Prof Suleiman Bala Mohammed: VC, Nasarawa State University, Keffi
Suleiman Bala Mohammed is a dedicated teacher, Comrade per Excellence, university administrator and distinguished Abusite who is a Professor of Political Sociology and Development, and Current vice-chancellor, Nassarawa State University Keffi.
Born on March 5, 1963, in Laminga, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Prof Suleiman Bala Mohammed attended Senior Primary School, Laminga from 1970 to 1976. On completion of his primary education in 1976, he proceeded to Government Secondary School Nasarawa for his Senior School Certificate which he got in 1981.
His quest for higher education led him to the School of Preliminary Studies (SPS), Keffi from 1981 to 1984. And in 1984, his brilliance and undying zeal for intellectual development saw him admitted into the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology.
ALSO READ: Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje – The Abusite who Revived KadPoly
Between 1990 and 2001, he was a postgraduate student at the University of Jos, where he bagged Master of Science Degree (M.Sc. Sociology) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D. Sociology) in 1994 and 2001, respectively. He also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna and in 2010.
A complete and dedicated teacher, the Vice Chancellor began his teaching career while undergoing the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1987 at GSS Kaiama, Kwara State. On completion of the one-year national service, he joined the School of Preliminary Studies, Keffi in 1988 as a Lecturer.
He later transferred his services to the University of Abuja in 1996 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Political Sociology and Development in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, the University of Abuja in 2011.
Within this period, Prof Suleiman Bala Mohammed held several administrative positions, garnering a lot of experiences over time. He was a Post-Graduate (2004 – 2006), Member, University of Abuja Governing Council (2005 – 2011), Member, University of Abuja Senate (2007 – 2013), Dean, Student Affairs Division (2007 – 2009) and Member, University Management (2007 – 2009).
Between 2009 and 2011, Prof Suleiman Bala Mohammed was the Acting Director, Center for Asian Studies of the University of Abuja, Acting Head of Department, Sociology (2011 – 2013), Director, Institute of Legislative Studies, (ILS) (2014 – 2016) and Head, Department of Sociology from 2016 until his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of NSUK.
Prof Suleiman Bala Mohammed was appointed the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi on the 8th of October, 2018, and confirmed on April 3rd, 2019 by the Governor of Nasarawa State and Visitor to Nasarawa State University, Keffi, His Excellency, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, following the expiration of the tenure of the former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Mainoma Akaro.
Prof Suleiman Bala Mohammed has similarly discharged enough responsibilities in the aspect of community service. A core unionist and defender of Nigerian workers, the Acting Vice-Chancellor has participated actively in the programs and activities of academic unions as one of the top officials. You are not wrong if you describe him as “Comrade per Excellence”.
He was the Abuja Zonal Co-ordinator, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) 2012 –2016, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) the University of Abuja, September 2001 to September 2005, National President, Academic Staff Union of Schools of Basic, Advanced and Preliminary Studies Keffi Branch 1992 – 1994.
ALSO READ: PROF USMAN OTARU ALIYU – Control Engineering & Intelligent Systems Specialist
He was also President, Academic Staff Union of Schools of Basic, Advanced and Preliminary Studies (ASUBAPS), School of Preliminary Studies Keffi Branch 1992 – 1994 and Secretary, Academic Staff Union of Schools of Basic, Advanced and Preliminary studies (ASUBAPS), School of Preliminary Studies Keffi Branch (1998 – 1999).
Prof. Mohammed has extensive scholarly and academic publications with several published journal articles, contributed book chapters, conference papers and has edited and reviewed journals.
He is a member of professional associations such as the Nigeria Anthropological and Sociological Association (NASA) and the Nigerian Sociology Society (NSS), among others.
He is happily married with children.
