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ABU VC blames poor pay, ageing infrastructure for mass exit
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Warns of non-accreditation risk as top professors near retirement
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Urges alumni to rescue university through donations and endowments
Ahmadu Bello University Vice- Chancellor, ABU VC Professor Adamu Ahmed said the institution is facing one of its toughest academic crises as over 2,000 staff members have reportedly left the institution in the last five years.
He raised the alarm during a press briefing marking the university’s 63rd anniversary, lamenting that the wave of resignations linked to brain drain, poor remuneration, and ageing infrastructure was crippling ABU’s research and teaching strength.
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“Ageing Infrastructure, Poor Pay Killing Motivation” — VC
Prof Ahmed said the morale of academic and non-academic staff had plummeted due to neglect of key welfare and infrastructural needs.
“Ageing infrastructure and poor remuneration have dampened staff motivation. It is disheartening to state that the university has lost nearly 2,000 staff in the last five years,” he said.
He noted that ABU urgently needs replacement and additional personnel to sustain its academic output and safeguard accreditation for key programmes.
“There is a particular programme in the university where 95 per cent of the staff are professors. This situation may soon affect accreditation if younger lecturers are not recruited,” he added.
Funding Crisis Deepens
The Vice-Chancellor identified funding constraints as another major setback, stressing that financial shortfalls had reduced the university’s ability to renovate hostels, upgrade libraries, and support cutting-edge research.
Despite the challenges, he said the administration was introducing innovative teaching methods and technology integration to enhance productivity.
“We shall strengthen the Distance Learning Centre (DLC), the largest in Nigeria, to increase the pace at which education is taken to every home. ABU will not only expand access but also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in inclusive education and reducing inequality,” he said.
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Alumni, Government Urged to Intervene
Prof Ahmed called on the ABU Alumni Association to step up contributions through endowment gifts and annual donations to sustain the university’s legacy.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its reform agenda across key sectors, including education.
“We acknowledge the bold reforms of the federal government led by President Tinubu. However, we appeal for stronger financial support to public universities to halt the loss of talent,” he stated.
