University of Maiduguri’s Prof. Fanna Inna Abdurahman Sets Record as First Female Kanuri Professor

Professor Fanna Inna Abdurahman has made history as the first female Kanuri Professor, a significant milestone in the academic community. She is also the first female Kanuri to serve as Head of Department, Sub Dean, and Dean of a Faculty at the University of Maiduguri.

Her educational journey began at Yerwa Central Primary School in Maiduguri, after which she attended Federal Government College, Owerri, where she earned her West African School Certificate in 1980. In 1987, she graduated with a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Maiduguri and later obtained a Master’s degree in Organic Chemistry in 1992.

Professor Fanna’s academic career flourished, culminating in her appointment as a Professor in 2011. Over the years, she has published more than 120 papers in local, national, and international peer-reviewed journals, along with a monograph and four conference papers in organic/medical chemistry and environmental analytical toxicology.

Her numerous academic and administrative roles at the University of Maiduguri include serving as Head of the Department of Chemistry and contributing to various research and academic boards. She is a Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria and also serves as a member of the steering committee of Borno State University.

Professor Fanna is currently the Director of the Center for Research and Innovation at the University of Maiduguri, solidifying her reputation as a woman of many firsts and a trailblazer in her field.