Meet Professor Nafiu Abdu: ABU’s latest Professor of Soil Chemistry
By Bin Hussain Abdulmuqeet.
A renowned scholar, award-winning scientist, and skilled administrator who is the current head of soil science Department, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Nafiu Abdu has been promoted to the rank of Professor.
Prof. Nafiu Abdu who rose steadily from the rank of Assistant Lecturer in 2002 to Associate Professor in 2015 was promoted to the rank of Professor of Soil Chemistry by the Senate of Ahmadu Bello University on 7th, August 2020.
Who is Professor Nafiu Abdu?
Professor Nafiu Abdu was born in Zaria in the mid-70s to the family of Alhaji Abdulganiyu Oyewumi Raji and Hajia Saadatu Abdussalam.
He obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in 2000. He also obtained a Master of Science Degree in Soil Science from the same University in 2006.
He studied at the University of Kassel, Germany for his PhD from 2007 to 2010 and obtained Dr. agrar (Dr. of Agriculture). He joined the services of the Department of Soil Science, ABU Zaria as Assistant Lecturer in October, 2002.
Shortly after his PhD, he was awarded a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Kassel, Germany where he worked as a scientist under the UrbanFood Plus Project.
He also won the highly competitive COMSTECH-TWAS, Joint Research Grants Programme for Young Scientist under the Academy of Science for Developing World, Italy in 2012. He was one of the 41 young scientists across the globe that won the participation in the Winter School “Limits to Growth Revisited” at Hannover, Germany in 2012.
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Prof. Nafiu Abdu rose steadily from the rank of Assistant Lecturer in 2002 to Associate Professor in 2015 and currently pronounced of his terminal promotion to the rank of Professor of Soil Chemistry by the Senate of Ahmadu Bello University 07th, August 2020.
Within 10 years of obtaining his PhD, he has mentored and graduated 19 MSc and PhD students with over 10 currently working under his supervision. Prof. Abdu has published over 80 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, seminar papers, and technical reports.
He has co-authored publications in all the continents of the world. He is a reviewer of numerous scientific Journals in Nigeria and the world over. He has served as the Managing Editor of the Nigeria Journal of Soil and Environmental Research and currently the Managing Editor of the Nigerian Journal of Soil Science, a publication of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria.
He has attended many national and international seminars, symposia, and conferences in other countries like Ghana, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali, Tanzania, Spain, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
Prof. Nafiu Abdu never attended a formal Islamic school but studied Islamic religious knowledge extensively under numerous Islamic clerics notably; Late Sheikh Ahmad Usman Kauru, Late Alaramma Suleiman Tudun Jukun, from whom he learned how to read and write in Arabic, Sheikh Suraj, Sheik Bashir Lawal of Markazu Wa’ayil Islamiy, Tudun Jukun, Late Malam Dalhatu of Tudun Jukun where he learnt almost all the Maaliki school of thought books, Malam Nasiru Mahmud and finally Late Sheikh Auwal Adam Albaniy with whom He spent most of his Islamic academic life.
Aside from his academic and research activities, Prof. Abdu has a great flair in administration. Besides his role as the Director of Daarul Hadeethis Salafiyyah, Albaniy Science International Academy, positions he held since February, 2014, he is currently the Head of the Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the National President of the Soya Bean Farmer Association of Nigeria.
He was the Undergraduate students Coordinator of the Department of Soil Science from 2010 to 2012 and Postgraduate Students Coordinator from 2014 to 2019. He served as the Faculty of Agriculture Registration Officer from 2014 to 2016.
He was the National Coordinator, Nigeria for the USAID Cowpea Outsacling Project from 2015 to 2018. During his undergraduate years, he was the President of the Muslim Students Agriculturist in ABU and the President of the Bauchi State Branch of the Muslim Corpers’ Association of Nigeria from 2001 to 2002.
He is a member of numerous scientific Societies including: New York Academy of Science, U.S.A., Society of Chemical Industry, UK., International Union of Soil Science, Nigerian Institute of Soil Science, Soil Science Society of Nigeria, Agricultural Society of Nigeria and Academic Staff Union of Universities, A.B.U. Branch.
He is a recipient of Kaduna State Government Scholarship for undergraduate studies, Federal Government of Nigeria Postgraduate Scholarship, Volkswagen Foundation, Hanover, Germany, Fellowship for Doctoral Studies, African Credibility Gold Award, the Most Promising Young Scientist for the Year 2012/2013, Department of Soil Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
His biography has been cited by Marquis Who’s Who in The World; Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018, Marquis Who’s Who in The World in 2013; 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century, by the International Biographical Center, Cambridge, U.K. 2013.
Leading Scientist of the World by the International Biographical Center, Cambridge, U.K. 2013 and Top 100 Scientist by the International Biographical Center, Cambridge, the U.K. in 2013. He is happily married and blessed with children.
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