Boldly written above the entrance to his office are the words “Director of Finance”. But the man seated behind the desk did not carry the kind of pomposity that comes with offices such as his. He wore a spotlessly white shirt over a black pair of trousers and a neck tie. His jacket- also black- was hanging loosely against his seat. “Welcome” he said as he simultaneously rose to shake hands with the University Relations team that had visited his office to speak to him about his newly acquired title – “Doctor”.

No, the man who had risen to become the Director of finance at UDS in 2014, had not started another career at any hospital. He had instead worked for, and earned a PhD in Social Administration. He had become a “book doctor”! And his name is now Dr. Mohammed Hardi Shaibu. He was neither born with a silver spoon nor did he descend from blue blood, but he broke the jinx of illiteracy and poverty.

From his rustic peri-urban community in Tamale, the then unassuming young Mohammed Hardi Shaibu, has risen and flown across the world to live his dreams. And on April 30, 2022, at the UDS congregation, another new dream of his was fulfilled. When the curtain was drawn on the day, his name was one of those names that had been boldly written on the enviable list of PhD graduands.

The icy hands of death having taken his mother away from him whilst he was still a toddler, Dr Shaibu’s trajectory to becoming who he has become today, did not come easy. The mantle of his education and home tutelage fell on the shoulders of his father, his uncle and his grandfather. It was they, who sent him to study in a non-circular school also known as “makaranta”. Whilst studying in the “makaranta”, young Mohammed had observed that the other boys and girls of his age who attended different schools could write and speak English – a thing he wished he could do too. When he openly expressed his desire to an older person, one Mr. Sulemana Zakaria, he did not hesitate to help Mohammed to achieve his dream. Even before informing Mohammed’s parents, Mr. Sulemana Zakaria enrolled him at the Dabokpa Middle school. And from there, the story of his formal education began.

He battled with the pangs of poverty and hunger and survived the nozzles of the metaphorical guns of deprivation, never gave up on his dreams despite the hurdles, twists and turns along his path, and excelled at Dabokpa middle school.
Having excelled, at that level, the only way available to young Mohammed, was “forward” and forward, he went. The Northern School of Business (NOBISCO) was his next destination. There, he enrolled in the business class and by the time he left, his name was on the lips of those who cared about academic excellence – Mohammed Hardi Shaibu had passed the “O-levels”. At the time, the Tamale Secondary School “A-level” class preserved for only the best from various schools, and being one of the best, Mohammed was admitted to read accounting.

He proceeded to the University of Cape Coast, where he bagged a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (BComm) in 1998. This was followed by other success stories such as a master’s degree, and chartered accountant.

One of his first appointments was with the Tamale Polytechnic, (now known as the Tamale Technical University). Whilst there, Mr. Shaibu as he was then known, was an accounting lecturer who rose through the ranks to become the head of the Accounting Department. His good work at T-Poly earned him a reputation that was in 2005 (just a few months after his father had passed away), admired by the University for Professional Studies (UPSA), Accra, who engaged him to work in their finance department.

The cliché says “there is no place like home” and it’s true. While working with UPSA, Dr. Shaibu never took his eyes off home. When the opportunity was presented to him in 2012 to return to his home region to take up the role as the deputy director of finance at the University for Development Studies, he did not butt an eyelid. In 2014, he became the substantive Director of Finance and has since played that role to the admiration of many till date.

He says but for the support he receives from his wife, Ruhaina, he could never have achieved half of his dreams. He has six children – One boy and five girls – who give him peace of mind and comfort at home.

Dr. Shaibu says, given the tight schedules he has as the director of finance of the university, he would never have thought of the possibility of pursuing a PhD, but for the constant encouragement from the former Registrar of UDS, Dr. ABT Zakaria and a member of the UDS Governing Council, Prof Ishmael Bin Yahaya. He says others who inspire him include the former Pro-Vice Chancellor of UDS Prof. Seidu Al-hassan, Mr Nutifafa Kunyehia, Former Council Chairman UDS, as well as his extended family and friends.

Dr, Shaibu says the real key to success the belief in God and self-belief, which he believes can open up the inner potential of any individual. He says education puts one on the path of self-discovery, leading to self-belief, adds meaning to one’s life and provides one with the means to achieve lasting success in life.

Dr. Shaibu says, in his secondary school days, he used to be a goalkeeper even though he was never considered good enough to play for the school team! At this pronouncement, the University relations team giggled and asked permission to take their leave.

Congratulations to one of UDS’s latest PhD scholars!