By Adam Isa Waziri
Professor Abdulkarim Sabo Muhammed has emerged the 3rd Vice Chancellor of Federal University Dutse Jigawa State.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the University, Alhaji Ahmed Alti, who announced the appointment in a press briefing in Dutse, said the thirty five Professors that applied were short listed for interview and three best candidates emerged from which council chose Professor Abdulkarim Sabo Muhammed as the new VC.
Professor Abdulkarim Sabo Muhammed will take over from Professor Fatima Batul Muktar whose tenure will elapse in February, 2021.
Born 15th March 1969, Abdulkarim is a professor of Biotechnology who is currently the Deputy Vice- Chancellor Academic Services of the University.
He obtained his B.Sc. (Hons), Applied Biology from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria in 1989, M.Sc., Food Biotechnology, Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom in 1995, and a PhD in Enzyme and Food Biotechnology from Universiti Putra Malaysia in 2006.
He started his career as a Tutor with Bayero University Kano, in 1990, Assistant lecturer Bayero University Kano,1993, Lecturer, Bayero University Kano, 1995, Lecturer, Universiti Putra Malaysia 2006, Senior Lecturer, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 2008, Associate Professor, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 2010 and became a Professor in …
Professor Muhammad’s area of expertise include biotechnology, food Biotechnology, Enzyme, Metabolic engineering food sciences with Instrumental methods in food analysis, Food Chemistry, Nutrition changes in foods during processing, Fats and oils, Food Microbiology and Functional foods,
A distinguished scholar right from inception, professor Muhammad has been a candidate of scholarship award right from his first year in the University ranging from scholarship award as Best Level 1 student (Biological sciences) 1986/87 Session, Best Level 2 student (Applied Biology) 1987/88 Session, Best Level 3 student (Applied Biology) 1988/89 Session and Best Graduating Student in Applied Biology 1989.
Others include Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) London scholarship for Postgraduate studies at Strathclyde University Glasgow, United Kingdom in 1994, Universiti Putra Malaysia Graduate research Fellowship 2001, 2002,2003,2004 and 2005 and as a result, was EMPLOYED as Senior Lecturer after his thesis was passed with distinction by external examiner.
He has had series of Academic excellence awards which included Excellence Service Award, University Putra Malaysia 2013, Excellence Service Award, University Putra Malaysia 2011, Excellence Service Award, University Putra Malaysia 2008, Putra Teaching excellence award, University Putra Malaysia 2010, Gold medal PRPI exhibition, University Putra Malaysia 2007, Silver medal PRPI exhibition, University Putra Malaysia 2012, Silver medal PRPI exhibition – University Putra Malaysia 2008 and Silver Medal PRPI exhibition – University Putra Malaysia 2007 among others.
In 2010, he was nominated by Universiti Putra Malaysia and Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia for award of Malaysian Permanent residency for recognition of his contribution to teaching and research.
Professor Abdulkarim Sabo Muhammed has not been an onlooker all his life as he has contributed meaningfully to the growth and development of the society through the impartation of knowledge in his over 27 years of teaching experience at the University, over 25 years of research experience at the University, over 17 years of Postgraduate and Undergraduate student research supervision at the University with over 95 publications in ISI (IF) journals/book chapters/conference proceedings and Several international conference paper presentations.
His administrative experiences include; Head of Food Biotechnology and Functional Foods Laboratory University Putra Malaysia, 2008 – 2010; 2011 -2013, President Nigerians in Diaspora Malaysia (NIDOMY), 2008 – 2011, Deputy Director Academic Planning and Quality Assurance (Teaching, Learning and Research) Federal University Dutse, 2017 – 2018 and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic services) Federal University Dutse – 2018 to Date.
He is a member of American Oil Chemists’ Society, Malaysian Institute of Food Technology (MIFT), International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), Nigeria institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) and President, Nigerians in the Diaspora organization Malaysia (NIDOMY)(2008- 2011).