Prof Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi: Renowned Professor of pathology

Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi is an educational administrator, distinguished Abusite, renowned Nigerian Icon and one of Africas’s foremost pathologists. He is professor of pathology, with interest in cervical cancer prostate cancer and medicolegal medicine and the pioneer vice chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja

He was born on 15th January 1957 in Katsina, Katsina State. His parents were Hassan Rafindadi, one of the pioneer teachers at Katsina Middle School who later became the education councilor with the Katsina Native Authority and his mother Barira, all were natives of Katsina town. His early education was at Rafindadi Primary school in Katsina from 1963 to 1966.

The family moved to Kaduna when his father was appointed as the first Education Commissioner in the newly created North Central State, one of the new 12 states just before the Nigerian Civil War started.

ALSO READ: Meet Professor Gamba Laraba Abdullahi: First Female VC from Northern Nigeria

He attended St Peter Demonstration Primary school in Kaduna 1966 to 1970. For his secondary school education, he was admitted to King’s College Lagos, Government College Ibadan, and the Barewa College Zaria. His father chose Barewa College possibly being his own alma mata.

Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi was educated at Barewa College, located in Zaria, Kaduna State, where he obtained the West Africa Secondary School Certificate in 1974 and was the first recipient of the Trophy for Academic Achievement in 1974. He later proceeded to the great Ahmadu Bello University where he obtained a first degree in medicine.

Professor Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi‘s Career

After qualifying as a medical doctor he did his housemanship/internship rotations at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Kaduna and the General Hospital Katsina (1980-1981) and proceeded his National Youth Service Corps at the Police College, Enugu (1981 – 1982).

He started his working career with a private hospital, The Mayfair Clinic located in Zaria, Kaduna State for about 2 years before joining the service of the then Kaduna State before Katsina State was carved out of it. He was posted to General Hospital Funtua.

He later headed the hospital as the medical officer in charge. From Funtua he proceeded to the University College Hospital Ibadan for his residency training in Pathology from 1986 to 1990 where he was the chief resident in the Department of Pathology in 1990

He spent one year in the attachment at the General Hospital Southampton, the UK from 1989 to 1990. He became a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Pathology in 1990 on his return from the UK.

He worked as a consultant pathologist with the Ministry of Health, Katsina State in the General Hospital Katsina from 1990 to 1994 before he joined the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as Lecturer. He joined the service of Ahmadu Bello University in 1994 as a lecturer and in 2004 he was appointed a professor of pathology.

In 2006, Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi was appointed as the dean of the faculty of medicine of Ahmadu Bello University, a position he held for two years (2006–2008). After his tenure as the dean of the faculty of medicine, Rafindadi was appointed as the chief medical director of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in 2008.

A position he held until 2011 when he was appointed as the pioneer vice-chancellor of the newly established Federal University, Lokoja, a post he held until February 2016 at the end of his 5-year term. His remarkable transformation of virgin land into a beautiful and amiable institution with meager resources, within these 5 years was quite outstanding.

Staff weep as he vacates office

In what appeared to be the first of its kind in Nigeria and an endorsement of his leadership style, members of staff of the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi state couldn’t hide their emotions and wept bitterly and openly as their pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi left office. The prof struggles to also hold himself as he waved at staff and students who gathered at the Vice Chancellor’s office to bid him farewell.

Very uncommon amongst retired VCs, Prof immediately returned to the Faculty of Medicine at Ahmadu Bello University and ABUTH Zaria as a Professor of Pathology to fill up the vacuum he had left in the hearts and minds of so many and continued to do what he loves best.

His personality

In an article On January 15th to Mark the birthday of Professor Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi and other notable events of day, titled: 15th January: A Unique day in the lives of Nigerians, Northerners, Abusites, and Abumsites, Ismail Muhammad Bello, a 600L Medical Student of Ahmadu Bello University, who has worked closely with Professor Abdulmumini Hassan Rafindadi, described him thus:

“Professor Abdulmumuni Hassan Rafindadi is an embodiment of kindness, humility, honesty, mastery of human relationship, generosity, organization, dedication, commitment, diligence, transparency, hard work and adherence to principles. Rafdad, as we commonly call him, is simply the real definition of a perfect gentleman...

“…His administrative prowess is enshrined in the fact that his records speak for him and he leaves a lasting dearly memory in the lives of the people he has worked with....

“…Unlike other VCs whose presence may never be felt, whom may be ousted, unpopular, protested against, booed and so on, his simplicity allowed him to run the university like a happy family which endeared him to every member of the FUL family, that when his tenure ended, he was showered with uncountable number of send-forth events and awards…

…And when the time finally came for his departure, in an emotional display that will go down in history, he was accompanied by a large entourage like a politician as staff cried profusely.”

---

For Advert Placement, Sponsorship, support, Article submission, suggestion, etc, Contact us: info@theabusites.com, +2349015751816 (WhatsApp)