Leadership of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation has saluted the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria on its 58th anniversary.
It then urged the government at all levels to continue to support ABU Zaria and other Northern Universities to grow and impart the most productive knowledge on students in order to build on the legacies of the Late Sardaunan Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Engineer Abubakar Gambo Umar in a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna said ABU Zaria which was established by and named after the late Premier of defunct Northern Region, has progressed over the past 58 years in all areas of educational development in Northern Nigeria.
“ABU has been playing a large role in putting the north in the forefront of global academic excellence and continues to occupy a particularly important place among Nigerian universities.
“As it marks its 58th anniversary, ABU can rightly claim its place as the largest and the most extensive of universities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Situated in Zaria, ABU has 16 academic faculties, 99 departments and student enrollment of over 45,000. Since inception, ABU Zaria has produced more than 500,000 Alumni, among them President, Vice President, Governors, Ministers and other leaders nationwide.
“As ABU celebrates this milestone, SABMF is proud of the achievements so far made by the institution, and happy to be associated with the country’s leading citadel of learning. We look forward to more years of educational accomplishments.
“The Foundation calls on Federal and State Governments, and other well to do Nigerians to continue to support ABU Zaria and other Northern Universities to continue to grow and impart the most productive knowledge on our students and to continue to build on the legacies of the Late Sardaunan Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.”