Sometimes the most heartwarming family stories unfold not in living rooms or village squares, but under bright lights, in front of microphones, and before an audience that has no idea a reunion is taking place.
At the recent Katsina Investment and Economic Summit, my daughter — Barrister Ummu-Salma Ahmad, fondly known as Barrister Ummaty — moderated the ICT panel with the composure and brilliance that have defined her journey from childhood to her recent call to the Nigerian Bar.
Now a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Ummu-Salma’s path has always been one of excellence. From serving as head girl in both primary school and Federal Government Girls’ College, Zaria, to maintaining first position throughout her early education; from earning five distinctions in WASSCE to obtaining certificates in Computer Training and Beauty Salon Management. Even at 15, her talent shone through when her poem “Female Presidency” won first place at the Nigerian Military School, Zaria.
Her leadership continued at Umaru Musa Yar'adua University (UMYU), Katsina, where she became Secretary-General of the Law Students Association, thriving despite the challenges of COVID-19 and ASUU strikes.
On that summit stage, she moderated a lineup of outstanding innovators. Among them was Aminu Ibrahim Bakori, one of Katsina’s finest young tech entrepreneurs.
Aminu is the Founder and CEO of Sudo Africa, a fintech company making national impact. A Statistics graduate of ABU Zaria and a self-taught programmer, he built innovations like Cloudiora OS, Buzz, and earlier, Friendstie Concepts. In 2023 alone, Sudo Africa issued over 75,000 cards, opened 200,000 accounts, and processed transactions worth over $30 million — earning him three Interswitch awards.
But in their moment of professional exchange, neither he nor Ummu-Salma knew they were second cousins.
Barrister Ummu-Salma Ahmad and Aminu Ibrahim Bakori
The surprise came only after their parents (us) saw pictures of them side by side — discussing technology, policy, and the future.
Aminu’s father, Ibrahim Muhammad Dangwaggo Bakori, a respected retired banker, is my first cousin. His father, the late Alhaji Muhammadu Dangwaggo Bakori, and my own late father, Alhaji Abdulkadir Barau Bakori, were sons of our paternal grandfather, the late Alhaji Barau Bakori.
And to complete the circle of connection, Ibrahim Muhammad Dangwaggo's (Aminu Bakori's father) late mother and my late mother were both daughters of our maternal grandfather, the late Alhaji Ibrahim Namowa Bakori.
So there they were — two young achievers, two descendants of the same great lineage — discovering each other not through family history, but through shared purpose, excellence, and destiny.
A professional dialogue became a family revelation.
A tech summit became a reunion scripted by fate.
Life really does weave the finest stories.
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