UNILORIN Lecturer Zainab Yaqub Earns PhD in Chemical Engineering from University of Johannesburg

Zainab Yaqub, a lecturer at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has achieved a significant academic milestone by earning a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. The prestigious degree was conferred upon her at the university’s convocation ceremony on July 29, 2024.

Yaqub's research focused on the chemical looping combustion of waste paper and sugarcane bagasse with ilmenite as the oxygen carrier. Supervised by Professor Bilainu Oborien and co-supervised by Professor Henrik Leion from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, her work offers innovative insights into energy recovery from waste sources while ensuring carbon capture and sustainable waste management.

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“Her work not only contributes to the field of chemical engineering but also offers new insights into the utilisation of waste materials for energy production while ensuring sustainable waste management and mitigating environmental hazards,” said Professor Oborien, commending her original contributions to the field. The research has been recognized with three journal articles published in high-impact journals.

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Reflecting on her achievement, Yaqub expressed profound gratitude to her supervisors and loved ones, dedicating her success to her late father, Professor Yaqub Muhammad, who she described as her biggest supporter. “Completing this PhD has been a challenging yet rewarding journey for me. I thank Allah for this success and dedicate my PhD degree to my late father. I am eager to contribute my knowledge and experience to the academic community at UNILORIN,” she said.

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Yaqub, who obtained her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Lagos in 2016, proceeded to the University of Johannesburg, where she earned her Master's degree in 2019 and her PhD in 2024. She joined UNILORIN as a lecturer in December 2023 and also serves as the Executive Director of the Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (MAFYEDI), a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting quality education for marginalized communities and empowering youth for sustainable development.