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The Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has launched a new student-focused initiative known as Students’ Support Associates (SSA), aimed at improving peer mentorship and reducing academic pressure across its campuses.
The programme was unveiled by the Counseling and Human Development Centre of the institution during a ceremony held at Yusufu Bala Usman Hall, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria, on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed, described the initiative as a reflection of the centre’s competence, professionalism and commitment to student welfare. He said the introduction of SSA would significantly improve students’ academic experience by encouraging peer-driven support systems.
According to him, 108 Students’ Support Associates have been selected from 18 faculties to guide and mentor fellow students, particularly those adjusting to university life. He noted that the initiative would help younger students cope better with academic demands and campus life.
The Vice-Chancellor also used the opportunity to highlight ongoing infrastructure efforts, revealing that Family Homes had pledged to support the university with the construction of a 1,600-bed space hostel to ease accommodation challenges.
He further disclosed that the institution would, within the next three months, host the second cohort of the ‘Lunch with the Vice-Chancellor’ programme, designed to provide a platform for direct engagement between students and university leadership.
Prof Ahmed expressed appreciation to the President of the ABU Alumni Association Worldwide, Malam Adamu Mamman Kontagora, for his consistent support towards university programmes and activities.
He, however, charged the newly appointed SSAs to uphold integrity and ensure zero tolerance for examination malpractice, warning that the university management finds it distressing to approve student withdrawals close to graduation due to academic misconduct.
In her remarks, the Director of the centre, Prof Hadiza Ahmed Tukur, explained that the SSA initiative was built on a vision of fostering a supportive academic environment where students assist one another and mentorship becomes a shared culture.
She noted that while university structures provide formal guidance, peer support offers a unique advantage, as students often relate better to colleagues who have experienced similar academic and social challenges.
Prof Tukur added that the programme seeks to address issues such as academic pressure, social adjustment and personal uncertainty commonly faced by new students.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director of the centre, Dr Haruna Muhammad, described the initiative as timely and strategic, emphasising its role in strengthening student wellbeing and promoting a culture of shared responsibility.
He said the SSA programme aligns with the administration’s broader commitment to enhancing student services, encouraging innovation in learning support and positioning the university as globally competitive.
In a goodwill message, the Dean of the Students Affairs Division, Prof Sahalu Junaidu, said the initiative represents a collective commitment to student welfare, mentorship and leadership development.
He added that empowering students to support one another would help build a stronger and more responsible university community.
Similarly, the Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Prof Maryam Aminu, commended the organisers and urged the SSAs to demonstrate integrity, fairness and genuine concern in their roles.
Kontagora, in his remarks, said the alumni association had continued to collaborate with the university through a structured framework aimed at transforming alumni into active contributors to student development and institutional growth. He revealed that a six-pillar framework had been developed to strengthen alumni-student engagement.
The event attracted the attendance of deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty career coaches, orientation officers and students, marking what stakeholders described as a significant step towards strengthening peer support and improving student experience within the university.
