By Famuyiwa Daniel Adewale U19mm1112
The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Prof. Adamu Ahmed, has assured students that starting with the current graduating class, certificates will be issued immediately after convocation. Prof. Ahmed made this commitment today during the first edition of the “Lunch with the Vice Chancellor” at Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, where he met and interacted with 100 students who were selected. “As you graduate, you leave with your certificate on your convocation day,” the VC said, drawing applause from the students present.
The Lunch with the Vice Chancellor is a new initiative introduced by the Vice Chancellor and it is designed to foster closer interactions and relationships between the university management and students. The event will be held four times in a year with 100 students selected for each of edition to promote a broader representation across faculties, gender, ethnicity, and student categories.
The event also featured a keynote address from Muhtar Bakare, Chairman of The Alternative Bank, and a leadership talk by Prof. Sulaiman Abdullahi Karwai of ABU’s Faculty of Administration. Ambassador Shuaibu Ahmed, Senior Partner at Ahmed Zakari and Company, was the Special Guest of Honor and chaired the occasion.
For years, delays in certificate collection have been a major source of frustration for Nigerian graduates, often affecting job applications, further studies, and travel opportunities. Prof. Ahmed’s announcement marks a significant administrative shift that many students see as a welcome relief. Students at the lunch described the promise as “a long-awaited change” and expressed hope that the university would deliver on it.
With this move, ABU is not only building stronger engagement with its students but also taking steps toward improving efficiency and aligning with global best practices in higher education.