The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) celebrates as two distinguished professors from its faculty receive appointments as Vice Chancellors in different universities.
This recognition reflects the quality of academic and professional expertise produced by UNILORIN.
The new appointees are Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde and Prof. Medinat Folorunso Salman.
Surajudeen-Bakinde Appointed Vice Chancellor of Gambian University
Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde, a professor of electrical engineering from UNILORIN, has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Applied Sciences and Technology (USET) in The Gambia.
This appointment was conveyed through a letter from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, The Gambia, which was addressed to the Nigerian High Commission in The Gambia.
The letter, dated 17th September 2024, informed Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde of her new role at USET.
Education and Experience of Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde
Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde is an alumna of UNILORIN, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Engineering in 1997 and a Master’s degree in 2004.
She later pursued her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Electronics at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, which she completed in 2010.
She is a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and also serves as one of the examiners for the COREN registration exercise for corporate members.
In addition to her role at UNILORIN, Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde served as the Assistant Director of Administration at the Centre for International Education (CIE) at the university.
She was selected by the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to serve the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of a two-year volunteer programme at USET in The Gambia.
With the upcoming vacancy for the Vice Chancellor position at USET, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), along with the Governing Council of USET, set up a taskforce to find a suitable candidate.
At the end of the recruitment process, Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde was selected and recommended for the role.
Academic Contributions and Research Interests
Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde specialises in telecommunications and has published over 70 papers in reputable journals and book chapters.
She also serves as a reviewer for both local and international journals.
Her research interests cover a wide range of topics, including Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Technology, Channel Equalisation in Wireless Communications, Internet of Things for Home Automation, and Sustainable Energy Diversity.
She has also worked on projects related to telemedicine, television white space, and computation intelligence in radio propagation.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin has congratulated Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde on her appointment.
Salman Appointed Pioneer Vice Chancellor of KWASUED
Prof. Medinat Folorunso Salman, a former Dean of the Faculty of Education at UNILORIN, has been appointed as the pioneer Acting Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED), Ilorin.
This announcement was made in a press statement issued on Tuesday, 24th September 2024, by Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor.
Academic Background and Career of Prof. Salman
Prof. Salman is a distinguished scholar in Mathematics Education.
She obtained her Bachelor of Education from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1985.
She then earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Mathematics Education from UNILORIN in 1990 and 1997, respectively.
Before joining UNILORIN in 1999 as a Lecturer II, Prof. Salman taught in several primary and secondary schools in Kwara State.
She also served as a part-time lecturer at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
Career Achievements and Contributions
Prof. Salman was promoted to Professor in 2012 due to her dedication to teaching, research, and community service.
She has held many important roles at UNILORIN, including Head of the Department of Science Education and Dean of the Faculty of Education.
Prof. Salman has also served on various committees and was part of several accreditation panels formed by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
In addition, she has held leadership roles at both the state and national levels within the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other professional bodies.
Notably, Prof. Salman was a member of the committee that established the Kwara State University of Education.
Her research interests include Mathematics Education, gender issues in Mathematics and Science, and educational innovations in developing countries.