By Muhammad Dalhatu
Following his recent appointment, as the successor of the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Yakubu Mukhtar, by the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Alh. Mai Mala Buni, Prof. Muhammad Mala Daura has successfully assumed office as Chief Executive Officer of Yobe State University, Damaturu.
Prof. Daura whose appointment was announced by the Governing Council of the University recently following the expiration of the tenure of the past Vice Chancellor.
Before his appointment, Professor Daura was the Director, Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies, University of Maiduguri.
Born June 13 1962 in Daura, Professor Mohammed Mala Daura is held from Fune Local Government of Yobe State.
He embarked on his academic journey from Daura Primary School, Fune L.G.A., Borno State from 1968 to 1975, and had a step further to Government Secondary School Damaturu, Yobe State between 1975 and 1980 after which he proceeded to the University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State from 1981 to 1985.
To further expand his knowledge base, Professor Daura went down the Southwestern University of Ibadan, Ibadan for his Masters Degree between 1987 and 1988, Laboratory for Experimental Geomorphology, Katholieke University, Leuven, Belgium for Post-Doctoral Research, March 1995-June 1995 and Yaysib Computer Institute, Maiduguri (Sept. 2006- February 2007).
Upon graduation from the University, Daura had his first classroom experience as a Youth Corper in the Department of Geography, Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ondo State, Nigeria (1985-1986) and later joined the services of the University of Maiduguri as a Graduate Assistant on 2nd October 1986 and rose through the ranks to Professor on 1st October 2004.
At one time or the other Professor Daura was a Visiting Professor, Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Nigeria (September 2016 to November 2017),
Visiting Professor, Department of Geography, University of Abuja, Nigeria (14th October 2014 to November 2017) and Director, Centre for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies (CDRM&DS), 17th October 2016 to Date.
He was the Pioneer Rector, Yobe State Polytechnic, Geidam, 4th November 2002 to April, 2004, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Central Administration), University of Maiduguri, 15th April, 2004 to 3rd August 2008, Ag. Vice-Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, 21st May 2008 to 2nd June 2009 and Vice-Chancellor, University of Maiduguri, 3rd June 2009 to 2nd June 2014.
Professor Mohammed Mala Daura is a member of different Professional Bodies among which are Association of Nigerian Geographers (MANG D/011), 1986, Nigerian Geomorphological Working Group (NGWG), 1991, Fellow, Institute of Industrialists and Corporate Administrators (FIICA), 2007, Fellow, Institute of Public Diplomacy and Management (FCIPDM), December, 2011 among others.
Daura, whose research interest is on Environmental Impact Assessment of Development Projects, Disaster Risk Management Studies, and Environmental Resources Management, did not allow this wealth of knowledge to go down in vain as he did not fail to manifest his intellect at different leadership positions. He was North East Zonal Representative, Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG) 1996 to 1998, Assistant National Secretary, Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG) 1998 to 2001, National Secretary, Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG) 2001 to 2005, 3rd Vice-President, Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG) 2005 to 2007, 2nd Vice-President, Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG) 2007 to 2009, 1st Vice-President, Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG) 2009 to 2011, National President, Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG) November 2011 to March 2014 among others.