Encomiums as ABU’s Prof Musa Balarabe retires after serving for 44 years
A distinguished scholar of international repute at the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Musa Balarabe, was today honoured as he retired after serving the university for 44 years.
Zaria Psychological Society, in collaboration with the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling organised a conference and a book launch in appreciation for his selfless service to the department in particular and the university in general.
Themed ‘Educational Psychology and Artificial Intelligence’, the conference and the book launch took place at the Postgraduate College Auditorium today – Monday, 6th October, 2025.
Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, described Prof Musa Balarabe as a scholar of international repute, who had produced over 60 PhD graduates.
Prof Ahmed was ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo.
Given Prof Balarabe’s track record, according to the Vice-Chancellor, the celebrant deserved more recognition than he got.
Prof Ahmed urged all the Ph.D graduates that passed through Prof Balarabe not to let him down in terms of scholarship and good attributes.
According to him, the celebrant was the first Professor of Psychology in Ahmadu Bello University, who nurtured the department into what it had become today.
The Vice-Chancellor further said Prof Balarabe was being respected as a resource person and consultant to various national and international bodies.
He congratulated and thanked Prof Balarabe immensely for the meritorious service and wished him a happy retirement.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the Dean, Faculty of Education, Prof Abdullahi Dalhatu, said Prof Balarabe made an indelible mark on so many scholars in the faculty and beyond.
Prof Dalhatu, who was represented by Prof A. Dada, appreciated the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling and Zaria Psychological Society for organising the event in honor of him.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Occasion, Alhaji Munnir Jafaru, congratulated the celebrant and wished him success in all his future endeavors.
Alhaji Jafaru, who is also the Madakin Zazzau, thanked all invited guests for honoring the invitation.
In his remarks, the Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dr Abbas Tajuddeen, stated that any country taking its educational policies with undeserving attention would be heading to extinction.
Represented by the Director General, National Water Institute, Kaduna, Dr AbdulJalal Danbaba, the Speaker rejoiced with the celebrant for serving humanity diligently and wished him a happy retirement.
On her part, the former Provost, Federal College of Education, Zuba, Abuja, Prof Umma Abdulwahid, described Prof Balarabe as a repositioned and focused scholar, full of promise.
Prof Umma described the celebrant as an intellectual, committed academic, pathfinder and leading light to many young scholars, who came to the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, yearning for knowledge.
Prof Umma, also former Dean of Education, Sule Lamido University, Kafin-Hausa, Jigawa State, congratulated Prof Balarabe for conquering the task and raising the standards of education.
For the Head, Department of Educational Foundation, Gombe State University, Dr Habiba Isah, Prof Balarabe was a living legend, that represented a generation of touring academic scholarship.
Dr Habiba said they had the rare mentorship of Prof Balarabe, who provided them with intellectual guidance that led to the inception of Postgraduate Diploma in Education, in Gombe State University.
She expressed gratitude to Prof Balarabe, saying that some of his products were now Vice-Chancellors and Professors.
Highlighting the challenges posed by the vacuum of retiring Professors in the Faculty of Education, the Assistant Dean Undergraduate, Dr G L Likko, stressed that the retirement of Professors in the Faculty created a significant vacuum.
Such development, according to him, posed several challenges for the departments, and students.
He explained that young faculty members were often forced to immediately take on heavier teaching and administrative loads.
The assistant dean also said to immediately bridge the experience gap, a key strategy was to offer contract appointments to some distinguished retired professors.
Dr Likko congratulated Prof Balarabe and thanked him for all the services he rendered to the department, faculty and the University at large.
In his response, the celebrant, Prof Musa Balarabe expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for a successful working career.
Prof Balarabe appreciated Ahmadu Bello University for the opportunity given to him to serve from an Assistant Lecturer in 1981 to the peak of his career.
He thanked Madakin Zazzau, former Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice Isiaku Bello, and all his teachers home and abroad, who had impacted on him in one way or another.
In a vote of thanks, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Prof Yunusa Umaru, appreciated all invited guests for honouring the invitation.
At the event, awards were presented to many distinguished personalities, including the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed.
The event was attended by different academics from different institutions across the country.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (AHW)
Monday, 6th October, 2025
