Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and the University of Glasgow (UoG), Scotland, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen research collaboration and promote academic exchange between both institutions.
The agreement was formalised on April 29, 2026, at the University of Glasgow, one of the United Kingdom’s oldest universities, with a history spanning over five centuries.
The MoU outlines key areas of cooperation, including exchange of research staff and students, joint research projects, and collaborative grant applications. It also covers the organisation of lectures and symposia, as well as the exchange of research materials and information.
Under the arrangement, ABU is represented by its Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB), while the University of Glasgow is acting through its College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences.
ABU Vice-Chancellor, Adamu Ahmed, signed the agreement on behalf of the institution, while Rachel Sandison, Vice Principal (External Relations) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement), signed for the University of Glasgow.
Witnesses to the signing included Andy Waters, College International Dean at Glasgow, and Yakubu Ibrahim, Centre Leader of ACENTDFB.
According to the terms of the agreement, the MoU will run for an initial period of five years and may be amended by mutual written consent. It is, however, not legally binding, with both parties expected to implement collaborative activities in line with their respective national laws and institutional regulations.
The partnership is expected to expand over time, following a series of engagements and academic discussions that preceded the signing.
Harry De-Koning, a professor of parasite biochemistry and pharmacology at Glasgow, played a key role in facilitating the agreement.
Also present at the signing was the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Shuaibu Aliyu Shehu, who pledged to leverage the partnership to strengthen institutional ties between PTDF and the University of Glasgow.
The delegation further included Abdullahi Musa Bello, Chairman of AMA-MED Manufacturing Ltd, who expressed interest in supporting the collaboration, as well as senior ABU officials such as M I Umar-Buratai and Emmanuel Balogun.
The MoU signals a strategic effort by both institutions to deepen international academic partnerships and enhance research capacity through global collaboration.
