As activities marking the 50 years of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria kick off today, the Vice Chancellor; Professor Adbullahi Mustapha has declared the first generation tertiary institution the best in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of capacity and equipment.
The university which was founded on October 4, 1962 with only 426 students and 142 staff now has 12 institutes and centers, 13 faculties, 98 Departments and a post graduate school with over 50,000 total student population, 1,400 staff as well as over 6,000 non teaching staff, according to the Vice Chancellor.
Also, there is a Centre for Energy Research and Training, a National Agricultural Extension, Research and Liaison Services, and a Division of Agricultural Colleges, he said.
Besides, it has a college of Agric in Kabba, Kaduna and a school of Remedial Studies in Funtua, Katsina State. It is reputed to be the largest university south of the Sahara, he said.
The distribution of the student population is cosmopolitan, and drawn from every part of the country, African countries as well as Asia and Europe. Currently there are over 50,000 students pursuing different courses in the undergraduate levels while over 10,000 post-graduate students pursuing Masters and Doctorate.
Announcing the official flag off of the ceremony while addressing Journalists, the Professor Mustapha, said that all necessary arrangements were in place for the celebration.
He said, “To celebrate these years of academic excellence and contribution to national development, this true Nigerian university has set aside October 4 to November 24, 2012, to make the event unique and successful.”
Speaking to LEADERSHIP on the growth and progress of the University two of its former Vice Chancellors, Professor Ango Abdullahi and Professor Abdullahi Mahdi said the University has continued to wax stronger and stronger despite the proliferation of Universities in the country.
According to Abdullahi, we thank God Almighty for the University outstanding achievement over the years. It is something to celebrate.”
He said, “The journey so far have been tremendous, the milestone of the University has been iconic, in the sense that its mission and vision have continued to grow stronger. The founding fathers’ envisioned the University to be the centre of learning not only in Nigeria but in Africa.”
Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, has approved the appointment of Dr. Ahmed M. Falaki of the Department of Agronomy as the Director of the Institution’s Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR).
Dr. Falaki’s appointment, according to a statement signed by the Media Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor, Mallam Waziri Isa Gwantu, followed the sudden death of the Institute’s former Director, Professor Tanimu Balarabe.
The Vice-Chancellor said that Dr. Falaki’s appointment was in recognition of his administrative and academic leadership qualities, and is with immediate effect.
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