Ahmadu Bello University: Federal Government of Nigeria owned university in Zaria. On 4 October 1962, the University of Northern Nigeria was founded in Zaria. The second largest in Africa, surpassed only by the University of Cairo, its primary focus at inception was to provide quality education to Nigerians of Northern extraction who were believed to be western educationally disadvantaged-in a bid to catch up with the South. The name of the tertiary institution, however, was to be changed to Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, when it was acquired by the Federal Government, and its mandate was widened to cater to the educational needs of all Nigerians. Unlike the scope, the focus remained unchanged; to produce well-rounded graduates to fill the gap left by the departing British colonialists in governance and industry. Overtime, ABU instilled in its students a sense of political and social awareness that is unmatched for many years by other universities in the county.
At inception, ABU opened its doors to 426 pioneer students and 142 members of staff. At its golden jubilee, it boasted 12 institutes and many centers.
