ABU Appoints Prof. Adamu Ahmed as Vice-Chancellor

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) has announced the appointment of Prof. Adamu Ahmed as the new Vice-Chancellor.

The Governing Council approved the appointment at its 209th Special Meeting on 5th February 2025.

The decision was conveyed in a letter signed by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR.

Details of the Appointment

• Tenure begins – 1st May 2025.
• Duration – Five years.

Background of Prof. Adamu Ahmed

Prof. Ahmed teaches at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, ABU, Zaria.

He was born on 2nd April 1964.

He serves as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at Federal University of Education, Kano.

Educational Qualifications

• BSc Geography – 1985, ABU Zaria.
• MSc Urban and Regional Planning – 1990, ABU Zaria.
• PhD Urban and Regional Planning – 2000, ABU Zaria.
• Advanced Certificate in Real Estate Development and Finance – 2006, Urban Land Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA.

Career at Ahmadu Bello University

Prof. Ahmed joined ABU in 1991.

He became a Professor of Urban and Regional Planning in 2012.

He held several positions, including:

• Director, Directorate of University Advancement.
• Coordinator/Director, Centre for Spatial Information Science (CSIS).
• Head, Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

Government and International Roles

From 2019 to 2021, he served as Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Bauchi State.

Since 2013, he has been Coordinator/Director, United Nations University Institute for Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS), Nagoya, Japan – Regional Centre for Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development.

Contributions to Research and Development

• Led curriculum reforms at ABU.
• Established Centre for Spatial Information Science (CSIS).
• Secured local and international research grants.
• Facilitated ABU’s Best Planning School Award in Nigeria (2012).
• Led Nigerian delegation to the UNEP Grete/Exchange Programme in China.
• Coordinated grant applications for World Bank Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) programmes worth over $8 million.
• Managed collaborations with Dangote Foundation, NNPC, and CCECC.
• Developed an endowment programme aimed at securing N5 billion in annual funding.

Professional Memberships and Awards

• Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners.
• Registered Town Planner.
• Board of Trustees Member, Nigerian Resilient Cities Network (NRCN).
• NITP President’s Award for Meritorious Service (2010).
• Town Planners Registration Council Best Planning School Award (2012).
• Chinese Ambassador’s Award – October 1st Prize (2019).

Academic Contributions

• Attended 29 local and international conferences.
• Delivered 23 academic public lectures and papers.

Prof. Ahmed brings extensive experience in education, urban planning, and leadership.