Prof Hajara Ibrahim: First Female Professor ‘pharmacist’ In Northern Nigeria.

Professor Hajara Ibrahim is an academic, renowned Pharmacist, distinguished Abusite, and respected Professor of Pharmacognosy at the Department of Pharmacognosy & Drug Development of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Prof Hajara Ibrahim who was born on 15th August 1962 started her educational pursuit way back in January 1969 at L.E.A., Babban Dodo, Zaria from where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate with an excellent result in 1974.

She was admitted into the famous Queen Amina College, Kaduna where she completed her secondary education in 1979 with an excellent West African Examination Council (WASC) result. She immediately took the Interim Joint Matriculation Board examination at the School for Basic Studies (SBS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and passed.

She was admitted into the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1982 to Study for a Bachelor in Pharmacy and graduated in 1985. The Young brilliant Hajara proceeded to enroll for a Master of Science degree in Pharmacognosy at the same Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1987 and graduated in 1990.

After her MSc and in the quest for more knowledge, she proceeded to enroll for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the rare field of Pharmacognosy as she was desirous of developing original drugs for use, not only in Nigeria or Africa but for the whole world. She started her PhD programme in 1994 and completed it in record time by 1998.

She has also attended over several training programmes both in Nigeria and abroad on areas that included Literacy in Computer Education, continuing education in Pharmacy, College of Medicine Mandatory Continuing Education in Pharmacy, Development and Commercialization of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Good manufacturing (GMP) processes for herbal medicines, etc

Professor Hajara Ibrahim started her working career as a Dispensing assistant (1981-1982). At the Pharmacy Department, Ahmadu Bello University where she practically showed her experience at the University Teaching hospital, Zaria.

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She underwent her one-year internship program from 1985-1986 at the Pharmacy Department, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna before proceeding for her National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) from 1986 to 1987 at the Pharmacy Department, of the General Hospital, Makurdi, Benue State.

Hajara started her lecturing career in 1987 with the Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello  University, Samaru, Zaria where she rose to the position of Professor in 2006, and where she is still serving to date.

Prof Hajara has supervised numerous undergraduate students’ projects in the field of Pharmacy and Pharmacognosy. She has equally supervised many MSc and Ph.D. students in various areas of research in Pharmacognosy. She has also served as an External Examiner in Pharmacognosy for many years to date.

Prof Hajara Ibrahim is highly sorted after in the Nigerian university system. She did her sabbatical at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu, Abuja between May 2010 and 30th May 2011.

She also served as a visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Ilorin between 2011 and 2014 during which she was a Head of Department and a Dean at that University.

As an academician, Prof. Hajara has been involved in many areas of research in her field. These areas include hypertension, Drug-Drug Interactions, Charge Transfer Complexes in the Analysis of some alkaloids, pharmacognostic and Evaluation Properties of the Stem Bark of  CissuspopulneaGuill & Perr,

Other areas are Pharmacognostic and Biological (Analgesic Activity) Studies of  Carissa edulis (Fam. Apocynaceae). Microscopical studies of the leaves of Ficusiteophyla, Quantitative evaluation of the crude drugs of Sterculiasetigeraand Acacia nilotica, In addition to these, she has conducted over 17 different projects over the years.

Prof Hajara Ibrahim has held many positions over the years. These include Departmental Examination Officer  (1990  – 1997), Departmental Seminar Coordinator  (1996–1999), Ag Head of Pharmacognosy Department (1998 – 2000), She also has been serving as a Member to the Examination Questions Committee Member from 1999 till date. She served as Assistant Dean between 2001 and 2004 and as a Departmental Postgraduate Coordinator between 2000 and 2008.

Other administrative capacities she held include Member, University Committee on Technical and Research Facilities A.B.U. Zaria (1999 – 2000), Assistant Secretary, Nigerian Association of Women Academics (NAWACS) ( 2001 to date), Assistant Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences A.B.U. Zaria (2001 – 2004), Ag Head of Department (Aug. – Sept. 2004), Member A.B U. Strategic Plan and Monitoring Committee (2006-2010).

She was Head Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, University of Ilorin (2011-2012), Dean Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin (2012-2014), Member University Board Of Research A.B.U, Zaria 2015-2017; 2017- 2019), Head, Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, ABU Zaria 2018. Prof. Hajara has many more administrative capacities which this small write-up will not permit us to present.

Professor Hajara has over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals. she has over 40 conference papers to her credit. She is the author of “Practical Use of Herbs in Pharmacy Practice (2003)  ISBN 978-060-636-x  Ahmadu Bello University Press Limited Zaria, Nigeria.

Prof Hajara Ibrahim received the award for the Best article in the field of Pharmacognosy, Nigerian Journal of Natural Product and Medicines, 2005. By Nigerian Society of Pharmacognosy (NSP) National. She also won the Outstanding Scientist of 21st Century award By the International Bibliographic Commission (IBC). London. 2007 for her Contribution in the Field of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plant Research.

Aside from her award of excellence from the Kakaki Progressive association in October 2011 in recognition for obtaining professional excellence in Pharmacy, She was also honoured by Kajuru Community in Chikun Local Government Area. The honour was in recognition as being a Professor of Pharmacology.

Prof Hajara Ibrahim is a role model not only to an average Arewa woman but to the whole women in Nigeria and Africa at large.

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