MAAUN Niger Appoints Ibrahim Lawal as President After Gwarzo’s 13-Year Tenure

Prof. Ibrahim A. Lawal has been appointed the new President of MAAUN Niger, succeeding founder Prof. Adamu Gwarzo after his 13-year tenure.

The appointment brings to an end Gwarzo’s 13-year tenure as president of the institution, which he led from its establishment.

Lawal’s appointment letter was presented to him during a ceremony in Maradi, Niger Republic, on Saturday, August 8, 2026.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gwarzo said the leadership transition was part of efforts to strengthen the university and create opportunities for other members of the academic community to contribute to its development.

He expressed confidence in the future of the institution and said the universities within the MAAUN Group could produce leaders capable of making significant contributions to Nigeria and Africa.

“It is my pleasure to see one of us who is a Deputy Governor. Maybe tomorrow I will see one of us as a president of Nigeria,” Gwarzo said.

He recalled that MAAUN Niger was established about 13 years ago with limited resources but had expanded through what he described as determination, sincerity and integrity.

According to him, the MAAUN Group has since grown to four private universities across Africa: MAAUN Niger in Maradi, MAAUN Kano, Franco-British International University (FBIU), Kaduna, and Canadian University of Nigeria (CUN), Abuja.

His appointment marks a new phase in the leadership of MAAUN Niger as he succeeds Gwarzo, who led the university for 13 years.