ABU secures GFGP Gold Tier Certification to enhance grants management

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has earned gold-tier certification under the Good Financial Grant Practice (GFGP) standard, a recognition that strengthens the institution’s financial governance and enhances its competitiveness for global research grants.

The GFGP, developed by the African Academy of Sciences, is a globally recognized benchmark for transparency, accountability, and grant management capacity. The gold tier represents the second-highest level of certification, reflecting excellence in financial and grant management.

With this achievement, ABU becomes the first public university in Nigeria and one of only two universities in the country to attain the certification.

Announcing the milestone while submitting the committee’s report to the university management, Chairperson of the Self-Assessment Committee, Prof. Joy Joshua Maina, described the recognition as a “significant step in ABU’s journey toward excellence in grant management.”

Prof. Maina, who is also the Director of Research and Innovation, noted that the certification affirms ABU’s institutional integrity while creating new opportunities for international collaborations, sustainable funding, and research innovation. She urged the university to target the platinum-tier certification by 2027, when the current status expires.

She explained that the committee adopted a rigorous process, including gap analysis, evidence documentation, process improvements, external auditing by KPMG Kenya, and verification submissions. The process ran from November 2023 to August 2025.

Prof. Maina highlighted the benefits of the certification to include:

• Increased competitiveness for grants

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• Reduced institutional risks

• Improved operational efficiency

• Enhanced global visibility and credibility

The committee, which made 13 recommendations, comprised experts drawn from various units of the university, including the Teaching Hospital, Bursary, Registry, Procurement Unit, and Physical Planning.

Receiving the report, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adamu Ahmed praised the committee for its dedication and successful outcome. The three Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Ahmed Doko Ibrahim, Prof. Raymond B. Bako, and Prof. Sanusi Aliyu Rafindadi—also commended the team, expressing confidence that the certification will further entrench accountability and transparency in the institution’s grant management system.