The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, has revealed that the institution spends approximately ₦4 billion each year on electricity — a cost he described as “crippling and unsustainable.”
Speaking at a press briefing to mark ABU’s 63rd anniversary, Professor Ahmed said the heavy energy expenditure is hampering academic activities and research output.
“We are being suffocated by energy costs,” he said, “but we are not standing still.”
To mitigate the burden, ABU is pursuing self-sufficiency in energy, tasking staff and students with innovation and seeking partnerships for sustainable power solutions. He noted that the Federal Government, through TETFund, had provided a ₦1 billion intervention last year and approved a 10-megawatt renewable energy project for the university.
In addition, the School of Basic Studies (SBS) class of 1975 is supporting a solar power project for a CBT centre, signaling the impact of alumni-led initiatives.
Unity, Research, and Reclaiming the Founding Vision
Reflecting on the university’s founding mission, Professor Ahmed emphasized ABU’s role as a national bridge for unity, rooted in the vision of Sir Ahmadu Bello, who intended the university to serve the entire nation without religious or ethnic divisions.
He lamented that insecurity and poverty have severely affected Northern Nigeria and disrupted educational progress. In response, ABU is now focusing on agriculture, research, and policy advocacy to tackle these systemic challenges.
“We believe that insecurity can’t be defeated by force alone,” the VC added. “Dialogue, understanding, and community-driven peacebuilding are key.”
A Research Giant in West Africa
Professor Ahmed also highlighted ABU’s unique position in agricultural innovation, referencing its key institutes such as the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), NAPRI, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, which collectively make it the most agriculturally equipped university in West Africa.
ABU’s global achievements include:
- Ranking as Nigeria’s best public university in the 2025 Times Higher Education index.
- Recognition by JAMB for internationalisation and diversity.
- One of only three Nigerian universities featured in the QS 2025 World University Rankings.
- Winning three World Bank Centres of Excellence grants worth over $15 million.
- Securing a €5 million EU Horizon grant for an AI-powered microscope project targeting neglected tropical diseases.
Additionally, ABU staff and students have registered over 30 patents in fields including renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and oil refining technologies.
Funding Challenges and a Call to Alumni
Despite its achievements, the VC expressed concern over persistent challenges such as inadequate funding, infrastructure decay, and brain drain. He emphasized the university’s commitment to digital learning, start-up incubation, and research commercialization to achieve long-term sustainability.
Professor Ahmed concluded with a passionate appeal to ABU’s alumni network, calling them the institution’s “greatest strength.”
“The Sardauna gave you opportunity,” he said. “Now is the time to give back — through endowments, donations, and strategic support — to secure the future of this great university.”
