Dean, Faculty of Agriculture
The Faculty of Agriculture was among the four Faculties started at the inception of the University in 1962. The other three Faculties included Engineering, Law and Sciences. Faculty of Agriculture is situated west of the Main Campus at about 1km on Zaria - Sokoto Road. As a pioneer Faculty, we have promoted academic education and basic research concerning “food, health and the environment”, and have developed applied research to establish new industries in the fields of agriculture, bioscience and biotechnology.
At the Faculty of Agriculture, we offer traditional agriculture degree programs you would expect like, Bachelor of Agriculture (B. Agric.) with majors in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Agronomy, Animal Science, Crop Protection, Plant Science, and Soil Science, Agricultural Extension, Fisheries and aquaculture and Forestry and wildlife conservation. The Faculty of Agriculture has close relationship with the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), National Agricultural Extension Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC). The staff of the Institutes and Colleges are also involved in teaching and supervision of students in the Faculty. The facilities of these agencies coupled with that of our on-campus research centre serve as the hub for our teaching and research programs. These entities provide real world, hands-on experience for our students in addition to providing opportunities for graduate and undergraduate research. We believe that a quality tertiary education should also be a hands-on experience.
The unique feature of our graduates is that they fit a wider range of disciplines because of the multi-disciplinary nature of our academic programs at the Faculty. In addition to subject matter knowledge, our students obtain a balanced training in communication skills, biometrics, and life skills development (critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, leadership skills, and ethnic harmony) to meet the needs of the modern society. Our students have immense opportunities to get involved in social and welfare activities through various student societies as well as through events conducted by the Faculty. To assist our students during their course of studies at the Faculty, the Faculty also offers formal advisory and counselling programs, financial assistance for needy students and many other benefits.
Additionally, the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is blessed with outstanding alumni and industry partners. We live in the Faculty as one family, thus, creating a better environment for studying and learning. Owing to the unique training we offer our students, our graduates always dominate in the job market and do not find difficulty in finding employment; in fact, 80% of our graduates are either self-employed or gainfully employed everywhere in the country and abroad, almost in all the agricultural sector of the society.
Together with the staff of the Faculty, I extend an invitation to those interested in finding information about the Faculty to explore our website.
Professor Mukhtar Mahmud
Dean, Faculty of Agriculture
mmahmud@abu.edu.ng