Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, Abuja Chapter bounces back in rejuvenated vigour as members are ready to reposition the Association to the glory of their Alma Mater. The association, which is a beautiful convergence of wonderful men and women who have been baked morally and intellectually from the great Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, is coming back bigger and better.
The Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the largest Nigeria‘s premier university situated in north of the Sahel and south of the Limpopo has its alumni strategically placed in and out of Abuja. The University is reputed to be the only university with a cosmopolitan umbrella that provides a canopy to all tribes, races, and faith in Nigeria. Unarguably the only mini-Nigeria set up where every tribe is represented and housed.
ABU Zaria readily comes to mind when universities are mentioned in Nigeria, prospective students throng there in search of admission. Like their parents, everyone wants an identity of ABU Zaria, it is one of the early and oldest universities in Nigeria established on 4th October 1962, as the pioneer university in Northern Nigeria founded and named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria.
The university operates two campuses: Samaru (main) and Kongo in Zaria covers a land area of 7,000 hectares (27 sq mi) and encompasses 12 academic faculties, a postgraduate school and 82 academic departments. ABU can claim to be the largest and the most extensive of universities in Sub-Saharan Africa and you dare not doubt this! With a history of excellence and class tied to this institution – it is a place every learner wants to be and identified. Talks had it that, people forfeit their admissions even while in their third year to come start afresh in ABU Zaria!
At a time in Nigeria with the return of democracy in 1999, the school was reported to have its 23 alumni occupying government houses as governors, with about 20 alumni as federal ministers and 2/3 of Nigeria‘s lawmakers graduating from the university. The holds a record number of honors and awards and has been producing quality graduates chiefly among them are former Nigeria president Late Umar Yar Adua, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and Namadi Sambo all former vice presidents respectively.
It‘s a university that prides itself on a flagship standpoint of communalism, brotherhood, and solidarity. You can‘t go to ABU, Zaria, and not have the blood of patriotism in your vein; it is a recruitment ground for deep-rooted nationalism; a place where the wall of prejudices is broken and common sense imbibed. No wonder, the alumni swim and walk around with the infectious slogan of „Every Abusite is naturally ahead and born leaders.“ It is that same spirit that binds its alumni everywhere they find themselves, and the federal capital territory is the largest habitat for Abusites, as there is hardly any government, public and private establishments where you won‘t find an ABU graduate. They hold tight and stimulate the pulse of Nigeria.
With a serene environment, horticulturally patterned, and friendly host community, the university provides that enabling ambiance for studies, research, and love- you can’t go to ABU Zaria and not fall in love with nature, and splashed around for the realization of love life are the aesthetically designed gardens to serve as rendezvous for campus lovers. Whoever designed the architectural masterplan of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria was indeed a romantic designer. The planner must have been an intimate admirer of nature. The school can break you academically but has a soothing balm for you just by the side. Whoever went to ABU and didn‘t take away the love side of nature can never appreciate love forever.
In ABU Zaria you find the friendliest camaraderie, in that place Igbo language is most spoken than Hausa language, and there you find the children of the rich reduced down to the level of the poor folks. No one ever carried an air of arrogance around him or her and ever lived to tell the story of nature‘s kindness. It was a meeting point of greatness.
Nothing has changed about the uniqueness of ABU Zaria, those who were pioneer students still have the same story of its greatness. They say the camaraderie they had still permeated them even after many years. the very thing they still parade around with to date. People liken ABU products to coagulation of occultic heroes who uphold their tenets, creed, and solidarity; like comrades, they stand out for each other and go all hogs in the preservation of the binding ideologies that birthed the university. To them, no Ahamdu Bello university graduate can discard the doctrine of the founding father.
To further unify its alumni, the Abuja chapter of the association is going all out to harvest and harness its many alumni residents in the FCT. In days to come, the association shall be electing new executives to champion its affairs. Prominent in the top race is Senator Abubakar Yusuf from Taraba State and Ayanbanji Ojo of the Nigerian Communications Commission and yours faithfully, ABDULLAHI O.Haruna (Haruspice) vying for the Public Relations Officer in the election scheduled for 25th Sunday September 2022 at the Pavilion hall of the International Conference Center, Area 11, Garki Abuja. For mere chapter election, everywhere is agog with excitement, no wonder Abusites are enviable cynosure of other university graduates. They do things in exceptionally, remarkable ways and seem to always set the pace. Indeed, the age-long maxim that there are only two universities in Nigeria- ABU and others is true. If you don‘t have an ABU certificate in your kitty, you need to buy another JAMB form!!!
Naturally ahead musing.
