The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has revealed that it spends nearly ₦4 billion annually on electricity bills — a cost the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Adamu Ahmed, described as “crippling and unsustainable.”
Speaking at a press conference in his office to commemorate the university’s 63rd anniversary, Professor Ahmed lamented that the high cost of energy was severely affecting academic and research activities.
He explained that ABU has begun taking bold steps toward energy self-reliance, tasking its staff and students to develop innovative solutions while pursuing partnerships for sustainable energy sources.
According to him, the Federal Government has acknowledged the energy crisis and provided ₦1 billion through TETFund last year as an intervention. He added that a new project had also been approved to deliver 10 megawatts of renewable energy to the institution.
“We’ve also reached out to our alumni, particularly the SBS class of 1975, who are already implementing a solar-powered project for one of our CBT centres,” Ahmed disclosed. “We’re taking our destiny into our own hands while expecting continued support from outside.”
The Vice Chancellor emphasized that ABU was founded to serve as a bridge of unity and progress for Nigeria, recalling that the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, envisioned a university that would educate both Northerners and Southerners, free of ethnic or religious bias.
He lamented, however, that insecurity and poverty have slowed down development in the North and disrupted educational advancement. Ahmed said the university will now prioritize addressing these challenges through targeted research, agricultural initiatives, and policy advocacy.
Highlighting ABU’s strong agricultural base — including the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine — he noted that no other university in West Africa possesses such extensive capacity to drive agricultural and economic recovery.
He also stressed the need for non-kinetic approaches to tackle insecurity, stating, “Insecurity cannot be solved by force alone. We must promote dialogue, understanding, and community-driven peacebuilding. We have the capacity, the research, and the networks — and we are ready to lead the charge in finding lasting solutions.”
Reflecting on ABU’s growth and legacy, the VC said the university was founded in 1962 with just four faculties, 15 departments, and 426 students, but has now expanded to 18 faculties, 110 departments, seven institutes, four colleges, and 17 research centres — making it the largest university system in sub-Saharan Africa.
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He further noted that ABU’s achievements have earned it global recognition, with the Times Higher Education ranking it as the best public university in Nigeria in 2025, alongside a JAMB award for internationalization and diversity. The university is also one of only three Nigerian institutions listed in the QS 2025 World University Rankings.
Ahmed revealed that ABU has secured three World Bank Centres of Excellence grants worth over $15 million, and a €5 million Horizon grant for an artificial intelligence project aimed at developing microscopes for diagnosing neglected parasitic diseases.
He also disclosed that ABU staff and students have registered over 30 patents across various fields — including renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and crude oil refining — underscoring the university’s global research impact.
Despite these milestones, the VC expressed concern over persistent funding constraints, brain drain, and decaying infrastructure, pledging to intensify efforts in digital learning, research commercialization, and start-up incubation to achieve financial independence.
He concluded with a rallying call to the university’s extensive alumni network, describing them as “ABU’s greatest strength.”
“I call on our alumni to step up,” he said. “The Sardauna gave you opportunity; now it is time to give back. You have the resources, the talent, and the strategic positions to secure the future of this great university for generations to come.”