Category: Trace

Radda’s Relentless Efforts on Security: Dialogue, Deterrence, and Search for Stability By Prof. M.K. Othman In Nigeria’s North-West, particularly Katsina State, the struggle to establish security lies in balancing dialogue and deterrence. Governor Radda’s administration has focused on managing this balance to achieve lasting stability. For over a decade, communities in Batsari, Jibia, Safana, Danmusa,…

Artemis II: Space Exploration, and the Question of African Future II By Prof. M. K. Othman Last week, in this column, I postponed the continuation of this article and paid special tributes to my aunt, two cousins, and a colleague who passed away on different days and in different locations in April 2026. May Allah…

Artemis II: Space Exploration, and the Question of African Future By Prof. M. K. Othman In 1977, as a teenager in Form One at Government Secondary School Funtua, my form teacher asked me to indicate what I wanted to be. I said journalist and astronaut – two careers that are inordinately opposed, one art-based and…

Readers’ Comments on Youths and Collective Responsibilities, and Israel/USA-Iran Conflicts By Prof M. K. Othman Un petit pause – a French way of saying taking a small break. After four weeks of writing four diverse articles, I am taking a breath of fresh air and sharing a few readers’ comments to allow my opinions to…

Constructive and Unbiased Journalism: Tribute to Katsina Post @ 10 By Prof. M. K. Othman Saddiq Mustapha and Mustapha Saddiq, often mistaken for the same person because of their similar names, are, in fact, two bosom friends. Both were classmates in secondary school but later pursued different tertiary-level programs, Mustapha Saddiq in health sciences and…

USA/Israel – Iran War: When Two Elephants Wrestle… By Prof. M.K. Othman While the term “war” may suggest a confrontation between equals, the USA/Israel-Iran conflict is marked by a significant imbalance in power and resources. Thus, a more accurate analogy would be a struggle between a cat and a rat, emphasizing Iran’s disadvantage. Still, international…

Re: Muhammad Hassan Sale- The Demise of an Academic, One Death Too Many By Prof. M. K. Othman 2010 was a year I was traumatized by the death and tragedy of my former students and colleagues when I was burdened with the task of identifying their bodies – Engr Joseph Mohammed and his classmate, who…

Re: Nigeria, Greatness and the Missing Link By Prof. M. K. Othman A quick break – time to share feedback from my valued readers and see the issues discussed in this column from all angles. This week and in the coming weeks, I will present opinions and observations on three critical issues – the potential…

45th ABU Convocation: Okonjo-Iweala’s Unpalatable Message to Africa By Prof. MK Othman Nigeria stands at a decisive crossroads. With youthful potential, resources, entrepreneurial drive, and intellectual talent, we still struggle with policy inaction, weak institutions, and overreliance on outside approval. I have highlighted how stories of competence and integrity can transform Nigeria’s global image. This…

Muhammad Hassan Sale: The Demise of an Academic—One Death Too Many By Prof. M. K. Othman On Tuesday, 10th February, 2026, as I stepped out of my official car at the university clinic, the crowd’s solemn eyes were fixed on me, rife with unspoken questions. Why did the cold hand of death snatch away Muhammad…