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| Mal. Adamu Mamman Kontagora President Worldwide of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Alumni Association |
By Zakari Haruna Isah
The President Worldwide of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Alumni Association, Adamu Mamman Kontagora (Barden Kontagora), has urged university graduates across Nigeria to actively contribute to the development of their alma maters, stating that government funding alone is no longer sufficient to sustain higher education.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the 2026 Annual Get-Together & Awards, organized by the Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, Kaduna State Branch, held at the Sardauna Memorial Foundation in Kaduna, Kontagora highlighted that world-renowned institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge rely heavily on endowment funds and alumni contributions for infrastructural and academic growth.
"The funding of universities can no longer be left in the hands of the government alone because the government cannot take sole responsibility for education in Nigeria," Kontagora stated. "It is not just about getting a degree and leaving; the real question is, what are you doing to give back?"
Celebrating Legacy and Growth
Highlighting the institution's reach, Kontagora noted that ABU remains the largest university south of the Sahara by population and alumni network, estimating the total alumni base to be around one million members since its founding.
He pointed out that recent graduating classes regularly exceed 25,000 students per convocation cycle, projecting substantial growth as ABU approaches its 64th anniversary this October.
He described the honorees at the event as a fraction of the institution’s vast impact nationwide and internationally. "What we have done today is like taking a single spoon from an ocean," he remarked, emphasizing the global achievements of ABU graduates.
Strong Synergies with State Government and Leadership
Kontagora commended the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University for driving rapid infrastructural and administrative growth, attributing much of the alumni association's recent progress to a collaborative relationship with the university leadership.
He also acknowledged the support of the Kaduna State Government, specifically expressing gratitude to Governor Senator Uba Sani for fulfilling pledges to upgrade the internal road networks across the university campus.
The alumni president reaffirmed that expanding the university's Endowment Fund remains his primary leadership priority, aiming to establish a sustainable financial backbone for future generations of students.