AAU Consultants Laud Ahmadu Bello University's ACENPEE's New Building, Seek Sustainability Measures

Consultants from the Association of African Universities (AAU) have expressed satisfaction with the newly completed building for the Africa Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE) at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

During a verification visit on Friday, February 21, 2025, Engr. O. A. Oloyede from the AAU headquarters in Accra, Ghana, commended the quality of the project, which is supported by the World Bank. He praised the facilities provided for student training and urged the Centre to remain committed to its mandate of teaching, research, and training.

However, Engr. Oloyede raised concerns about revenue generation for the Centre’s maintenance, emphasizing the need for a sustainable financial model. He also appreciated the ABU management for their continued support and encouraged them to sustain their efforts.

Another consultant, Mr. Scheneida Ankomah, expressed admiration for the rapid completion of the building, urging the Centre’s leadership to maximize its use for the enhancement of teaching and learning.

The consultants were received by the Deputy Centre Leader, Prof. F. O. Anafi, who led them on an inspection tour of the facility.

It would be recalled that the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Kabiru Bala, commissioned the building on Wednesday, February 5, 2025. During the commissioning, Centre Leader, Prof. Raymond Bako, disclosed that the World Bank had approved the Centre’s ability to generate revenue for its maintenance. He noted that meeting the bank’s requirements could attract additional funding.

The commissioning of the new building formed part of the verification exercise aimed at ensuring compliance with World Bank standards.