From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria is set to welcome the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, GCON, as the keynote speaker for the Pre-Convocation Lecture of the university’s 45th Convocation Ceremony.
The lecture is scheduled for Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Abdullahi Mahadi Conference Centre on the ABU Main Campus in Samaru, Zaria.
The event will be chaired by Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR. The session marks a historic moment for the institution.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, a former Finance Minister of Nigeria (2003-2006 and 2011-2015) and briefly Acting Foreign Minister in 2006, is notable for being the first woman to hold both portfolios.
During her first term as Finance Minister, she led negotiations with the Paris Club, resulting in the cancellation of $18 billion and the overall reduction of Nigeria’s external debt by $30 billion.
The Pre-Convocation Lecture is part of the 45th Convocation Ceremony, which will take place the following day, Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Mamman Kontagora Square on the same campus. The Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, announced that preparations for both the lecture and the convocation are well underway to ensure a successful event.
The Chancellor of the university, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, CFR, the Obi of Onitsha, is expected to attend the lecture, along with His Highness Malam Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, the Emir of Zazzau.
The event will also feature visiting vice-chancellors from public and private universities, as well as prominent figures, including industry leaders, seasoned bankers, and technocrats.
In the official invitation, Prof. Adamu Ahmed extended a warm welcome on behalf of the Chancellor, Council, Senate, staff, and students to the general public, encouraging everyone to attend both the Pre-Convocation Lecture and the Convocation Ceremony. The invitation highlighted the university’s commitment to fostering dialogue on global trade and development, with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s insights anticipated to inspire both students and scholars.
The press statement, issued on Monday, December 15, 2025, was signed by Auwalu Umar, Director of the Public Affairs Directorate in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. In the statement, Umar highlighted the significance of the occasion and reaffirmed the university’s dedication to academic excellence and public engagement.
Both events are anticipated to attract national and international attention, further underscoring ABU’s role as a leading center of higher education in Africa and providing a platform for discussions on Nigeria’s economic future and its participation in the global trade arena.
