By Abubakar Basiru
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Université André Salifou (UAS), Zinder, Niger Republic, to strengthen institutional collaboration in education, research, innovation and community engagement.
The agreement, facilitated through the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), was signed on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Ahmadu Bello University during an official engagement between the two institutions.
The MoU was signed by the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Adamu Ahmed, and the Vice-Rector of Université André Salifou, Associate Professor Hassan Moussa Diangole.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Professor Bello Sabo; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Raymond Bako; Registrar, Malam Rabiu Samaila; and Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ibrahim Sani Kaita.
Also present were the Director, Directorate of Advancement and International Education, Professor M. I. Umar; Chairman, ABU Ranking Committee, Professor Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim; Head of Intellectual Property Unit, Professor Emmanuel Balogun; Head of Department, Biochemistry, Dr. Aliyu Muhammad; Zakary Abdoulaye Yaou, Deputy Secretary-General, Université André Salifou; and Dr. Mahaman Moustapha Lamine, Adviser to the Director, Université André Salifou, among others.
Speaking during the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adamu Ahmed, expressed his appreciation for the collaboration and reaffirmed ABU’s interest in the partnership.
Professor Ahmed stated that the partnership would benefit the young Université André Salifou in various ways, including the training of its staff, while declaring ABU’s readiness to support the collaboration.
The Vice-Chancellor further noted that the partnership would go beyond the two universities to strengthen the mutual relationship between Nigeria and Niger, describing the two countries as mutual friends.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Professor Y. K. E. Ibrahim, who serves as the link to the collaboration, explained that the initial engagement between the institutions was limited to research and grant applications. According to him, the engagement has now developed into a historic international partnership, which he described as “one of the fastest collaborations.”
For his part, Dr. Mahaman Moustapha Lamine, a representative of Université André Salifou, expressed gratitude to the management and staff of Ahmadu Bello University for the warm reception and the opportunity for collaboration.
“ABU is one of the most important universities in Africa, and having this collaboration with ABU will advance and strengthen our university in many ways,” he stated.
He added, “It will allow us to collaborate with the university, which has a lot of experience, which can enhance our university management.”
Dr. Lamine further stated that the partnership with Ahmadu Bello University would contribute significantly to the growth of their institution.
“It will allow our staff members, our students, lecturers and researchers to collaborate with ABU staff, our researchers, lecturers, to share with them their experience,” he said.
He added, “In terms of facilities, we saw a lot of opportunities for us here, especially in the area of technology because we are young. We saw many important platforms here in ABU Zaria, which we can use as collaborators to perform our research.”
Earlier, the Centre Leader of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), Professor Y. K. E. Ibrahim, and his team received the Université André Salifou delegation at the centre’s headquarters on the Samaru Main Campus.
As part of their three-day visit, the UAS representatives, on Tuesday, toured the centre and several ABU facilities. They also interacted with a number of Niger indigenes studying at ABU, providing an opportunity that highlighted the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
During the interaction, the representatives heard about the different areas of specialisation of the students and their aspirations to contribute to the growth and development of Niger Republic.