Department Of Electrical Engineering

Founded: 1962
E-mail address: mbmuazu@abu.edu.ng

Brief History

Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria at its creation in 1962 inherited the Engineering program from the Nigeria College of Arts, Science, and Technology, Zaria. The program was re-organized to award degrees in Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering under the auspices of the University of London from 1962 to 1965. Thus, the Faculty of Engineering was born along sides the Departments of Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering and they became fully autonomous in 1965.

For many years after its establishment, the Department of Electrical Engineering, like other Departments in the Faculty, offered a 3–year Bachelor of Engineering degree program. With the adoption of the Student Work Experience Program (SWEP) and the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), it became imperative for the programs to be changed to 4–year degree programs by the 1981/82 session. By the 1991/92 session, the University adopted the Semester System and now all the degree programs in the Faculty are 5–year bachelor degree programs.

During the 2010/11 session, the National Universities Commission, after a Resource Assessment exercise approved the change of name of the Department from Electrical Engineering to Electrical and Computer Engineering. They subsequently approved the splitting of the Department into the Departments of:
i) Electrical Engineering
ii) Communications Engineering
iii) Computer Engineering

Post-graduate studies in the Department of Electrical Engineering started in the late 1960s, with the first set graduating in 1968. Since then, the programme has regularly been reviewed and restructured to meet the needs of the nation and at the same time to conform to changes in the Electrical Engineering profession. At present, the department offers post-graduate programme leading to the award of PGD, M.Sc. and Ph.D degrees in various fields of Electrical Engineering.

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Philosophy

At the first convocation ceremony of ABU in 1963, the founding father and mentor of the University, Sir Ahmadu Bello, enunciated the philosophy of ABU when he said:
“The first duty of every University is the search for and the spread of knowledge and the establishment of truths …But it must also serve the needs of the nation”

The philosophy of ABU is predicated upon the “cardinal principles of imparting knowledge and learning to men and women of all races without any distinction on the grounds of race, religious or political beliefs”

Thus, the philosophy of the Department is to “impart Electrical Engineering and Technology knowledge and skills at all levels to men and women of all races without any distinction on the grounds of race, religious or political beliefs in order to serve the needs of the nation and mankind in general”

Hence, the objectives of the Department in line with the objectives of the University as articulated in Article 4 of its 1962 and 1975 Laws are:
• To provide regular and updated programs and courses in all the fields of Electrical Engineering of a standard required and expected of a Department and University of the highest standing.
• To educate and equip students with the technical knowledge, skills and competencies to analyze, design, develop, test and produce Electrical Engineering products and services for the benefit of humanity.
• To promote research and the advancement of all fields of Electrical Engineering.
• To secure the diffusion of Electrical Engineering knowledge throughout Nigeria and the world at large.

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