Lt Col. Imam Sets Record, Becomes First Nigeria Army  Professor

By Adesina Soyooye

A Lt. Col in the Nigeria Army has made history by setting an academic record.

Katsina State born Lt. Col. Abubakar-Surajo Imam has been promoted in the academic sector as the first Professor in the Army.

The cheering news of  Imam’s promotion to a Professor of Mechatronics Engineering was announced when the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, confirmed his promotion  to the enviable rank.

By the promotion, Imam is the first professor from among the serving personnel of the Nigeria Army.

Imam’s promotion was announced by the Registrar of the  NDA, Brig.-Gen. AM Tukur in a statement on Friday. Tukur said  that Imam’s  promotion was ratified by the NDA Council in September during a meeting. It, however, took effect  from Oct. 1, 2022.

Tukur noted that Imam’s promotion  is  a reflection of “the confidence and recognition of his contributions  to the Department of Mechatronics Engineering of the Academy.

According to Tukur, Professor Imam has provided “exemplary services and upheld the standard of excellence expected in his field.

“This recognition not only honours Professor Imam but also highlights the commitment of the Nigerian Defence Academy to acknowledging and rewarding outstanding contributions within its academic community.”

Felicitating with the new Professor, Tukur said in the  statement:  “On behalf of the Commandant and staff of the Academy, I sincerely congratulate you on your well-deserved promotion.

“It is expected that you will continue to work hard to justify the confidence.”

Professor Imam is from Kankia in Katsina State. He started his journey to the peak of  academics from Bayero University, Kano, where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Imam, also,  holds a Master Degree in Mechatronics from Newcastle University, United Kingdom which he capped with a PhD in Mechatronics and Robotics from the same University.

The young Imam  joined the Nigerian Army as a member of Short Service Combatant Course 32, and was posted  to the Nigerian Army Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering.

Later, he  converted to Regular Commission, which  enabled him to serve in numerous Units. Such Units included  1 Base Workshop, Technical Group EME, HQ Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, and DICON.

Imam is an Examiner and Member Central Selection Committee for Master and PhD candidates under the sponsorship of 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.

Professor 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.

He is reputed to have  attended more than  40 International Workshops as well as numerous seminars. He has, also, presented papers at several conferences in the United Kingdom, Spain, Egypt and the United States of America.

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

Lt. Col. Imam, through his Research and Development efforts at the NDA, has   contributed, very much,  to enhancing the visibility of the NDA  among Nigerian Universities.

It is thanks to him that  the Department of Mechatronic Engineering was founded at the NDA, as well as the establishment of the Centre for Innovation and Creativity.

The Centre is a 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.”

A prolific writer, Professor Imam, according to reports, has, to his name,  published books on Mechatronics; PIC Microcontrollers; Embedded Systems Design; Sensors and Actuators for Embedded Systems; Coding, Robotics and Drone Technology for Kids; and Field Manual for Drone Technology, among others.

Professor Imam was born on 22nd June, 1976.