Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Surajo Imam Makes History as Nigeria First Army Professor

Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Surajo Imam, a distinguished scholar and military officer from Katsina State, has etched his name in history as the first Nigerian Army personnel to attain the rank of Professor.

Born on June 22, 1976, in Kankia, Katsina State, Professor Imam has combined his passion for engineering with years of dedicated military service, becoming a role model for young Nigerians who aspire to merge academic excellence with service to the nation.

Professor Imam's educational journey began at Sultan Bello Primary School Kaduna and Government College Katsina. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University Kano (2001), a Master's degree in Mechatronics from Newcastle University, UK (2009), and a PhD in Mechatronics and Robotics from the same university (2014).

As a member of Short Service Combatant Course 32, Professor Imam was granted commission into the Nigerian Army and assigned to the Nigerian Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. He later converted to Regular Commission and has served in various units, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, where he currently serves as Head of the Department of Mechatronics Engineering and Director of the Centre for Innovation and Creativity (CINOCRE).

Professor Imam has made significant contributions to the field of Mechatronics and Robotics, developing innovative solutions for both military and civilian applications. Some of his notable contributions.

Professor Imam's work on ventilators won the JAIZ Bank First Prize Fight Back Challenge COVID-19. He has also attended over 40 international workshops and presented papers at conferences in the UK, Spain, Egypt, and the US.

Professor Imam is affiliated with several institutions, including the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, and Newcastle University. He has authored six books, including "Mechatronics for Beginners: 21 Projects for PIC Microcontrollers" and "Coding, Robotics and Drone Technology for Kids".

Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Surajo Imam's achievement is a testament to his dedication to academic excellence and military service. His contributions to Mechatronics and Robotics have far-reaching implications for Nigeria's military and civilian sectors. As a trailblazer, Professor Imam inspires young Nigerians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).