How My Father Was Imprisoned Over School Enrollment - Atiku Recounts

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his father was once jailed for refusing to allow him attend school during his early years.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, which he founded, Atiku shared the emotional story to encourage young Nigerians to value education.

His remarks were included in a statement released on Saturday by his media adviser, Paul Ibe.

“My father ended up in jail for trying to stop me from going to school. Back then, we had nothing—we wrote with our fingers on the ground. That was the beginning of my journey,” he said.

Atiku emphasised that education remains the most powerful tool for transforming lives and driving national progress. 

He urged Nigerian youths to prioritise learning, noting that no country can grow without a strong educational foundation.

He described AUN as a global standard institution and a legacy meant to empower future leaders. 

According to him, the inspiration behind the university came from his early contact with American Peace Corps teachers in the 1960s, rather than from his personal struggles with education access.

“The idea behind AUN came from the Peace Corps members who taught me in 1961—they lit the spark that shaped this dream,” he explained.

Reflecting on his political journey, Atiku said he had endured many difficult moments, including political persecution, but never lost focus or compromised his principles.

“I’ve gone through a lot. I’ve been targeted and faced many tests, but I stayed firm. Patience isn’t weakness—it’s a strength of the wise. During the military era, they offered me a governorship position without an election, but I turned it down. I later became Vice President in 1999 by earning it legitimately,” he said.

Atiku concluded his message by reaffirming his belief in the power of education and expressing his hope that AUN will continue to serve as a platform for future success stories in Nigeria.