Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has presented its contributions to national, regional, and global development at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), held in Yokohama, Japan, from August 20 to 22, 2025.
The institution was one of only two universities from West Africa, alongside the University of Ghana, selected by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) to attend the high-level conference. Their selection was based on global ranking and strong collaborative ties with Japanese institutions.
Representing ABU, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adamu Ahmed delivered a presentation highlighting the university’s impact in manpower development, agriculture and nutrition, education, engineering, and the sciences. He also made a case for expanded collaboration with Japanese institutions in eight priority areas, including joint undergraduate degree programmes, student and faculty exchanges, joint research and grant sourcing, and co-teaching initiatives.
Other proposed areas for partnership include the establishment of a laboratory for pandemic preparedness, disaster management, alternative energy and climate change research, and support for patent-to-product initiatives. Following his presentation, several Japanese universities expressed interest in pursuing collaborations with ABU.
The ABU delegation included Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Centre Leader for the Africa Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE), Prof. Raymond B. Bako; Prof. Y. K. E. Ibrahim, Centre Leader for the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB); Prof. Japhet Wisdom, Centre Leader of the Sustainable Procurement, Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement Centre of Excellence (SPESSECE); and Prof. Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun, Coordinator of the ABU Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO).
TICAD, established in 1993 by the Japanese Government, is a triennial platform for high-level policy dialogue on African development. The forum is convened in partnership with the United Nations, UNDP, World Bank, and African Union Commission, bringing together African Heads of Government, Japanese officials, business leaders, and academic institutions to strengthen cooperation for peace, stability, and sustainable growth.
