A cross-tribal act of kindness is rewriting the narrative of Nigeria’s diversity, as Ahmad Isa, a former almajiri boy from Kano, graduates from Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, embodying the power of unity in action.
Arewa PUNCH gathered that the story of Isa, who rose from barefoot streets to earn a Second Class Upper degree in Criminology and Security Studies, underscores how compassion can bridge ethnic divides, which is considered by many as one of the major problems Nigeria is battling with.
Ahmad Isa, a once-roaming Hausa/Fulani almajiri boy from Gaya LGA in Kano State, shared his inspiring tale exclusively with Arewa PUNCH on Saturday while digging deep into his life experience.
“Years ago, as a Hausa/Fulani by origin, I arrived in Dutse with nothing but hope and a desire to learn the Qur’an,” Isa recalled.
“To survive, I ran errands for people around my neighbourhood and worked in people’s homes rather than beg for what to eat before and after my Islamiyya school lessons,” he added.
“I was once a barefooted almajiri boy who roamed the streets of Dutse in search of Quranic education, now a proud university graduate serving my nation,” Isa said proudly.
“One day, when I was running errands, I ran into Mr. Alan Maiyaki, a civil servant, just transferred to Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, from Benin, the capital of Edo State,” the fresh graduate narrated.
“My benefactor (Maiyaki) enrolled me into a public primary school, then secondary school, paid for me to sit for JAMB, secured my admission into the Federal University Dutse, and paid all my fees from the beginning to end-up till now that I’m a graduate.
“While in 100 level, my sponsor encouraged me to take my studies seriously as he assured me the sky would be my limit.
“Today, I wear the khaki uniform of the National Youth Service Corps in Zaria, Kaduna State, symbolising my transformation and triumph.
“I had my passing out parade from NYSC on Thursday, 18th December 2025, where I was given a certificate of national service.
“Meanwhile, I learnt tailoring as a skill while schooling during my secondary school and undergraduate days—today, I’m a tailor with a shop in Hakimi Street in Dutse, with five apprentices learning under me,” an excited Isa further disclosed.
He continued, “What makes my story even more remarkable is not just my rise from the streets to the academia, but the bond that made it possible – a Hausa/Fulani almajiri boy and my Niger Delta benefactor united by compassion and patriotism,” he concluded.
Speaking on the development, Mr. Alan Maiyaki, Ahmad Isa’s benefactor, the Edo State-born federal government civil servant transferred to Dutse over a decade ago, recalled the encounter also in an exclusive interview with our correspondent.
“But behind his quiet demeanour lay honesty, humility, and a burning desire for a better life. Touched by Ahmad Isa’s modesty and sincerity, I did something remarkable and enrolled the boy in a primary school.
“The reason I took up the challenge: I was inspired by my parents, especially my mum, who was a teacher for 35 years in public schools,” he explained.
“The National Youth Service Corps and Dr. Amina Mohammed, then senior special assistant to a former president on Millennium Development Goals and now UN Deputy Secretary-General, also inspired me,” Maiyaki noted.
“As a corps member in 2006, I was awarded the best NYSC corps member volunteer for the MDGs advocacy project in Niger State. NYSC engaged all us awardees as knowledge development facilitators in orientation camps.
“In one camp in Keffi, Nasarawa State, where I was posted for MDGs training, Dr. Amina Mohammed came on monitoring exercise and encouraged us to be passionate about the eight Millennium Development Goals.
“At that point, I told myself I would try to achieve Goal Two – achieve universal primary education – so I enrolled Ahmad Isa in school, and today he is a graduate,” Maiyaki affirmed.
He maintained, “Under my care, Isa combined Qur’anic learning with Western education, showing uncommon zeal. His consistency paid off: he completed primary education at a public school, Nuhu Muhammad Junior Secondary School Dutse, and his secondary education at Dutse Capital Secondary School with outstanding results. He scored 217 in JAMB at the first attempt for merit admission in 2019 at the Federal University Dutse, where he studied and bagged a BSc in Criminology and Security Studies with (Second Class Upper).”
While speaking more about himself, the visibly excited Maiyaki stressed, “This portrays me as a true patriot who sees beyond tribe and faith. I believe in every Nigerian child.
“It marked the beginning of a new chapter that forever changed the boy’s destiny,” pointed out the benefactor.
On her part, while commenting when contacted by Arewa PUNCH, Halima Isa, who is the beneficiary Ahmad Isa’s mother, expressed gratitude to God, saying she was “full of praises” that her youngest child is the family’s first graduate.
“I never believed my son would acquire Western education because none of his siblings went to school,” she told our correspondent.
According to her, “Ahmad was barely two years old when he lost his dad, and the only option was to send him to pursue Islamic knowledge away from home.”
Halima, overwhelmed with joy, added, “Today, I am a mother of a graduate – it sounds unbelievable, yet it’s true.”
Further commenting on the stride, Malam Hassan Yalawawa, Ahmad Isa’s Islamic teacher, recalled that Ahmad was sent to him at age five to acquire Islamic knowledge. “As fate would have it, he’s now a graduate of Western education,” he said, adding, “This shows that other Almajiri children can become future graduates.”
Malam Yalawawa expressed gratitude to Ahmad’s sponsor, Alan Maiyaki, “who, incidentally, is from the southern part of the country and who has demonstrated unity in diversity, patriotism, and love for country,” he said. “May God bless him and his family, and may he reap the fruits of his hard work.
“In a nation with diverse cultures and affiliations, Ahmad and Maiyaki’s friendship shines as a beacon of hope,” Malam Yalawawa noted, insisting that “It should remind every Nigerian that strength lies in shared humanity.
“Ahmad’s journey proves love, understanding, and equal opportunity can achieve greatness,” he maintained while highlighting the power of compassion in shaping futures.
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