A Historic Achievement: Meet Lt. Col. Abubakar-Surajo Imam, Nigeria's First Army Professor

In an unprecedented move, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna State has announced the promotion of Lt. Col. Abubakar-Surajo Imam to the rank of a Professor of Mechatronics Engineering. This marks the first time a serving personnel has achieved the rank of professor in the history of the Nigerian Army.

A Well-Deserved Promotion

The promotion was announced by the Registrar of the Academy, Brig.-Gen. A.M. Tukur, in a statement on Friday in Kaduna. The promotion was ratified during the NDA Council Meeting in September and took effect from October 1, 2023. The council’s decision reflects their confidence in and recognition of Imam’s contributions to the Department of Mechatronics Engineering of the Academy.

Brig.-Gen. Tukur stated that the new professor has provided exemplary services and upheld the standard of excellence expected in his field. “This recognition not only honours Professor Imam but also highlights the commitment of the Nigerian Defence Academy to acknowledging and rewarding outstanding contributions within its academic community,” he added.

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A Distinguished Career

Imam, who hails from Kankia in Katsina State, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano State. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Mechatronics from Newcastle University, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in Mechatronics and Robotics from the same university.

Imam joined the Nigerian Army as a member of the Short Service Combatant Course 32 and was assigned to the Nigerian Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. He later converted to Regular Commission and served in numerous units including 1 Base Workshop, Technical Group EME, HQ Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, and DICON.

Contributions to Research and Development

Imam is an Examiner and Member, Central Selection Committee for Master and Ph.D. candidates being sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund. He is also a researcher with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Abuja, Command Engineering Depot, Buffalo Engineering Technology, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure.

He is also a researcher with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Wudil, Kano State. The new professor has attended over 40 international workshops and numerous seminars and presented papers at several conferences in the United Kingdom, Spain, Egypt and the United States of America.

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Leadership at the NDA

He currently doubles as Head, Department of Mechatronics Engineering and Director, Centre for Innovation and Creativity at the NDA. At the NDA, Imam has, through his Research and Development efforts, enormously contributed to enhancing the visibility of the Academy among Nigerian universities.

He spearheaded the founding of the NDA Department of Mechatronic Engineering and the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Creativity. The centre serves as a platform for the realisation of Nigeria’s Military Industrial Complex through the promotion of innovation and creativity in cutting-edge technologies related to novel military and civil hardware and software solutions, thereby reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign technical solutions.

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Published Works

His published books cover Mechatronics; PIC Microcontrollers; Embedded Systems Design; Sensors and Actuators for Embedded Systems; Coding, Robotics and Drone technology for Kids; and Field Manuals for Drone Technology, among others.

In conclusion, the promotion of Lt. Col. Abubakar-Surajo Imam to the rank of a Professor of Mechatronics Engineering is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and significant contributions to the field. It also underscores the Nigerian Defence Academy’s commitment to acknowledging and rewarding outstanding contributions within its academic community.