ABU appoints Yayale Ahmed, Ihejirika, 10 others to steer endowment foundation

The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has appointed the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, as chairman, Board of Trustees of its reconstituted Endowment Foundation.

The university also appointed former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Azubuike Ihejirika as well as former Secretary-General, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo; and former Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo as members of the BOT.

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A statement signed by the university’s Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Auwalu Umar, yesterday said other members of the 12-member BOT include former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Salamatu Husseini Suleiman; founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Chief Tony Elumelu; renowned economist, Malam Mohammed Hayatudeen; and former National President of Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, Dr. (Mrs.) Henrietta Ogan.

Others include Chairman Board of Directors, DANE Investments Ltd, Dr Suleyman Abdu Ndanusa; retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr Abdullahi Aliyu; Non-Executive Director, Board of Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Abubakar Abdu; and politician and social activist, Hajiya Naja’atu Muhammad while Registrar and Secretary to the university council are to serve as the secretary of the BOT.

Umar said the BOT chairman who spoke on behalf of other members assured that they would work collectively in line with international best practices to succeed.

According to the statement, the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Kabiru Bala, while thanking members of the BOT described ABU as one of the largest universities in Africa, hence the decision to reconstitute a BOT for its Endowment Foundation.

He stressed that enormous resources were required for routine teaching, research, as well as operations and maintenance, adding that budgetary provision by the government was grossly inadequate.