By Mahdi Waziri Isa
Professor Mohammed Garba Magaji has emerged as the 15th Dean of the faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He succeeded Professor Aliyu Muhammad Musa who was the 14th Dean of the faculty.
Professor Magaji who was elected in a keenly contested election between him and Professor Abdulsamad AbdulRahman got a whooping 43 votes while his rival got 24 votes.
Magagi who hails from kano was admitted as a student in the faculty in 1994 where he obtained his first and second degrees in 1999 and 2008 respectively. He obtained his Doctorate degree in Pharmacology in and 2012 from the same university.
Prof. Magaji has also undertaken numerous researches in both at home and abroad, including in the university of Virginia, USA, North-West University in S/Africa, The Universiti Putra Malaysia in Malaysia and many more, with over 200 research publications in notable local and international journals.
Professor Magani is a recognized member of numerous local and international research organizations which include, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), West African Society for Pharmacology (WASP) International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), Society for Neuroscientists in Africa (SONA), American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), International Behavioural Neuroscience Society (IBNS), International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (IPMDS).
He served as the Public Relation officer to the West African Society for Pharmacology between 2017-2021. He is currently the Secretary General of the regional society. He is also currently the Secretary General of the Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA)- ABU Chapter.
Professor Magaji has won and received numerous awards and grants. His grant awards include, Education Trust Fund (ETF) Staff development and Training award for PhD Bench work program in University of Virginia, USA in 2010, Mac Arthur PhD Dissertation completions grant in 2011, International Council for Science (ICSU) grant for participation in Pre-conference workshop of the 5th African Congress of Pharmacologists organized by International Council of Science (ICSU) at National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development in 2012, International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) Travel Grant to attend 11th Society for Neuroscience in Africa (SONA) conference, Rabat, Morocco in 2013, MEPIN-NIH Research Grant (IR24W008878) as a Co-Investigator on a research topic “Identification of Beneficial Medicinal Plants in the Management of Lead-induced Neurotoxicity in Rodents” in 2013, Postdoctoral Fellowship award, Unit for Drug Research and Development & Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa in 2014, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Best Researcher Award (2024), Ahmadu Bello University Overall Outstanding Researcher of the year Award (2024) and Outstanding Performance Achiever Award (Academic Staff) Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University (2025) among others.
Professor Magaji has held leadership positions in several capacities within and outside academia. He has been Faculty Examination Officer, Postgraduate Study Coordinator, Head of Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Assistant Dean and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
He is currently the Editor in Chief of the Faculty based journal, the Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NJPS).