Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has appointed Professor M. I. Umar-Buratai to chair an eight-member committee tasked with strengthening the university’s Directorate of Advancement and International Education (DAIE).
Prof Umar-Buratai, a seasoned academic from the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts and former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, will oversee the committee’s work aimed at enhancing the Directorate’s strategic role in international engagement, resource mobilization, and institutional visibility.
The committee was inaugurated on Thursday, 17th July, 2025, by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adamu Ahmed, who outlined a clear and ambitious mandate for the team.
According to Prof Ahmed, the committee is to reposition the DAIE for greater operational effectiveness and alignment with the university’s broader strategic objectives. It is expected to develop a comprehensive short-to-medium-term work plan, establish standard operating procedures, and design robust stakeholder engagement and fundraising strategies.
In particular, the committee is tasked with reviewing and implementing key recommendations from the CASE Reports (2009 & 2010), assessing the status of donor-funded programmes such as those supported by the MacArthur and Carnegie Foundations, and ensuring their closure where appropriate.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasised the importance of revising institutional linkages, donor relations, and communication strategies to improve the university’s global reach and impact.
Prof Ahmed said the university was confident that the collective experience and institutional memory of the committee members would be pivotal in shaping a new trajectory for the Directorate. The committee has eight weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.
In his response, Prof Umar-Buratai thanked the university management for the confidence reposed in the team and pledged their commitment to delivering a transformative framework for the Directorate. He assured that the committee would work diligently to introduce innovative ideas and actionable reforms.
Other members of the committee include:
Prof Shuaibu Aliyu Shehu (Department of History)
Prof Balarabe M. Jahun (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine)
Prof Tonie Okpe (Department of Fine Arts)
Prof M. K. Isah (Department of Local Government and Development Studies)
Dr. Muhammad Hashim Suleiman (Department of Mass Communication)
Engr. Salisu Gaya (Iya Abubakar Institute of Information and Communication Technology)
Malam Hamza Sani (Registry Department), who will serve as Secretary.
