Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), is a federal university of technology located in Bauchi, northern Nigeria. The university is named after the first Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The motto of the university is DOCTRINA MATER ARTIUM, which literally means "Education is the mother of the practical arts". The university is known for having one of the best Engineering programme in Nigeria. The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University was established in 1980 as Federal University of Technology, Bauchi, Nigeria. The institution's first set of students were admitted in October 1981 for pre-degree and remedial programmes while the degree courses of the School of Science and Science Education began in October 1982. On 1 October 1984, the University was merged with Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria with a subsequent change of its name to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa College, Ahmadu Bello University, Bauchi Campus. The University regained its autonomous status in 1988 following a general demerger of such institutions. This was followed by a subsequent change of its name to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.