The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna State, on Friday, November 17, 2023, announced the promotion of Lt. Col. Abubakar-Surajo Imam to the rank of Professor of Mechatronics Engineering.

Imam, with the promotion, becomes the first professor from among serving officers in the history of the Nigerian Army.

The Registrar of the Academy, Brig.-Gen. AM Tukur, in a statement, noted that the promotion was ratified during the NDA Council Meeting in September and took effect from October 1, 2022.

Below are a few things to know about the army’s first professor:

Imam hails from Kankia in Katsina State.

He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University, Kano.

He also holds a Master Degree in Mechatronics from Newcastle University, United Kingdom, and PhD in Mechatronics and Robotics from the same university.

Imam 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.

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He later converted to Regular Commission, and served in numerous units including 1 Base Workshop, Technical Group EME, HQ Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, and DICON.

Prof. Imam is an Examiner and Member Central Selection Committee for Master and PhD candidates being sponsored by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund.

He is also a researcher with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the Defence Research and Development Bureau, Abuja, Command Engineering Depot, Buffalo Engineering Technology, and National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure.

Imam is also a researcher with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology in Wudil, Kano State.

The Nigerian Army’s first 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.

He currently doubles as Head, Department of Mechatronics Engineering and Director Centre for Innovation and Creativity at the NDA.

At the NDA, Abubakar-Surajo Imam has through his Research and Development efforts contributed to enhancing the visibility of the Academy among Nigerian universities.

He spearheaded the founding of the NDA Department of Mechatronic Engineering, and the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Creativity.

The centre’s serves as platform for the realisation of Nigeria’s Military Industrial Complex through promotion of innovation and creativity in cutting-edge technologies related to novel military and civil hardware and software solutions, thereby reducing Nigeria’s dependence on foreign technical solutions.

His published books cover Mechatronics; PIC Microcontrollers; Embedded Systems Design; Sensors and Actuators for Embedded Systems; Coding, Robotics and Drone Tachnology for Kids; and Field Manual for Drone Technology, among others.

The Star