Nigerian University to honour Ghanaian President John Mahama today

Nigerian University to honour Ghanaian President John Mahama today

A Nigerian university, the University of Offa, Kwara State, will on Monday confer its Exceptional Leadership Award on Ghanaian President John Mahama at its maiden convocation ceremony.

The award recognises Mr Mahama’s leadership and comes amid longstanding historical, diplomatic, economic and cultural ties between Nigeria and Ghana.

However, Mr Mahama, expected to visit Nigeria today, will be represented at the ceremony by his Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, as he is engaged in important state duties.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Kazeem Gbolagade, confirmed the development, indicating that Mr Debrah would receive the honour on the president’s behalf.

Mr Mahama’s selection for the award is particularly significant given his longstanding personal ties to Offa, an agrarian town in Kwara State that he has fondly described as his hometown in Nigeria.

Mr Mahama’s ties to the town date back to his childhood and his family’s connections to Nigeria, making the award a celebration not only of his leadership but also of the enduring bonds between the two West African countries.

Nigeria and Ghana have maintained strong economic, diplomatic and cultural relations for more than six decades, dating back to Ghana’s independence from British colonial rule on 6 March 1957, followed by Nigeria’s independence on 1 October 1960.

Beyond formal diplomatic relations, the two countries share deep connections across trade, education, migration and other areas of human endeavour. Their citizens have lived, worked and established families in each other’s countries for generations.

Although the exact number of Nigerians living in Ghana and Ghanaians residing in Nigeria remains difficult to establish because of undocumented migration and informal cross-border movements, estimates suggest that between one and two million Nigerians live in Ghana, while approximately 500,000 Ghanaians live in Nigeria.

The free movement of persons within the Economic Community of West African States has also facilitated interactions between the two populations, although informal migration and trade remain difficult to quantify.

Mahama’s enduring connection to Offa

Nigerian newspapers, including The Guardian and Punch, and accounts in Mr Mahama’s biography document his longstanding affinity for Offa.

The town, located in Kwara State, is an important agricultural centre known for producing sweet potatoes, maize, yams, cassava and sorghum. Popularly known as the home of sweet potatoes, Offa is also renowned for Ijakadi, a traditional form of wrestling.

Mr Mahama’s connection to the town stems from his family history and formative experiences.

While living in Nigeria, his father, a Ghanaian rice merchant, married Rabiat Igbayilola Aweni Balogun, also known as Hajia Nusirat Balogun, who hailed from the Balogun lineage in Offa.

Rabiat, Mr Mahama’s stepmother, reportedly played an important role in raising him during his formative years.

Ghana experienced considerable political upheaval in the 1960s, including the 1966 military coup that overthrew its first president, Kwame Nkrumah. During that turbulent period, Mr Mahama’s father reportedly lived in Nigeria.

Young Mahama subsequently spent extended periods in Nigeria, including in Offa, where he developed a strong attachment to the community and learnt to speak Yoruba.

These experiences helped establish the personal and cultural ties that have endured throughout his life and political career.

The town’s traditional institution has also recognised his relationship with Offa. In October 2015, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, conferred on him the title of Aare Atolase of Offa Kingdom, an honour associated with protecting the kingdom’s nobility and supporting its development.

The traditional recognition reflects the importance of his longstanding relationship with the community and its people.

In December 2025, Mr Mahama received another prestigious traditional honour when the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, conferred on him the pan-Yoruba title of Aare Atayeto Oodua of the Source at Ile-Ife, Osun State.

The title recognised his contributions to African unity and celebrated the historical connections between Ghana and the Yoruba people.

The honour further underscored Mahama’s close relationship with Yoruba communities and the cultural links between the two countries.

READ ALSO: Under Ghana’s President Mahama, near-total impunity for attacks on 17 journalists

A celebration of leadership and shared heritage

The University of Offa’s decision to honour Mr Mahama therefore carries significance beyond the award itself. It provides an opportunity to celebrate a prominent African leader whose personal history embodies the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Nigeria.

For Offa, the occasion also highlights the town’s place in the life story of a sitting Ghanaian president who has maintained a special attachment to the community over several decades.

Although Mahama is expected to be represented by his Chief of Staff at the university’s maiden convocation, the conferment of the Exceptional Leadership Award adds to the honours he has received in recognition of his leadership and his connections to Nigeria.

The ceremony is expected to highlight the enduring relationship between Mr Mahama and Offa, where his family history, childhood experiences, and cultural affiliations have given him a connection that transcends the conventional ties between a visiting foreign leader and his host community.