The Masters of International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD) Alumni Forum, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, has appointed Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Bamalli as Grand its Patron.
Malam Isah Nuhu, Chairman of the Forum, disclosed this during the awards and investiture of the Emir as grand patron of the Forum on Saturday.
Nuhu said the event, which coincided with the celebration of MIAD at 21, was aimed at honouring the royal father, who was also an alumnus of the Forum.
He said as an ambassador, the emir had played many roles in inviting many international organisations to Nigeria, which helped in enhancing Foreign Direct Investment in the country.
According to him, also as alumnus of MIAD, Bamalli had a lot of achievements, hence the decision by the MIAD to honour and appoint the royal father as Grand Patron of the Forum.
Meanwhile, Nuhu also noted that the Department of Political Science, ABU, had done so much since the establishment of the programme in the late 1990’s.
He therefore said it was the turn of the forum to contribute towards the development of the Department and the university.
In his remarks, the Emir applauded the Department of Political Science and International Studies for the appointment, and urged MIAD students to join the diplomatic service to contribute towards national development.
Bamalli said MIAD was an excellent course with excellent professors, as he was able to put what he learnt from the department into use when he found himself in Thailand as a diplomat.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of ABU, Prof. Kabiru Bala, said the emir was on the list of the second set of students that participated in the programme and graduated in 2002.
Bala, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics Prof. Danladi Ameh, said the programme was designed by the department of political science to meet the demand for such postgraduate degrees and add value to prospective students in their place of work.
The V-C said since the first set of students admitted in 1998/99 Academic Session to date, the programme had continued the training of high level manpower for both private and public sectors.
He added that since the inception of the programme, 2,814 students had graduated from the programme, and it had also become a model emulated by many universities in the country.
Responding on behalf of recipients of the award, AVM Mohammed-Zubair Suleiman, said the awards were in recognition and appreciation of their various contributions to the development of the country.
Suleiman noted that the programme had produced top diplomats, traditional rulers, top military personnel, among others, an indication of its positive impact to the development of the country.
According to him however, few areas that require intervention have been highlighted and some members have pledged to provide support for the department.
Suleiman therefore, appealed to other members of the forum to emulate those members.
