ATBU graduates reject Lawmaker’s plan to alter University’s specialised status

The alumni association of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, has rejected a move by the House of Representatives to reclassify the institution as a conventional university, warning that the proposal could undermine its core mandate as a technology-focused institution.

The association made its position known in a statement on Wednesday, expressing concerns that altering ATBU’s specialised status would dilute its long established identity and weaken its role in advancing science, technology, and engineering education in Nigeria.

According to the alumni body, ATBU was founded to drive technological innovation and produce high level manpower in engineering and applied sciences ,objectives it argues are critical to Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth. Reclassifying the university, the group noted, could divert resources and attention away from technical programmes that are essential to national development.

The association urged lawmakers to prioritise strengthening existing facilities, improving funding, and expanding research capabilities rather than altering the institution’s structure. It also appealed to stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC), to intervene and preserve ATBU’s specialised mandate.

The House of Representatives is currently considering the reclassification proposal as part of a broader review of federal tertiary institutions. However, the ATBU alumni insist that any change must not compromise the university’s founding vision or its contributions to technological advancement in the country.