What Research Resources and Support Does ABU Provide?

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, supports research through three main channels: the Directorate of Research and Innovation (DRI), a network of 16 research institutes and 13 research centres, and sponsored research funding. The DRI is the entry point for researchers seeking grants, patents, conference support, and access to the university's research repository. These resources are relevant to ABU staff, postgraduate students, and external collaborators looking for institutional research partners.

The Directorate of Research and Innovation (DRI)

The DRI is ABU's central office for research administration and innovation support. According to the university's website, its scope covers:

• Research grants — support and administration for funded research projects
• Patents — handling of intellectual property arising from research
• AAMs — the university lists this category alongside grants and patents; confirm its exact meaning and scope with the DRI directly
• Conference presentations — support for researchers presenting at conferences
• A research repository — a dedicated page where research outputs are stored and can be visited

The DRI also maintains a separate page for the Equipment Maintenance and Development Centre, which publishes a 2025 Training Calendar. Researchers who need equipment support or training should check that page.

How to use the DRI

1. Go to abu.edu.ng and locate the Directorate of Research and Innovation link (it appears under the Research section of the homepage).
2. Visit the Repository to browse existing research outputs or check what the repository accepts.
3. For grants, patents, or conference support, use the DRI contact route on its page to ask about current application windows and requirements — the homepage does not publish deadlines or eligibility rules.
4. Check the Equipment Maintenance and Development Centre page for the 2025 training calendar if your work depends on shared equipment.

Expected result: you will know which DRI service matches your need and who to contact. Common sticking point: the homepage lists DRI services but not application forms or deadlines, so direct contact is necessary before planning a submission.

Research Institutes and Centres

ABU describes its research base as 16 research institutes and 13 research centres. The website provides index pages ("Visit 16 Research Institutes" and "Visit 13 Research Centers") that list the individual units. The homepage does not name each institute or centre, so use those index pages to identify the unit relevant to your field — for example, a specific institute for agricultural or medical research — before making an approach.

These units are distinct from the faculties, centres, institutes, schools and colleges listed under Academics. If you are unsure whether a unit is a research institute or a teaching faculty, check both index pages.

Research Funding

The university states a ₦10.5 billion sponsored research budget. The homepage does not break this down by source, discipline, or year, and does not describe how individual researchers can access it. Treat the figure as an indicator of scale rather than a grant you can apply for; ask the DRI about current funding lines and internal calls.

Conferences and Journals

ABU hosts and links to research conferences and journals:

• A Call for Papers for the 5th International Conference at the Ahmadu Bello University Library Complex is posted in the campus news section.
• The website provides links to Research Journals and Conferences under its Research menu.

These are the practical routes for presenting work or publishing through the university. Conference calls appear as news items, so check the Campus News and Updates section periodically rather than expecting a single fixed deadline page.

Quick Reference

What the Website Does Not Tell You

The homepage does not publish grant deadlines, patent filing procedures, eligibility rules for the research budget, or the names of the individual institutes and centres. For any of these, the DRI and the institute/centre index pages are the next step. Researchers planning a submission should confirm requirements directly rather than relying on the homepage summary.