeria is to rebuild a nation. The principles required—competence, integrity, systemic vision, and unwavering resolve—are exactly the ones that built Baze and are now raising the walls of Baba-Ahmed University, among other ingeniously bold steps.
The blueprint exists. The builder is prepared.
The Prepared Leader: From Nation-Building in Education to Rebuilding Nigeria