ATBU Trust and Investment Company LimitedThe Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi was established in 1980 as the Federal University of Technology, Bauchi, Nigeria.
At its inception the University inherited the site of the former Bauchi College of Arts and Sciences (BACAS) at Yelwa. A permanent site covering 4,500 hectares of land off Bauchi - Ningi road was later acquired for the institution where physical development has already commenced.
The institution's first set of students were admitted in October, 1981 for pre-degree and remedial programmes while the degree courses of the School of Science and Science Education began in October, 1982. October 1 st 1984, brought the merger of the University with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with a subsequent change of its name to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa College, Ahmadu Bello University, Bauchi Campus. The University regained its autonomous status in 1988 following a general de-merger of such institutions. This was followed by a subsequent change of its name to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. The new name was in honour of the late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the first Prime Minister of Nigeria.
The University comprises six schools (faculties) with 23 programmes (departments) as well as a postgraduate school. It has a student population of over 10,000 and a staff strength of over 1,200. The incumbent Vice - Chancellor of the University is Professor G. A. Babaji.
Twenty-five years after its existence, the University has come a long way in addressing some of the engineering, agricultural, scientific, environmental and technological challenges common to third world nations like Nigeria. It has over 10,000 students enrolled in various programmes of the institution. It has been ranked the fifth best University by National University Commission (NUC) . The engineering programme has been adjudged the best in Nigeria .
Our Mission
The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria is a relatively young University with a technologically based mission and its goals, aspirations and activities always reflect these. In this light, all the Programmes of the University do provide adequate practical experience in course, and industrial attachments which can take a variety of forms. As a guide towards fulfilling the aspirations of the founding fathers, the following are, amongst others, the goals and objectives of the University
To develop and offer academic and professional programmes leading to the award of diploma, first degrees and post-graduate degrees.
To act as agents and catalysts, through post-graduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilization, exploration and conservation of the country's economic and human resources
To offer to the general population, as a form of public service, the result of training and research and to foster the practical applications of these results;
To establish appropriate relationship with institutions involved in training, research and development technologies;
To identify technological problems and needs of the society and to find solutions to them within the concept of overall national development;
To induce in our students a sense of curiosity as well as an enquiring mind in order to encourage and develop in them creative thinking and research;
To generate in our students an awareness of the resources in their environment so as to enhance solutions to the challenges of our time for a match towards technological development and nation building;
To prepare the students for professional participation in related disciplines. It is intended therefore that graduates of the University will be able to adapt themselves to jobs which are problem/result oriented in a variety of areas. Graduates of the University are encouraged to seek to employ rather than being employed.
University Logo Interpretation
It has become a tradition for every institution of learning to posses a logo and a motto. In some cases, the origin of the logo is shrouded in history or feature of the area. In others,it is based on the culture. And yet,in other it is meant to depict aims and aspirations, hopes and goal envisioned. The logo of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University draws from at least two of these sources depicting a physical feature of its location whilst at the same time draws attention to its aim goals.
The interpretation of the logo could conveniently be left to the perception of individual beholders,but it is right to give the official one here. The logo embodies near the top of the shield, the nation's national colours emphasizing the Federal nature of the institution,the white portion of the colours being occupied by an open book, a common enough feature of educational institutions. The sun rays atop the national colours are meant to convey the notion that education is a source of light that banishes ignorance and superstition thereby elevating the mind to levels that can grapple with societal problems. Bauchi, the location of the University, is on the edge of the Bauchi - Plateau with gently undulating topography occasionally punctuated by outcrops of inselbergs either single or in group. The lower part of the logo is meant to depict these inselbergs or hills in relief. Then, finally there is a communication tower with antenna on top of the hill. The antenna conveys the technological vocation of the University as well as the notion that the University should be not only a repository of scientific and technological information but also a source of dissemination and acquisition of such information globally to be made available for ready application.
The University logo, as has been explained, incorporates something peculiar to the nature of the University's environment, the Federal source of the University's funding and above all its aspirations and goals. Its Latin motto DOCTRINA MATTER ARTIUM,which literally means "Education is the mother of the practical arts" is concise, apt and proverbial.