The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu (FCVSN), on Wednesday, 17th September 2025, received the award of excellence as icon of integrity from Zero Tolerance for Corruption Association, which is given exclusively to persons with probity and accountability principles in their vocations.
The award was presented in recognition of his dedication to duty, selfless service, hard work, dependable ethos, service to humanity and exemplary leadership.
The award, which describes his personality, underscores his tenacious determination towards promoting the Nigerian University System (NUS), evident in the numerous achievements recorded under his stewardship while serving first as Vice-Chancellor at the Federal University of Technology Yola (now Modibbo Adama University if Technology MAUTECH, Yola), Jigawa State University, Jigawa and now as Executive Secretary, NUC.
The presentation which took place at the Executive Secretary’s Office was attended by key officers of the Zero Tolerance for Corrupt Association and the NUC Management.
In his speech, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Aminu Abass Arabi, commended Professor Ribau for his outstanding contributions to nation-building, his principled leadership, and his dedication to service to the Nigerian University System (NUS).
He noted that his consistent efforts at making accountability his watch word and the promotion of anti-corruption values, at everywhere he had served made him a worthy recipient of the Icon of Integrity award.
Receiving the award and upon his decoration with the integrity emblem, the Executive Secretary, Professor Ribadu thanked the Association for the honour bestowed on him as an icon of integrity and humanitarian service which came from such a reputable and credible organization known as Zero Tolerance for Corruption Association.
He commended the Association for their mandate which rests on promoting integrity and combating corruption, particularly through educational outreach to young people in the universities and Nigeria youths in general.
Professor Ribadu thanked the Association for considering him worthy of the award, saying being identified as an icon of integrity and humanitarian service and promoter of knowledge speaks volume, describing it as humbling and a motivation to do more in his life journey in the course of promoting the frontiers of knowledge, having been rewarded this way.
In his words: “What you have just stated about my character and person brings me to the reality that whatever you do, someone is up there watching you.
“It is my obligation to better the lives of people and that remains my pathway in life”, he said.
The Executive Secretary used the forum to pledge the willingness of the NUC to collaborate with the Association towards the fight and campaign for zero tolerance to Corruption and all other negative vices in the Nigerian Universities.
In a vote of thanks. the NUC Acting Director, Accreditation (DA), Engr. Abraham L. Chindusu thanked the association for the conferment of such a rewarding honour to the Executive Secretary of the Commission.
He described the award as worthy and deserving, noting that the Commission has been benefitting from Professor Ribadu’s wealth of knowledge and experience since he joined the Commission, first as Visiting Professor and now as the Executive Secretary.
In the Zero Tolerance for Corruption Association delegation were the Coordinators of: Katsina, Mr. Abdulmalik Zakari; Bauchi, Mr. Emmanuel John; Niger, Mr. Asma’u Usman Muhammad and Jigawa, Mr. Ismail Musa Danboyi.
At the meeting were NUC Ag. Director of: the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Information Technology (DRIIT), Mr Mohammed Lawal. Farouk; Directorate of Academic Planning (DAP), Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Girei, Directorate of Public Affairs (DPA), Mrs. Franca Chukwuonwo; as well as the Deputy Director, Service Compact with Nigerians (SERVICOM) & Anti-Corruption, in the Directorate of Executive Secretary’s Office (DESO), Mr. Iliyasu Musa.
Others were the Head, Special Duties in the Office of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Tanko; the Technical Assistant to the ES, Mr. Anas Shetima as well as Secretariat Staff including, Mrs Onwusiri Oluchi, Gabriel Ogba, Mrs. Obiajuru Adaku, Camera man, Mr Abubakar Sadiq and Mr. Emenem Chinweokwu.