Muhammad Nuru Yakubu

Engr. Dr. Muhammad Nuru Yakubu holds a PhD in Mineral Technology (1986) and a M.Sc. in Mineral Process Design (1981), both from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London, United Kingdom and a B.Sc. in Mineral Processing Technology (1979) from the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall also in the United Kingdom. He also holds the Associateship of the Camborne School of Mines (ACSM) as well as the Diploma of Imperial College (DIC). While at Imperial College London, he won the London Society of Chemical Industry Prize on “Current Research in Solvent Extraction and Ion Exchange” in May 1985 for aspects of his PhD research work.

He taught Mineral Processing Technology, Mineralogy, Metallurgy as well as Mathematics at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi and the Kaduna Polytechnic over a period spanning about 20 years. While in these institutions he has held several high level positions: He served as a member of the Governing Council of ATBU (elected by the University Congregation, 1988-1990). He was the pioneer Director of the College of Engineering (1990-1996), Deputy Rector, Administration (1992-1996), and Rector, Kaduna Polytechnic (1996-2000). He was a member of many High Level Education Committees, including the National Implementation Committee On the Review of Higher Education in Nigeria (NICORHEN) that gave birth to Education Tax Fund (ETF) now TETFUND, in 1993. In 2000 he won the best Rector Award by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and was appointed the Executive Secretary National Board for Technical Education in the same year, a position he held until 2010, after serving successfully for two terms. During the period he also served as the National Project Coordinator of the highly acclaimed UNESCO-Nigeria Project on the Revitalization of Technical Education (TVE), which project supported NBTE in the review and updating of 87 TVE curricula, many of which have been adapted for use in many West African countries through UNESCO as well as training of several academics, national and international, in curriculum development, among others. He has attended several UNESCO General Assemblies, as well as UNESCO High Level Meetings.

He served for three years as the Vice President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) as well as 2nd and the later 1st Vice President, Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME). He was a member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). He is a fellow of the following societies/institutes, including Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (FNSME) and Nigerian institute of Management (FNIM). He was a Member of the National Political Reform Conference, representing Academia (Polytechnic Sector) in 2005.