The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, has revealed that the institution has lost nearly 2,000 skilled staff over the past five years to better employment opportunities within and outside Nigeria.
He described the situation as a major source of concern as the university marks its 63rd anniversary.
Speaking at a press conference in Zaria as part of the anniversary celebrations, Professor Ahmed attributed the mass exit to poor remuneration, inadequate funding, and ageing infrastructure, all of which have affected staff motivation and productivity.
“It is disheartening to state that the university has lost nearly 2,000 staff members in the last five years,” he said. “Our infrastructure is deteriorating, and low pay has dampened the morale of both academic and non-academic staff.”
The Vice-Chancellor added that the shortage of qualified personnel has begun to impact some key academic programmes. “At the moment, there is a particular programme in the university where 95 per cent of the staff are professors,” he disclosed.
“This poses a serious challenge for the future, as it could result in the programme losing its accreditation and create a vacuum when senior faculty members retire.”
Despite these challenges, Professor Ahmed assured that the university is working to modernise its teaching methods and strengthen its workforce.
