What have you personally done to support education in Nigeria?
I am passionate about education, and my most significant investment has been the American University of Nigeria in Yola, which I set up with the help and cooperation of American University in Washington, DC. In just thirteen years, it has grown from empty fields into an institution of 1,500 students with faculty from 40 countries, recognised as Africa's first "Development University." It also won an award from the American Library Association for its e-library, and it is the only American-style university south of the Sahara. I also established a Professorial Chair at Oxford University to promote scholarship in African History.
Where this comes from
p. 1 PhD Honoris Causa, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun Atiku Abubakar: Official biography 2026-10-02 ›
Atiku Abubakar is particularly passionate about education. He established a Professorial Chair at the Oxford University, U.K, to promote scholarship in African History. His most significant investment in education has been the American University of Nigeria in the northeast Nigeria town of Yola. With the help and cooperation of American University in Washington, DC, the American University of Nigeria in Yola was set up. The AUN has arisen in only thirteeen years from the empty fields of rural Nigeria to become an institution of 1500 students with a faculty from 40 countries, a focus on sustainable development as Africa's first "Development University," and most recently the winner of an award from the American Library Association for its pioneering work in the development of one of the world's most sophisticated e-libraries. It is the only American-style University south of the Sahara and is already recognized as one of the leading universities of West Africa.