ABU says ‘ASUU Heroes Award’ for Mahmud Yayale Ahmed well-earned
The Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof Adamu Ahmed, has described the ‘Heroes Award’ conferred on the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of ABU Governing Council, Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, CFR by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as well-earned.
Yayale Ahmed received the ‘ASUU Heroes Award’ along with six other distinguished Nigerians at a ceremony organised by the union in Abuja on Thursday, 12th November, 2026.
Yayale, a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, was honoured for his contributions to the union’s struggles and the development of the Nigeria’s university system.
The union instituted the Heroes’ Day in memory of its former President, Prof Festus Iyayi, who died on 12th November, 2013, while traveling to Kano on ASUU strike.
Felicitating with Mahmud Yayale Ahmed on the award earned, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, described the recognition as well-deserved.
“It is with immense pride, profound joy, and deep gratitude to Almighty Allah that I write on behalf of the Governing Council, Senate, Management, staff, students, and the entire Ahmadu Bello University community to extend our warmest congratulations to you on your well-deserved conferment with the ASUU Heroes Award”, he said.
He said the recognition stood as a glowing testament to his unwavering dedication to academic excellence, good governance, and the progressive development of the Nigerian university system.
“In particular, we celebrate your exceptional statesmanship and tireless mediatory wisdom in successfully brokering the current harmonious peace between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government”, he stressed.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the singular effort safeguarded academic stability and restoring enduring confidence to the tertiary education sector.
Prof Ahmed also said beyond this historic milestone, Yayale Ahmed’s forward-looking guidance as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council continued to steer ABU towards greater heights.
According to him, the university was immensely proud to have a statesman of his calibre guiding the great institution.
The Vice-Chancellor finally prayed that Almighty Allah would continue to bless Yayale Ahmed with good health, divine wisdom and renewed strength to keep serving humanity and the nation.
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Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria (NEWS/NAM)
Friday, 13th November, 2026
