In 1984, 16 year-old Abba, a student of Science Secondary School Dawakin Tofa, scored 9 distinctions (8 A1s and 1 A2) in his West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) Exams.
Examination authorities in Lagos didn’t believe Abba made those excellent scores without cheating. The authorities provided a car that took Abba to Lagos in order to retake the exam.
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Abba was made to take the 9 exams in a duration of 3 days, under heavy supervision. After marking the rescheduled exams, he scored 9 A1s (the only ‘A2’ he had in English Language before the retake, now became ‘A1’).
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Faced with shock, the authorities apologized and instituted the National Merit Award. And, rightfully, Sarki Abba was the first recipient of the award.
In 1989/90 school session, Sarki Abba graduated as OVERALL BEST Medical Student, and OVERALL BEST Graduating Student at ABU, Zaria— he was just 21.
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Today, he is a Professor of Urological Research, and Professor of Urology and Pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA.
He also serves as Co-Director of Cancer Global Health at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University IL, USA.
