A LIEUTENANT Colonel, Abubakar-Surajo Imam, has emerged as the first Officer to be conferred with a professor from among the serving personnel of the Nigerian Army.
Imam, who was conferred with the title of a Professor by the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), is now a Professor of Mechatronics Engineering.
The Registrar of the Academy, Brigadier General A.M Tukur, who disclosed this in a statement, said the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Imam who is also the Head of the Department of Mechatronics Engineering, was ratified during the NDA Council Meeting in September and took effect from October 1, 2022.
The statement explained that the Academy’s Council’s decision was a reflection of the confidence and recognition of the contributions of Imam to the Department of Mechatronics Engineering of the NDA.
In addition, he said that the new professor has provided exemplary services and upheld the standards of excellence expected in his field.
The new professor hails from Kankia in Katsina State and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano State. He is also a master’s degree holder in Mechatronics from Newcastle University, United Kingdom, and PhD in Mechatronics and Robotics from the same university.
He joined the Nigerian Army as a member of Short Service Combatant Course 32, and was assigned to the Nigerian Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
During his military career, Imam later converted to Regular Commission, and served in numerous units 1 Base Workshop, Technical Group EME, HQ Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Corps and Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
The new professor is an Examiner and Member Central Selection Committee for Master’s and PhD candidates being sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
Ten things you should know about Prof Imam:
1. Imam is an indigene of Kankia in Katsina State.
2. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano State.
3. After his MSc degree, Imam proceeded to Newcastle University, United Kingdom, where he obtained his Master’s degree in Mechatronics and a Doctorate degree in Mechatronics and Robotics.
4. Having joined the Nigerian Army as a member of the Short Service Combatant Course 32, Imam was assigned to the Nigerian Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.
5. Imam later converted to the Regular Commission and served in numerous units including 1 Base Workshop, Technical Group EME, HQ Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, and DICON.
6. He spearheaded the founding of the NDA Department of Mechatronic Engineering and the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Creativity. In his position, he currently serves as the Head, Department of Mechatronics Engineering and Director, Centre for Innovation and Creativity at the NDA.
7. Imam is also a researcher with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State; the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, amongst others.
8. He is an Examiner and Member, Central Selection Committee for Master and Ph.D. candidates being sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.
9. Imam has published several books covering Mechatronics; PIC Microcontrollers; Embedded Systems Design; Sensors and Actuators for Embedded Systems; Coding, Robotics and Drone technology for Kids; and Field Manuals for Drone Technology, among others.
10. The new professor has attended over 40 international workshops and numerous seminars and presented papers at several conferences in the United Kingdom, Spain, Egypt and the United States of America.