African private universities congratulate Gwarzo as MAAUN tops Niger republic rankings
Kola Oyelere Kano
The Association of African Private Universities has congratulated the founder of Maryam Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN), Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, following the institution’s emergence as the number one university in the Niger Republic.
The commendation followed the latest ranking by the AD Scientific Index, which placed MAAUN first among universities in the country.
The message was delivered to Professor Gwarzo by the Deputy Secretary General of the association, Dr. Salisou Mamoudou, who praised the university for setting a strong development pathway for higher education in the Niger Republic.
He urged other public and private tertiary institutions across Africa to emulate MAAUN’s standards, vision, and achievements.
Dr. Mamoudou noted that the recognition reflects the university’s commitment to quality education, research excellence, and international standards, adding that MAAUN has continued to play a significant role in advancing human capital development in the region.
It will be recalled that MAAUN, the first English-language university in the Niger Republic, was ranked as the leading university in the country in the latest 2026 rankings published by the AD Scientific Index.
The ranking, titled “Niger: 8 All Universities Rankings 2026,” placed MAAUN ahead of Université Dan Dicko Dankoulodo de Maradi, which ranked second, and Université André Salifou de Zinder, which came third.
Other institutions listed in the ranking include Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Université Boubacar Ba de Tillabéri, Université de Diffa, and Université d’Agadez.
Founded in 2013 by renowned philanthropist Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, an indigene of Kano State, Nigeria, MAAUN has grown into a leading international institution.
The university has produced over 20,000 graduates who are excelling in various professional fields across the globe and currently hosts thousands of students from different parts of the world.
The AD Scientific Index is a global ranking system that evaluates 24,672 institutions worldwide using near real-time data. In addition to universities, the index also assesses research institutions, companies, and hospitals across different countries.

