Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sokoto, the first and last premier of Northern Nigeria, along with his cabinet members, were the founding fathers of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. He was not only a visionary leader and statesman but also a dedicated nationalist and patriotic enthusiast who believed in developing Nigeria’s educational and social systems through the empowerment of people.
Sir Bello did not earn a university degree. Still, upon understanding the concept of a university, he dreamed of creating one that truly embodied the name ‘university’ by fostering a universal understanding of cultural, social, and religious diversities united through intellectual excellence. Sir Bello established Ahmadu Bello University, located in Zaria, a central hub in the Northern Region, approximately 80 kilometers from Kaduna, the region’s capital, and roughly 500 kilometers from Sokoto, the former headquarters of the caliphate. He would have located it in his ancestral hometown of Rabba if he were a politician today.
Sir Bello had a clear vision of how knowledge could conquer the world without firing a single shot. He realized that achieving educational excellence requires merit, hard work, and dedication, with no room for nepotism, racism, tribalism, or religious bias. His vision became the central pillar on which ABU Zaria was built. Sixty-three years later, ABU Zaria, an academic octopus, has lived up to its founder’s vision and expectations. Unfortunately, four years after the creation of ABU Zaria, Sir Bello was brutally murdered alongside his wife by devilish agents of repression in the garb of “revolutionary” guards, which culminated in Nigeria’s civil war, with 100s of thousands paying supreme prices. The rest is history.
Today, ABU Zaria is the place where the sons and daughters of 774 LGAs across the nation come together to study, live, argue, celebrate, and dream, as the university not only admits students but also welcomes Nigeria itself, serving as an undeniable icon of nation-building. While the ABU peers are serving as regional universities, ABU is a national in its blood, spirit, and breath. Walking through the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the Igbo language and culture are prominently exhibited in every corner. The University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, immerse visitors in the rich culture and traditions of the Yoruba people.
This diversity makes ABU unique and highly admirable, with spectacular results in producing Nigeria’s leaders and influencers. Evidence of this achievement is seen in the university’s alumni, which include a former president, two former vice presidents of Nigeria, and the former SGF, along with over 100 current and former ministers, governors, and deputies across the states. ABU has produced numerous vice chancellors for other universities, high-ranking officials in all three arms of government, industry leaders, and successful entrepreneurs and professionals in various fields. Thousands of medical doctors, engineers, social scientists, and other professionals have graduated from ABU and are making an impact worldwide. ABU’s contribution to Nigeria’s development is significant and unmatched by any other university in Nigeria and the West African region.
ABU Zaria has achieved many successes in various fields of human and national development. While space and time prevent an in-depth review of all the notable milestones, a few giant accomplishments from the past decade are worth highlighting.
Like all man-made systems, a university’s progress and achievements are driven by its leadership, just as stagnation and regression are. In April 2015, Prof. Ibrahim Garba unexpectedly became the 11th Vice Chancellor of ABU Zaria. After the initial excitement of his surprising appointment, Prof. Garba focused on university governance. His five-year leadership stint gigantically elevated ABU to impressive heights both horizontally and vertically. He persistently pushed forward with his restoration agenda, which was based on principles of reform, refocusing, and reinvigoration. He was a skilled advocate, promoting ABU’s restoration efforts strongly among top personalities nationwide who offered vital support to the university.
The Faculty of Science was split into two: the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Faculty of Physical Sciences. The Faculty of Medicine was transformed into a College of Medical Sciences with four new faculties. The ABU Business School and Distance Learning Center were established, and an average annual increase of 30 students was achieved during Prof. Garba’s tenure. Garba’s giant feat was the realization of the ABU Phase II project, which was conceived in 2012, with no progress to show until 2015. Phase II was created like a “third campus” for the university. Prof. Garba courted Dangote to support the university with ten blocks of 36 rooms each, with landscaping and other facilities worth over two billion Naira. With that generous support, Dangote made the largest donation in the university’s history. Within the shortest time possible, several infrastructure projects sprang up, covering the entire phase II: three blocks, 50 rooms each (student hostel), Construction of Departments of Computer Science, Building, Urban & Regional Planning (URP), and Geomatics, Construction of a double carriageway road linking the Main Campus with phase II. The ICT HUB was donated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The place became a beehive of activity as departments and students relocated there.
Another notable achievement was transforming ABU into a hub for three Africa Centres of Excellence (ACEs): Neglected Tropical Diseases & Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE), and, most recently, Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards (SPESSCE). Thanks to the dedication of Prof. Garba and his team, ABU Zaria became the only university in Nigeria with this many ACEs, all of which were awarded based on competitive merit during the period under review.
Another significant and successful step was taken in 2018 with the launch of a joint double-degree program in Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Railway Engineering, and Equipment and Control Engineering with Central South University (CSU) in Changsha, China. Based on our aligned curriculum, 300-level students from civil and mechanical engineering programs at ABU can complete the remaining two years (of the five-year program) at CSU to earn both the Bachelor of Engineering degrees from ABU and CSU simultaneously. Although the succeeding university leadership unfortunately discontinued the program, the first and second beneficiaries completed their degrees, with many of them making an impact on global railway technology.
Garba’s tenure marked a major milestone in staff promotions, with all qualified individuals who met the criteria receiving their promotions promptly. The promotion drive increased the number of professors at ABU from 356 in 2015 to 550 by early 2020, a 54 percent increase—the largest ever at ABU. Today, no other university in Nigeria has as many professors as ABU Zaria. Certainly, ABU Zaria experienced significant intellectual growth as a hub of learning during Garba’s tenure, but not without challenges. Have his legacies continued? The university was 63 on Saturday, October 4, 2025, as a symbol of resilience, and continues to move forward. What are its current challenges and prospects? What is the situation at ABU Zaria today? Is the university achieving the vision of its founding fathers? How can Abusites and their friends support ABU Zaria in its continued advancement? To be concluded next week.
