BREAKING: Tributes, Revelations Dominate Gani-Uba Sani Book Launch in Kaduna

… Sparks Debate on Courage, Justice, Mentorship

Kaduna witnessed an extraordinary gathering as democracy veterans, human rights activists, senior lawyers, academics, politicians and civil society leaders converged for the public presentation of “Gani Fawehinmi and Uba Sani: A Tale of Mentor and Mentee.”

What began as a book launch quickly transformed into a powerful celebration of courage, sacrifice, mentorship and Nigeria’s long march to democracy.

The event brought back memories of the dark years of military rule when the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, stood at the forefront of the struggle for justice, while a young activist named Uba Sani walked beside him in the trenches of resistance.

Governor Uba Sani’s revelations electrified the audience. In one of the most talked-about moments of the day, he disclosed that more than two decades ago, he discovered that only seven Northerners were among the beneficiaries of Gani Fawehinmi’s scholarship programme. Troubled by that imbalance, he approached the late legal icon and persuaded him to establish a special scholarship scheme for brilliant but indigent students from Northern Nigeria.

The intervention, he said, would go on to change hundreds of lives.

He revealed that today, many of those beneficiaries are accomplished professionals, including doctors, lawyers, academics and experts contributing to national development and serving in different parts of the world.

The revelation drew loud applause from participants, many of whom described it as one of the most enduring but least-publicised legacies of the late human rights crusader.

The statistics shared at the event painted a compelling picture. The Northern Scholarship Scheme, launched in the 2000 under Uba Sani’s leadership, eventually expanded opportunities for over 1,000 young people, opening doors that poverty would otherwise have shut.

According to him, Gani Fawehinmi repeatedly warned Northern leaders that neglecting education would one day fuel poverty, unemployment and insecurity across the region. Decades later, many speakers at the event took turns to show their agreement with that the warning, with some arguing that the late Gani Fawehinmi’s stance now sounds remarkably prophetic.

Beyond education, speakers revisited Gani’s central role in Nigeria’s democratic journey. They recalled how he deployed the courts as a weapon against dictatorship, challenged abuse of power and fought relentlessly for political freedoms at great personal cost.

Many speakers described him as a fearless patriot whose commitment to justice transcended ethnicity, religion and political affiliation.

For many attendees, however, the book’s greatest value is in the story it tells: how mentorship can shape destiny.

From the streets of pro-democracy activism to the corridors of power, the relationship between Gani Fawehinmi and Uba Sani was presented as proof that ideas, values and character can travel from one generation to another and continue influencing society long after the mentor is gone.

As tributes poured in and memories were shared, emotions ran high across the hall.

Some reflected on the sacrifices made during the struggle for democracy. Others celebrated the life of a man whose voice gave hope to the oppressed and courage to countless young Nigerians.

By the time the event ended, one message stood above every speech, every tribute and every applause:
Gani Fawehinmi may be gone, but the ideals he fought for—and the people he inspired—are still shaping Nigeria’s future.

And judging by the turnout, a cross-section of participants at the event declared that the conversations and the emotions that filled Kaduna on Saturday September 5th, his story is far from over.