The Directorate of University Advancement started as the Planning and Resource Mobilization Unit (PRMU) alias Development Office as contained in the funding proposal submitted by the University to the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 2002.

As a result of several office and staff audit exercises conduct by personnel from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Europe, and facilitated by the MacArthur Foundation, a review and restructuring of the office was considered by the University Management. Consequent upon this, a position paper was prepared and presented to the University Council for the restructuring of the office. The restructuring entails harmonizing the Development office with the Alumni office into the Directorate of University Advancement. The Directorate headed by a Director consist of four units: Development, Alumni Relations, Communication, and Advancement Services. The Directorate functions as an integrated team with a common strategy and objective to build meaningful relationships with the key stakeholders.

The mission of the Directorate of University Advancement is to "facilitate the sustainable attainment of the primary goals of teaching, research and community service through building greater relationships with alumni and friends of Ahmadu Bello University, and establishing mutually beneficial relationships with donors and partner organizations".

"Ahmadu Bello University shall be a world-class university comparable to any other, engaged in imparting contemporary knowledge, using high quality facilities and multi-disciplinary approaches, to men and women of all races, as well as generating new ideas and intellectual practices relevant to the needs of its immediate community, Nigeria and the world at large."

1. To build an integrated alumni, development and communications function to advance the University's goals.

2. To develop comprehensive alumni database, establish relationships and cement others with alumni, stakeholders and friends of the University.

3. To source support and or partnership for the development priorities of the University.

2. To establish and manage fund raising apparatus in the University.