As Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, marks its 63rd anniversary, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, has revealed that the institution has lost nearly 2,000 staff to better opportunities both within Nigeria and abroad.
Prof. Ahmed disclosed this at a press conference held as part of activities to commemorate the university’s 63rd anniversary in Zaria.
He expressed concern over what he described as a worrisome trend of staff migration, attributing it to poor remuneration and deteriorating infrastructure, which have weakened motivation and institutional capacity.
“It is disheartening to state that the university has lost nearly 2,000 staff in the last five years. Aging infrastructure and poor remuneration have dampened morale,” he said.
According to him, the loss of skilled manpower has left several academic programmes vulnerable, including one in which 95 percent of the staff are professors — a situation that may threaten future accreditation and succession planning.
The vice-chancellor also identified funding constraints as a major obstacle limiting ABU’s ability to renovate infrastructure, expand library resources, and support critical research.
Despite these challenges, Ahmed said the university is committed to reform and innovation. “We plan to invest in new pedagogies and embed technology into our teaching and workforce for improved productivity,” he noted.
He added that ABU’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC) — the largest in Nigeria — will be strengthened to expand access to education and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in inclusive education and reducing inequality.
Prof. Ahmed called on the university’s alumni to support the institution through endowments, annual giving, and donations to secure its future, while commending President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its ongoing reforms in education and the economy.
