Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

1st Grand Alumni Homecoming - SPAN

1st Annual Grand Alumni Homecoming organized by the Student Physiological Association of Nigeria (SPAN) ABU Zaria chapter in collaboration with Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with the theme; _THROUGH THE DECADES: A JOURNEY HOME, WHERE THE HEART IS_

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This is brought to you by the Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice - Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

'ABU interested in SUSTech's global faculty recruitment strategy, research model'

Ahmadu Bello University has expressed interest in the global faculty recruitment strategy of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), China.

ABU, which appreciated SUSTech's remarkable rise as a pioneer in China's higher education reform, is also interested in its interdisciplinary research model.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, expressed ABU's interest in these areas when he led a team from the Nigerian institution on a visit to the Chinese university in China.

At a meeting with SUSTech's top officials, Prof Ahmed highlighted ABU's strengths as Nigeria's premier university in agriculture, engineering, medicine, and social sciences.

The Vice-Chancellor also noted the growing role of the IIOE Nigeria National Centre in advancing digital education across the region.

He equally spoke on the tripartite agreement by ABU, SUSTech, and UNESCO-ICHEI signed on 23rd May, 2019.

Ahmed said the deal, focused on faculty/student exchange, joint research, and joint doctoral degree programs, could not be actualized due to COVID-19 and other factors.

The Vice-Chancellor, who was visibly impressed with the SUSTech's research facilities, described the visit as an opportunity to revisit the MoU.

The team was received by the President, SUSTech, Prof Qikun Xue and other top officials of the Chinese university.

Prof Xue, who welcomed the Vice-Chancellor and members of the team, said 2026 holds special significance for China-Africa educational cooperation.

He said SUSTech, as a young and dynamic research university, remained committed to international engagement and innovation-driven education.

Prof Xue reiterated the great potential for collaboration in talent cultivation, research, and industry partnerships with ABU.

Xue went further to invite ABU faculty and postdoctoral researchers to use SUSTech's research facilities, including Asia's largest cryo-electron microscopy centre for joint research stays of one to two years.

There were further discussions that focused on shared commitment to innovation, standardization, and service to society by both universities.

The two universities are expected to work out details of a reviewed Mou in the next month or two.

It would focus on faculty/student exchange, joint doctoral program, and dual undergraduate-degree program with specific areas of interest(s) or programs determined.

The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof Raymond B Bako.

Others on the entourage were the Director, Distance Learning Centre, Prof Muhammed Bashir Mu'azu and the Director, IAIICT, Prof Emmanuel Adewale Adedokun.

They also included the Deputy Director, IAIICT, Dr Bashir Halliru Sani and the Technical Lead, Dr Zaharaddeen Haruna.

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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria (NEWS/NAM/SGB)
Thursday, 11th June, 2026

ABU most grateful to UNESCO-ICHEI for sustained support - VC

The Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, has acknowledged the tremendous support of UNESCO-ICHEI to the institution in the area of digital education.

Prof Ahmed said the global agency and its flagship International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) had been supporting the university since 2019.

The support started when UNESCO-ICHEI and ABU signed an MoU on 23rd May, 2019 and thereafter the university became IIOE's pioneer founding member on 7th December, 2019.

Ahmed spoke during the ABU team visit to the UNESCO-ICHEI/IIOE office at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in China on Tuesday, 2nd June, 2026.

The visit was part of his official engagements with partners and friends of the university in Guangzhou and Shengzen areas of China.

The Vice-Chancellor listed the huge support of the UNESCO-ICHEI to ABU that included the donation of CreateView Smart Classroom, Yanshee robot with UBTech, VR licences and K1-200 All-in-One VR desktop system with KMAX.

They also included collaboration on the funding of IIOE in 2019, 2022 national project that led to the development of the ABU teaching and learning policy (TLP) as well as its implementation strategy document, according to him.

Others, he further disclosed, were several capacity building workshops and trainings, co-creation of micro-courses (A3 & T1) and the first fully domestication of micro-course on the IIOE platform (B1).

He listed others such as partnership in hosting the 2024 national dialogue on the development of a consensus framework for the use of AI in the Nigerian higher education system, and, most recently, the ongoing project on Women Leading Change in Africa (WLCA).

The Vice-Chancellor, who thanked the organization for the warm reception accorded them, congratulated the UNESCO-ICHEI on its 10th anniversary.

Receiving the team, the Deputy Director, UNESCO-ICHEI, Ms. Bi Xiaohan, expressed gratitude to the team for the visit.

Ms. Bi received the team along with other top officials of the global body.

She said they cherished the partnership with ABU and IIOE Nigeria National Centre and looked forward to many more years of cooperation and collaboration.

Ms. Bi also spoke on the impact of the ongoing WLCA project based on the field data and the positive deliberations on the forthcoming project on cross-border e-commerce with the IIOE Nigeria National Centre and the ABU Business School.

The UNESCO-ICHEI Deputy Director told the Vice-Chancellor that a team from UNESCO-ICHEI would likely visit ABU, Zaria in September, 2026.

Chief of the Global Partnership and Programme Office (GPPO), Mr. Sit Fung, had made a presentation on the general outlook for the IIOE and the expected next steps for the collaboration with ABU and the IIOE Nigeria National Centre.

The Vice-Chancellor was in company of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof Raymond B Bako.

Other team members were the Director, Distance Learning Centre, Prof Muhammed Bashir Mu'azu and the Director, IAIICT, Prof Emmanuel Adewale Adedokun.

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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria (NEWS/NAM/SGB)
Thursday, 11th June, 2026

US botanist, Prof Zimmerman, in ABU for capacity building at IAR, other research centres

A US scholar, Prof William J Zimmerman, is on a working visit to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for capacity building at different sections of the university.

The visiting scholar, working in agricultural development as a botanist/microbiologist, has been in ABU since Sunday, 7th June, 2026 when he arrived at the university.

Specifically, he is to conduct a series of trainings at the Faculty of Agriculture, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Centre for Biotechnology Research and Training as well as the TETfund Centre of Excellence in Pedagogy (TeCEP).

It is expected that the capacity building trainings will benefit both staff and students of the university.

The US visiting scholar was earlier in the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, on a courtesy call.

He told the Vice-Chancellor that he was in ABU for various interactive sessions in the areas of agriculture and plant development.

Prof Zimmerman also said he would interact with researchers and academic at IAR and all other research institutes across the university.

The visiting scholar was received by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to Prof Zimmerman for the visit and assured him of ABU's maximum support throughout his stay.

Prof Ahmed was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo.

He stressed that the university prioritized collaborations in teaching and research, particularly in the area of agriculture.

Soon after the courtesy call, the renowned botanist/microbiologist joined participants at a workshop organised by the TETfund Centre of Excellence in Pedagogy (TeCEP).

Prof Zimmerman's doctoral dissertation at the University of Missouri-Columbia was on the nitrogen-fixing Azolla symbiosis for rice paddies in Asia.

After his retirement, Prof Zimmerman has continued to participate in development overseas by completing 45 assignments in 23 countries with the US Agency for International Development from 2014 to 2025.

Zimmerman has since 2025 been a pro-bono consultant in Bangladesh and now in Nigeria.

In the long run, it is the society that will benefit from the result of the trainings because safer organic products will be developed and will lead to higher yield avoiding chemicals that eventually harm the environment.

And ultimately, Ahmadu Bello University will use the products of the trainings for commercialization.

The Director, Centre for Biotechnology Research and Training, Prof Balarabe Magaji Jahun, coordinated Prof Zimmerman's coming and the capacity building trainings.

The Centre Director, TeCEP, Prof FO Anafi; the Head of Department, Soil Science, Prof Aisha Abdulkadir; and other scholars were in the company of Prof Zimmerman at the time of the courtesy call.

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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria (NEWS/AAI/AHW/PIC/TKU)
Thursday, 11th June, 2026

Department of Zoology SENDFORTH CEREMONY

Sendforth Ceremony orgainized by the Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in honor of retired colleagues

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Office of the Vice - Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

ABU has a lot to learn from Tongji University on urban planning, others, says VC, Prof Adamu Ahmed

The Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, says the Nigerian university has quite a lot to learn from China's Tongji University in the areas of urban planning, architecture, and civil engineering.

Prof Ahmed spoke when he led a team from ABU on a visit to the Chinese university in Shanghai for strong collaboration with the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP).

He and other members of the team had a meeting with top officials of Tongji University led by its Vice President, Prof Li Xiangning.

Ahmed acknowledged the huge role the Chinese university and its College of Architecture and Urban Planning had played in the infrastructure development of modern China.

It has been widely acknowledged that over 90 percent of all super high rise building and more than 70 percent of all metro lines trace their designs and development to Tongji University, Shanghai.

The Vice-Chancellor said their visit to the university was largely informed by such remarkable feat.

Ahmed thanked the university for the warm reception and its willingness to cooperate and collaborate with ABU, especially in its core strength as exemplified by the College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

Receiving the team, the Vice President, Tongji University, Prof Li Xiangning, described the Chinese institution as a leading 'double First-Class' rated university in China.

He explained that this was on the strength of being first in urban planning, and second in architecture, with civil engineering having the highest number of international students in China.

Prof Xiangning recognised the status of ABU in Nigeria and therefore looked forward to establishment of a strong collaboration between the two universities.

He listed three key areas for the collaboration that included academic (admissions and teaching), research, and practice.

Further discussions on the specifics are to be carried out after which a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed.

Other top officials of Tongji University present were Prof Chen Yili, Director, International Students Office; Prof Chen Chen, Vice Dean, CAUP; and Prof Liu Fang, Vice Dean, College of Civil Engineering.

They also included Prof Zhu Xingyi, Vice Dean, College of Transportation; Prof Tang Min and Prof Zhao Qinpei, School of Computer Science and Technology; and Xu Li, Program Coordinator, International Office.

The Vice-Chancellor and his team were first at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP), where they were received by the Vice Dean, Prof Chen Chen and other top officials of the college.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof Raymond B Bako, was a member of the team that visited the Chinese university.

Others were the Director, IAIICT, Prof Emmanuel Adewale Adedokun, and the Director, ABU Distance Learning Centre and IIOE Nigeria National Centre, Prof Muhammed Bashir Mu'azu.

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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria (NEWS/NAM/SGB)
Wednesday, 10th June, 2026

Prof Abdulkadir Zezi speaks on over-the-counter medicines at ABU inaugural lecture

A Professor of pharmacology and therapeutics at Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Abdulkadir Umar Zezi, says over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are some times combined with caffeine.

Prof Zezi spoke at an inaugural lecture he delivered today, Wednesday, 10th June, 2026 at Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria.

OTC medicines, according to him, are drugs that could be bought without a prescription against those drugs that can only be obtained with a prescription.

Prof Zezi said the classification of registered drugs as OTC may differ from country to country depending on the existing regulatory and legal provisions as well as on the organization of healthcare system.

According to him, in some developed countries OTC medicines can be purchased only in pharmacies where professional consultation of a pharmacist can be readily available and access to the needed information is given.

He stressed that in many less developed countries, where OTC drugs are also sold in drug shops or ordinary shops, professional advice and information may not be available.

Zezi affirmed that this can pose serious problems when a high proportion of users are illiterates and unable to understand the information in the package insert.

The don further said decisions concerning the classification of OTC and prescription medicines should be primarily based on scientific and health considerations.

Zezi maintained that the development of an OTC formulary can be of significant help in dealing with the problem.

The scholar thanked the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management for their unwavering support towards the success of the lecture.

In a remark, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, congratulated the Prof Zezi for presenting a well grounded professorial paper.

Ahmed, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo, noted that a university is known for a powerful research output in terms of global ranking, which is what ABU stands for.

The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that inaugural lecture exposes the research standing of a scholar and his/her area of specialization.

He said inaugural lecture showcases what the university is academically in terms of what it can present to the world.

The Vice-Chancellor called on all professors to always avail themselves in subsequent series, adding that it is going to be twice a month.

Earlier in an address, the Chairman of the University Organized Lecture Committee, Prof Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi, explained that inaugural lecture stands among the most important academic ceremonies in the life of a university, adding that it is far more than a formal milestone in a professor's career.

Prof Rafindadi doubles as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Advancement, Research and Innovation.

He also said it represents a public presentation of a lifetime of intellectual inquiry, rigorous research, dedicated teaching, professional engagement and service to society.

The Chairman asserted that through inaugural lecture, the university community and the wider public gain insight into the ideas, discoveries and experiences that have shaped a scholar's academic journey and contributed to the advancement of knowledge.

He thanked the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management for their continued support of the academic tradition.

In a vote of thanks, the Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof Mohammed Magaji, described Prof Zezi as a humble and erudite scholar who everyone would like to work with at postgraduate level.

The Dean thanked the Vice-Chancellor and the University Management for ensuring the success of the lecture.

There were presentation of plague to the inaugural lecturer and group photograph.

The event was attended by Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, students and family of the inaugural lecturer.

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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (NEWS/AHW/PIC/TKU)
Wednesday, 10th June, 2026

ABU Faculty of Environmental Design organises 3rd National Conference

The Faculty of Environmental Design, Ahmadu Bello University, has held its 3rd National Conference.

The Conference, with the theme, 'Re-imagining Sustainable Futures: Exploring Innovative and Integrated Designs for Eco-friendly and Resilient Communities', took place at the CBN Centre for Economics and Finance, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria.

Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, said the conference theme stroke at the heart of national developmental crisis.

The Vice-Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo, also said the complex challenges of climate resilient cities could not be solved by an architect working without engineer, nor could a master plan survive without the commercial realities managed by the estate surveyor or the cost discipline of the quantity surveyor.

Prof Ahmed stated that the university's commitment to research infrastructure remains absolute, and that they were continuously supporting partnerships that established green architecture laboratories, generating the localized, empirical data necessary to break reliance on imported, climate-inappropriate design standards.

He thanked all the participants and wished them highly productive, cross-disciplinary and impactful deliberations.

Earlier in an address of welcome, the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Design, Prof Abdullahi Abubakar, said the conference came at a time when the West African sub-region was facing unprecedented environmental pressures.

Prof Abubakar said rapid urbanization, localized climate vulnerabilities, severe thermal discomfort, and dwindling energy resources were putting pressure on different Nigerian communities.

According to the Dean, the traditional, siloes approaches to design, construction, and physical planning were no longer sufficient to withstand these pressures.

He said to re-imagine meant to break away from obsolete paradigms by challenging them to look beyond immediate construction costs and think about building lifecycles, passive environmental control systems, daylighting optimization, and low-carbon building materials.

In a remark, the Chairperson of the local organizing committee, Prof Adel Garkida, appreciated all participants for attending the conference.

Prof Garkida expressed pleasure chairing the local organizing committee for three consecutive times.

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Emir of Zazzau, Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, commended members of the Faculty of Environmental Design for their contributions to knowledge.

The Emir, who was represented by Sarkin Samaru, Alhaji Dauda Abubakar, expressed gratitude to the Dean of the Faculty and the local organizing committee for inviting him to chair the occasion.

In a keynote speech, the President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Dr Aminu Mohammed Bashir, said as experts, they knew what must be done, they had the science, the frameworks, the warnings and yet the gap between knowledge and action persisted.

Dr Bashir emphasized that this was where the built environment and the professionals who shaped it became central to the solution.

The President reiterated that the conference called them to reimagine, but imagination alone was not enough, stressing that vision without implementation was merely aspiration.

He thanked the organizers for the opportunity given to him and wished them well in subsequent engagements.

In another keynote speech, Chairman, Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, Bld Dr Samson A Opaluwa, affirmed that across the world, communities were facing unprecedented challenges arising from climate change, rapid urbanisation, population growth, resource depletion, environmental degradation, infrastructure deficits, energy insecurity, and socio-economic inequalities.

Opaluwa stressed that these continued to place pressure on cities and communities, and in many developing countries, including Nigeria, these challenges were further compounded by inadequate planning, weak infrastructure systems, poor maintenance culture, and limited integration of sustainability principles into development processes.

Opaluwa, a first class graduate of Building Class of 1978, thanked the Faculty of Environmental Design and the University Management for finding him worthy of serving as one of the keynote speakers.

Featured at the event were goodwill messages, presentation of plagues to keynote speakers and group photograph.

The event was attended by Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, captains of industry, stakeholders, students and participants from different places across the country.

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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (NEWS/AHW/PIC/TKU)
Wednesday, 10th June, 2026

Over - The - Counter Pain Killers: Relief or Burden?

Ahmadu Bello University Inaugural Lecture delivered by Prof. Abdulkadir Umar Zezi (Professor of Phamacology and Therapeutics)

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Office of the Vice - Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

IPAN on laboratory assessment visit to ABU

A team of experts from the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) visited Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria today, Wednesday, 10th June, 2026.

They are on a one-day laboratory assessment based on the National Laboratory Capacity Assessment for Lead (Pb) Testing in Nigeria.

IPAN is an agency under the Federal Ministry of Health, with technical support from Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL).

The agency is implementing a National Laboratory Capacity Assessment for Lead (Pb) Testing in Nigeria.

The team first called on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo.

Stating the purpose of the visit, the team lead, Nasir Adetunji, said IPAN was coordinating a nationwide assessment to determine the current analytical capacity for Pb Testing across relevant laboratories in Nigeria.

Nasiru explained that the objective of the assessment was to determine the current analytical capacity for Pb Testing across relevant laboratories in Nigeria.

He said the outcome exercise would provide critical evidence to guide national policy decisions, regulatory strengthening, laboratory capacity development and strategic investments in analytical infrastructure.

The team lead said the exercise would last till Friday, 12th June, 2026, and that they would be visiting other universities within the northwest geopolitical zone.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, thanked the experts for the visit, which he described as timely.

Prof Ahmed, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo, said the university placed a high premium on research.

He assured them of the university's unwavering support throughout the conduct of their exercise.

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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (AHW/NEWS)
Wednesday, 10th June, 2026