Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a federal government research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria, opened in 1962 as the University of Northern Nigeria. It was founded by and is now named for Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria.

Zaria is a metropolitan city in Nigeria which lies within four local government areas in Kaduna State; it is the capital city to the Zazzau Emirate Council, and one of the original seven Hausa city-states and a major city in the state. The local government areas that made up of the city of Zaria includes: Zaria Local Government, Sabon Gari Local Government, Giwa Local Government and Soba Local Government areas in Kaduna state, Nigeria.