Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University’ (ATBU) is a federal university of technology located in Bauchi, northern Nigeria. The university is named after the first Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The motto of the university is “Doctrina Mater Artium”, which means “Education is the mother of the practical arts”.
The university was established in 1980 as the Federal University of Technology, Bauchi. The institution’s first students were admitted in October 1981 for pre-degree and remedial programmes while the degree courses of the School of Science and Science Education began in October 1982. On 1 October 1984, the university was merged with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria with a change of name to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa College, Ahmadu Bello University, Bauchi campus. The university regained its autonomous status in 1988 following a general demerger of such institutions. This was followed by a change of name to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
The academic pattern of the university was formulated in 1980 after consultation with subject experts from Nigeria, United Kingdom and the United States of America. The curriculum adopted was applied in nature, as suited a technologically based institution, and this theme is maintained in all the units of the university.
The university offers degrees through six schools: the School of Engineering, Science, Environmental Technology, Agriculture, Management Technology and the School of Technology Education. It offers entry level bachelor’s degrees and both Masters and Doctorate degrees. Each school is headed by a Dean who reports directly to the Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor is the executive head of the university. The Vice Chancellor is appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria on recommendation by the Governing Council of the University.
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University has a chancellor as the ceremonial head of the university, while the Vice-chancellor is the chief executive and academic officer of the university. The vice-chancellor is usually appointed for a 5-year, non-renewable term. The 7th and current vice-chancellor, Professor Abdulrahman Saminu Ibrahim.
Currently, the university has over 30 Academic Departments, 6 Faculties, 8 Directorates and 7 Centers, with an undergraduate students’ population of over 10,000. A college of Medical Science has been established in the University and has since taken off.
There are two directorates that provides academic support services to the university. These are:
1. Directorate of Basic and Remedial Studies
2. General Studies Directorate
The School of Postgraduate Studies of ATBU is saddled with the following responsibility
Coordinating all the postgraduate programme of studies in the University, such as postgraduate planning, admission, registration and examination.
Maintenance of postgraduate academic standards, and
Monitoring and evaluating the progress of postgraduate studies in the University and submission of an annual report to Senate.
For more information kindly visit http://www.atbu.edu.ng/
