Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria at its creation in 1962 inherited the Engineering program from the Nigeria College of Arts, Science, and Technology, Zaria. The program was re-organized to award degrees in Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering under the auspices of the University of London from 1962 to 1965. Thus, the Faculty of Engineering was born along sides the Departments of Electrical, Mechanical and Civil Engineering and they became fully autonomous in 1965.
For many years after its establishment, the Department of Electrical Engineering, like other Departments in the Faculty, offered a 3–year Bachelor of Engineering degree program. With the adoption of the Student Work Experience Program (SWEP) and the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), it became imperative for the programs to be changed to 4–year degree programs by the 1981/82 session. By the 1991/92 session, the University adopted the Semester System and now all the degree programs in the Faculty are 5–year bachelor degree (B.Eng) programs.
During the 2010/11 session, the National Universities Commission, after a Resource Assessment exercise approved the change of name of the Department from Electrical Engineering to Electrical Engineering. They subsequently approved the splitting of the Department into the Departments of:
i. Electrical Engineering
ii. Communications Engineering
iii. Electrical Engineering
Out of a desire to properly position the Department of Electrical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for the challenge of graduate studies in the 21st century with a view to giving our graduates a competitive edge, the Department undertook a comprehensive review of its postgraduate programs leading to the award of PGD, M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in various fields of Electrical Engineering.
Train high-level manpower for effective service delivery to cater for electrical engineering sectors for sustainable national development.
Produce high quality personnel to effectively manage electrical systems in harmony with the environment, and compete favorably with the best Electrical Engineering Department in the world.
At the first convocation ceremony of ABU in 1963, the founding father and mentor of the University, Sir Ahmadu Bello, enunciated the philosophy of ABU when he said:
“The first duty of every University is the search for and the spread of knowledge and the establishment of truths … But it must also serve the needs of the nation”
The philosophy of ABU is predicated upon the “cardinal principles of imparting knowledge and learning to men and women of all races without any distinction on the grounds of race, religious or political beliefs”
Thus, the philosophy of the Department is to “impart Electrical Engineering and Technology knowledge and skills at all levels to men and women of all races without any distinction on the grounds of race, religious or political beliefs in order to serve the needs of the nation and mankind in general” .