Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Surajo Imam Makes History as Nigerian Army’s First Serving Full Professor

Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Surajo Imam has achieved a pioneering milestone, becoming the first serving personnel in the history of the Nigerian Army to attain the rank of a full Professor. 

Specializing in Mechatronics Engineering, Professor Surajo leads the Mechatronics Department and the Centre for Innovation & Creativity at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna. His career uniquely blends dedicated military service with high-level academic and research excellence. 

A Career Defined by Innovation and Education

Born on June 22, 1976, in Kankia, Katsina State, Professor Surajo’s academic journey is distinguished: 

He earned his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano (2001).

He later completed both his M.Sc. (2009) and PhD (2014) in Mechatronics & Robotics from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. 

He joined the Nigerian Army via the Short Service Combatant Course 32, assigned to the Corps of Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (EME), before converting to a Regular Commission. He served in various EME units, including 1 Base Workshop and HQ EME Corps

. The elevation to Professor, effective October 2022, formalized his significant impact on military education and technological development. At the NDA, he spearheads innovation initiatives and conducts crucial research in collaboration with institutions like the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU). 

Professor Surajo has developed and deployed several technological solutions for both military and civilian applications, integrating mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering principles to advance the Nigerian Army's capabilities.