As new ABU VC resumes soon

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is on the verge of leadership renewal, as the new Vice Chancellor, in the person of Professor Kabiru Bala, Professor of Building from within the university prepares to take the realms on 1st May, 2020. The Selection Board of the university first met and adopted the guidelines and on January 7, […]

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, is on the verge of leadership renewal, as the new Vice Chancellor, in the person of Professor Kabiru Bala, Professor of Building from within the university prepares to take the realms on 1st May, 2020. The Selection Board of the university first met and adopted the guidelines and on January 7, 2020, shortlisted 11 candidates from 18 who initially applied for the position.

Many credible sources from within the university and outside have disclosed high hopes of reforming the institution to a level commensurate with its aspired status. Professor Bala, the new Vice Chancellor, who has held many administrative positions earlier, was described by many as an ardent fighter for justice, and a stickler for following due process, as ingrained in the university policy, for the benefit of both students and staff.

Adhering to due process of law generally leads to justice and fair play, consequently toning down tension, chaos and crisis.

The institution, which has gone through a lot, in terms of leadership tussle over the years, needs to have everyone who occupies a position of high leadership in it today, including the management of the various faculties and departments on campus, to halt for a moment and ask, whether what they do day-in-day-out, may impact positively or negatively on the institution and the students it graduates annually.

As the first historic Northern institution of higher learning established more than half a century ago, enrolling thousands of Nigerian youths and graduating same every single year, it is incumbent on whoever take its lead to set and maintain the highest standards not just in education, but a comprehensive attainment of academic prowess, ethical standard, etc. in order to graduate students with the right attitude to serve the nation from day one.

Ahmadu Bello University, established at the point of self-government by the first and only Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto in 1962, and named after him, need to serve as a good example of true scholarship to be emulated by all other institutions across the region and beyond.

In every other nation, as institutions become older, they become the repository of knowledge, wisdom, and guidance for the nation and its people.  The Ivy League universities in the United States such as Harvard and Yale, for example, produce a good number of people who end up becoming the nation’s presidents, or other highly placed people, by virtue of their scholarship.

While ABU is not unique in some of the issues that continue to hold it down, a lot can be done by its leadership, and the generality of its academic and non-academic staff, to assist in the realization of the basic goal of maintaining the highest educational standards not only in Nigeria but globally. An academic community is actually the best place for the creation and establishment of great ideas that may sprout and promote growth and development. It is expected that Professor Bala’s academic and administrative background and most importantly his untiring commitment to fairness will assist in bringing together these diverse components.

Professor Bala, born in Kaduna in 1964, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from ABU department of Building in 1985; acquired a Master of Science in Building Services in 1990 and another Masters in Business Administration in 1998. In 2001, he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Construction Management from Ahmadu Bello University and rose through the ranks to the exalted rank of Professor of Construction Management in 2007. He was reported to have over 80 publications in national and international academic journals and conferences. As for management experience, Professor Bala was at the Department of Civil Engineering, Surveying and Building, University of Abertay, Dundee Scotland as a Visiting Scholar in 1994 /1995. He was a two-time Head of Department of Building from 2001 to 2006 and from 2010 to 2014. He was also the pioneer ICT Coordinator of ABU from 2005 to 2006. He was Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design from 2006 to 2008 and served as Director of Academic Planning and Monitoring from 2010 to 2013. He was the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies before becoming Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration). In view of such credentials and experience, one would hope Professor Kabir Bala has the much needed expertise to move Ahmadu Bello University forward.

Professor Bala was in February 2013 appointed as Chairman of the Board of Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) by President Goodluck Jonathan in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the building profession. Similarly, in October 2013, he was appointed as a Member of the Board of the National Universities Commission, (NUC) by the President.

Specifically, the students and lecturers of environmental design have attested to some of his exemplary leadership qualities citing some from the 25 characteristics of an effective teacher identified by Samy Azer of University of Sydney i.e. commitment to work, encouraging and appreciating diversity, interacting and communicating respect, motivating students and co-workers, bringing a wide range of skills and talents to teaching, demonstrating leadership in teaching, encouraging an open and trusting learning environment, fostering critical thinking, encouraging creative work, emphasizing teamwork, seeking continually to improve teaching skills and finally providing positive feedback. As a foot soldier armed with professional and academic experience, Professor Bala, who asked to be simply referred to as ‘Malam’ in his Daily Trust interview of June 10, 2017, holds much hope for reformation of the citadel of learning established by the first and only Premier of Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto.

The new VC of ABU should always bear in mind that as ‘Malam’, the ABU Community expect much from him and thus, should try his best to show to the whole world that Malams are capable of delivering the goods no matter how limited the resources are. He should always see himself as the living representative of pioneers before him such as Malam(s) Usman Danfodio, Abdullahin Gwandu, Ahmadu Bello Sardauna, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sa’adu Zungur and Aminu Yusuf Kano etc., and therefore should not let them down.

Hadiza Isa Wada is an Associate Professor of Mass Communication, Kaduna State University (KASU)