The Kaduna State University was established under the Kaduna State law promulgated in May 2004. The promulgation followed the observed need of boosting higher education in both the northern and the southern parts of the state. Consequently, two campuses were approved, one in Kaduna and the other in Kafanchan. The Kaduna campus took off first, running basic degree programmes. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, the then Executive Governor of Kaduna State and Visitor to the University, appointed Prof. Idris Abdulkadir to be the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council while Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Aminu S. Mikailu, took over from Prof. Sambo as Vice-Chancellor of the University when the latter was appointed by the Federal Government to head the Nigerian Energy Commission.