Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria was formally opened for academic activities on the 4th October, 1962. At take-off, the University started modestly with only four Faculties, fifteen Departments and four hundred and twenty six students. Since then, the University has been developing its capacity in both teaching and research by expanding and redefining its programmes and upgrading its infrastructure in tandem with the national and international markets demands. It runs conventional courses in humanities, sciences, agriculture, medicine, engineering and management studies. The University has been rendering research and developmental services that transcend state and international boundaries.

Presently, it has about 50,000 students (undergraduate, post-graduate and sub-degree) in 12 Faculties, 95 Academic Departments, 12 Research Institutes and Centres, one Veterinary Teaching Hospital.The University Centres and Institutes have Outreach Stations located in almost every part of Nigeria. Today, the University has blossomed into the largest University south of the Sahara in terms of physical facilities and student enrolment.

Ahmadu Bello University is the most cosmopolitan tertiary institution in Nigeria both in terms of staff and student profiles. Every Local Government Area of Nigeria has student(s) in the University and similarly, all States of the Federation had a representative in the staff profile of the University. It is putatively the only truly federal University in the country. It has thus, carved a niche for itself as the country's symbol of national unity and integration.

However, it is pertinent to mention that the first University graduate in the history of Nigeria to serve as President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua,GCFR of blessed memory studied at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

In consonance with world best practices, the University has established institutional linkages, exchanges, collaborative researches and mutual staff training agreements with some other local and international Institutions. It has also mentored the formation of new Institutions through affiliations and staff exchange programme, some of which are Bayero University Kano, AbubakarTafawaBalewa University Bauchi, Kaduna State University, Umaru Musa Yaradua University Katsina and Gombe State University, and a number of Colleges of Education.

Ahmadu Bello University would be Fifty years by Thursday 4th October, 2012. It has been a journey full of staff dedication, commitment and sacrifice. The foregoing narrative of ABU attainments is undoubtedly, a no mean feat. This, though, is not to say that the journey has been without storms. It took the leaders, staff and students of the University a great deal of patience, perseverance, prudence and sacrifice to contrive to spin out the meager finances to record such impressive achievements. The celebration of Ahmadu Bello University at 50 therefore, ought to be an occasion not only for celebration, but also for stocktaking and sober reflection of the journey so far. It calls for an assessment of the University's strengths and weaknesses with a view to consolidating the strength and marshaling and transforming the weaknesses into core competences and opportunities. It is also an occasion to encourage staff to rededicate themselves towards the realization of vision 1:10:100 of the University.

Having kept faith with the dreams, vision and mission of its founding Fathers, ABU will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary worthy of its status from Saturday 20th October, 2012. We certainly cannot and will not do it alone. Your assistance is needed to mark this momentous occasion. On this note, we are soliciting for your contribution either in cash or kind. The line-up of activities for the celebration and its attendant budget is as shown below:

If you wish to contribute by sponsoring any of the activities indicated above or contribute towards defraying the costs of thecomponentactivities, you may do so by paying directly into the Bank Account dedicated for this purpose whose details are given hereunder:

Thank you in anticipation of your generous contribution and in identifying with the University in celebrating the milestone.