By Idris Umar,Zaria
Prof Adamu Ahmed of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of the newly established University of Education, The Gambia.
Prof Ahmed paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, to formally inform him and the university management of his appointment and to seek institutional support ahead of his assignment.
Briefing the ABU management, Prof Ahmed, who is the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University of Education, The Gambia, said his appointment was initially for a period of two years on a team to set up the institution.
He explained that all professors on the establishment team were requested to apply for the position of Vice-Chancellor, from which he emerged successful.
Tracing his academic journey, Prof. Ahmed said he began his career at IAR, ABU, but spent about 14 years on leave of absence during which he held several political appointments.
He said he returned fully to the academia in 2005 as a Lecturer II and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2021.
“I will always remain an ambassador of Ahmadu Bello University and Nigeria at large; and I am committed to projecting ABU positively, upholding its values, ethics and traditions wherever I serve”, he said.
He appealed to the university management for support in any way possible to enable him to deliver effectively on his mandate as pioneer Vice-Chancellor.
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, described the visit as a special moment for the university, noting the uniqueness of receiving his namesake in such a capacity.
He said they both enjoyed a long-standing relationship and are often mistaken for each other due to their shared names.
Prof Ahmed described the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Gambian university's trajectory as “a story of perseverance and diligence.
Ahmed also said although he had extensive experience outside the university system and held political positions, he was not a typical politician.
“He is well suited for this role because he understands the internal workings of the university system and also possesses the external political experience required to successfully run a university,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that Prof Ahmed played a key role in initiating a partnership between the Ministries of Education of The Gambia and Nigeria.
According to him, this effort had resulted in a planned visit by a Gambian delegation to Nigeria to understudy best practices at Ahmadu Bello University and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He also mentioned the ongoing student exchange programme between ABU and SIMAD university, Mogadishu, Somalia.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that similar opportunities could be extended to The Gambia through its University of Education.
He assured Prof Ahmed of ABU’s goodwill and institutional support as he was confident that he would represent ABU and the country with distinction in his new role.
Members of ABU management present at the courtesy call included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, Prof Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi; and the Registrar, Rabiu Samaila.
Others were the Bursar, Malam Mohammed Aminu Bello Gurin; and the Acting University Librarian, Dr Abubakar Mohammed Abdullahi.
Prof Mahmoud Mukhtar of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) and Dr Sa'adu Abubakar Zailani were on the entourage of the Gambian University of Education Vice-Chancellor.
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