To ABU Alumni and friends, news about Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria — the great ABU — is always unfolding, as it sparks joyful memories among those united by intellectual pursuits and hopes for a bright future. My tribute to ABU Zaria received reactions, praise, and suggestions on how the university can maintain its greatness amid challenges. I want to share a few readers’ comments with the university and its leaders so they can note them and take appropriate action. We, the ABUSITES, hope to continue witnessing the majestic progress of the great ABU in the right direction. Happy reading.
Yes, indeed! Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sakkwato, had a clear vision, mission, goals, objectives, and tasks of how knowledge and wisdom could conquer bigotry, extremism, and bad governance. Allah ya jiƙansa (May Allah grant him Aljanna Firdausi, amen.)
Prof Şule Ignio
Thank you, Sir, for this write-up on our most excellent university, north and south of the Sahara. We are indeed pleased to be part of this great institution as students and as teachers. I still believe the legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna, is the best in the country. Built on a solid foundation for the benefits of the Northern Region, Nigeria, and the entire world. The university is the only one in Nigeria where every tribe, region, State, and local government is represented as staff and/or students. This is unique and has made ABU stand tall among the best in the world.
Anonymous
Congratulations ABU ZARIA NIGERIA at 63.
Our prayers to the management, as stated by the VC himself during his first Senate meeting, are to look at the welfare of both staff and students by creating an enabling environment for teaching and learning. This can be achieved through the provision of adequate infrastructure, such as staff housing, student hostels, and classrooms with well-equipped laboratories and workshops. God bless ABU ZARIA and Nigeria. Yes, Prof, good morning, and well done for this conclusion, by calling a spade a spade, no matter who. We always pray for our leaders to succeed and deliver on their promises.
As you mentioned, the university can generate internal revenue, thereby becoming self-sufficient and improving the welfare of staff and students. So many things I will advise the management, which I want you to deliver to the Vice Chancellor, including but not limited to the following:
1. The carbon credit, as you mentioned, should be vigorously pursued. I know Prof Aisha Abdulkadir of soil science is a champion of this through the Rabona Bank of the Netherlands. Should be challenged to take up the university’s carbon credits.
2. I remember we have the ABU beekeeping committee domiciled at your home, NAERLS. This committee has been working with representation from the NAERLS, Dr. Judith, Program Leader of Crop and Forestry Program, Prof Makama, the writer, Dr. S.K. Lawal, University Health, Mal—Ngulde from Estate. We targeted 800 hives on a one-hectare Malmo plantation. Talk about 3,000 ha of plantation: that’s 3,000 x 800 beehives on the main campus alone. We also have the university farm and the Kongo campus. A single hive is projected to yield about 5 litres of honey annually, along with wax, venom, and other products. They’ll also help pollinate our crops.
3. The university farm is another gold mine from which we can feed the university community and the whole of Zaria with assorted food items throughout the year. Fish from the dam, rice, maize, soyamilk from soybean, poultry and associated products from the NAPRI University farm, and various practicals from the animal science department, vet medicine DAC, etc.
4. Value addition on all the farm produce – departments of food technology, NAERLS, home economics at the faculty of education, etc.
5. Marketing of the produce is not a problem, as we have the Platform created by Dr. Jibrin Dahiru of DAC, where staff place orders for available farm produce. Expand the market, and the university will make sales and earn commission.
6. The committee on the revitalization of NAPRI has an enormous task of making that giant work again. Right from my school days, it has been Shika Brown and no more. We need shika brown 2, 3, 4, ….n like we have sammaz 11… sammaz 71. The broiler market, which brings in billions from the sale of day-old chicks, is another area NAPRI needs to look into. Currently, our farmers who rely on NAPRI, which was established to serve, rely on distant sources for docs that sometimes have poor genetic makeup at exorbitant prices (currently, a broiler DOC costs #2000, noiler and layers at about #1000)
7. The university abuses water; it is nowhere to be found, while we still purchase and drink different packages. It should be looked at and made functional.
8. The university’s meat Lab should be upgraded; the labs in chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, computer science, soil science, medicine, pharmacy, vet medicine, and many more can be repositioned to make money for the university, not for individuals. ABUCONS has a task of getting contracts through our connection with Alma mata. There’s no powerful institution or organization in Nigeria where you cannot find an abusive person in a good position. Let us identify them and channel these benefits for the university’s benefit.
9. The university health services can expand their services to make extra revenue. Tons of refuse they pack and dump from the campus, students and staff residences, etc., can be converted into compost for organic crop production and selling to our farmers.
Finally, the list of areas where we can expand our IGR sources is endless. Lemme stop here.
Prof Sani Isiaku
