By John Ekah, Kebbi
The Umaru Shinkafi Legacy Foundation (USLF), established in 2016 to uphold the enduring legacies of the late Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi (Marafan Sokoto), has successfully concluded its first regional essay competition.
One of the most respected Nigerians of his era, Shinkafi was Director-General (DG), Nigeria Security Organization (NSO), in 1979, and later became Minister of Internal Affairs.
During the transition to civil rule programme of former military president, General Ibrahim Babamasi Babangida, he was a presidential aspirant.
Shinkafi was born in 1937 at Shinkafi, Zamfara State and joined the Nigerian Police Force in 1959, after passing through the Police College, Kaduna. In 1973 he graduated from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and a year later, graduated from the Nigerian Law School.
Shinkafi passed away on July 6, 2016 in London.
In commemoration of the 9th anniversary of his passing, the competition targeted undergraduates who are indigenes of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara States, and are currently enrolled in tertiary institutions across the North-West region of Nigeria.
Since its inception, USLF has implemented a series of impactful annual initiatives, including Ramadan charity programs, nationwide scholarships for underprivileged students, and two high-level security summits.
The 2025 essay competition marked another milestone in the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to promoting education and youth development.
At the close of submissions on June 30, 2025, a total of 610 entries were received from students across 25 tertiary institutions in the North-West.
Following a rigorous review process led by Mallam Mahmud Jega, a Dental Surgery student at Usmanu DanFodio University, Sokoto, Abubakar Idris, emerged overall winner.
He will be awarded a brand-new tricycle for his efforts.
In his compelling, winning essay, Idris recounted his personal experience as a former kidnap victim, offering a poignant and powerful perspective on the region’s security challenges.
A Nursing Sciences student at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Hafiz Sani Galadima, came second in the competition and will receive a motorcycle.
The third prize of ₦1,000,000 has been awarded to a student of Educational Economics at Federal University, Gusau, Asiya Muhammad Dansanda.
In total, 15 winners were selected to receive cash prizes ranging from ₦800,000 to ₦100,000.
In a statement released by President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, she congratulated all the winners and reaffirmed USLF’s commitment to promoting intellectual development and meaningful public discourse among young people in the region.
The official prize presentation ceremony, along with prayers for the deceased, took place on Sunday, July 13, at Umaru Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto with important dignitaries in attendance.
The late Shinkafi’s legacy of public service, national security leadership, and intellectual depth continues to inspire generations.
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