ABU Engineering Faculty holds international conference on sustainable innovation
The Faculty of Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, has organised an international conference on sustainable innovation and development.
The conference, ‘Innovating Tomorrow: Harnessing Engineering to Drive Nigeria’s Growth for Sustainable Development’, took place at Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, ABU, Zaria today (Tuesday, 8th September, 2026).
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, commended the Dean of Engineering and faculty members for organising a platform that draws scholars, policymakers and industry practitioners to examine practical value for engineering research.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof Bello Sabo, the Vice-Chancellor said the conference theme spoke directly to the moment “we find ourselves as a nation”.
He emphasised that “Nigeria’s ambitions for economic diversification, reliable power, functional infrastructure and industrial growth all rest on the quality of engineering thought and practice”.
Ahmed said “the university expects that the papers presented, debates provoked and recommendations generated should not end with the closing session”,
He called on the faculty to document the outcomes into policy briefs that the university can place before government and industry.
Prof Ahmed appreciated the keynote speaker, Prof Idris Muhammad Bugaje, the Chairman of the Occasion, Prof Abubakar Sani Sambo and the discussant Dr Amina Danmadami.
The contributions, he said, would help sharpen the understanding of where technical education must go to serve Nigeria’s development agenda.
Chairman of the Occasion, Prof Sani Sambo, who is the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, was comfortable with the conference theme, saying it sought to solve not just immediate problems but also the future.
Represented by Prof Bashir Ali Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Kaduna State University, called on participants to make their ideas known and conduct purposeful research that would make them experts in their fields.
He challenged all to strive to make Nigeria not just an importer but self sufficient and exporter of skills for the country’s infrastructure development.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Dean of Engineering, Prof J.M Kaura, said “as one of the foremost Engineering Faculties in Nigeria we recognize our responsibility to produce competent engineers and generate knowledge capable of addressing national and global development needs”
The Dean said “the conference provides a platform for sharing research findings, exchanging professional knowledge, showcasing emerging technologies and building productive collaborations”.
Prof Kaura said “it is expected that the discussions and technical presentations during the conference will go beyond academic excercise and lead to implementable solutions, meaningful partnerships and sound policies that will contribute to Nigeria’s industrial and socioeconomic advancement.”
……………………………………..
Public Affairs Directorate,
Office of the Vice-Chancellor,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (NEWS/SGB/PIC/TKU)
Tuesday, 8th September, 2026
