By Anita John 
- ABU spends about ₦4bn yearly on electricity.
- University targets energy self-sufficiency through renewable power.
- FG approves ₦1bn TETFund intervention and 10MW renewable project.
- ABU ranked Best Public University in Nigeria, 2025 Times Higher Education rankings.
- Calls for alumni support to sustain operations and innovation.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, says it spends nearly ₦4 billion annually on electricity, a cost Vice Chancellor Professor Adamu Ahmed described as “crippling and unsustainable.”
Speaking at a press conference marking the institution’s 63rd anniversary on Saturday, Ahmed said the soaring energy bill is affecting academic work, research, and the university’s overall productivity.
Ahmed said ABU has begun implementing measures toward energy independence. The university, he noted, is encouraging innovation among staff and students while partnering with private firms and alumni for sustainable power solutions.
“The Federal Government provided a ₦1 billion TETFund intervention last year and approved a 10-megawatt renewable energy project,” the VC said. “Our alumni, especially the SBS Class of 1975, are also supporting us with a solar-powered project for one of our CBT centres. We are taking our destiny into our own hands.”
He reaffirmed ABU’s founding mission as envisioned by the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, to promote unity and development through education. But he lamented that insecurity and poverty have slowed progress in the North.
Ahmed said ABU is now engaging northern state governments to address insecurity, food shortages, and unemployment. He emphasized that ABU’s agricultural and research institutions, including the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), NAPRI, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, position it to drive regional recovery.
He also called for non-kinetic approaches to tackling insecurity. “We have the capacity, the research, and the networks,” he said. “ABU is ready to lead the charge in finding lasting solutions through dialogue, community engagement, and peacebuilding.”
Reflecting on the university’s growth, Ahmed said ABU has expanded from four faculties and 426 students in 1962 to 18 faculties, 110 departments, seven institutes, four colleges, and 17 research centres, making it the largest university system in sub-Saharan Africa.
The VC highlighted ABU’s global recognition, noting that it was ranked the Best Public University in Nigeria (2025 Times Higher Education rankings) and among the top three Nigerian universities in the QS 2025 World University Rankings.
He added that ABU has secured over $15 million in World Bank Centres of Excellence grants and a €5 million Horizon grant for an artificial intelligence project focused on diagnosing neglected parasitic diseases. Researchers at the institution, he said, have registered more than 30 patents in renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and crude oil refining technologies.
Despite these achievements, Ahmed admitted that funding shortages, brain drain, and infrastructure decay remain serious challenges. He said ABU will continue to invest in digital learning, research commercialization, and start-up incubation to strengthen financial self-reliance.
“The Sardauna gave you opportunity; now it’s time to give back,” he said. “You have the resources, the talent, and the strategic positions to secure the future of this great university for generations to come,”he said while calling on the alumni community, describing the institution as “greatest strength” and urged them to give back.
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