By Abiola Olawale
In a commendable development, four eminent Nigerian Professors under the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) Volunteer Service in the Gambia have been appointed to key positions at the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET), in the Gambia.
A Professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the USET located in Gambia.
Also appointed to topmost key positions in the University are three other Nigerian Professors, namely; Prof.Ado Yusuf Abdulfatah (VC Academics), Prof. Akinlabi Oyetunji (Director, Research and Grants) and Prof.David Terfa Gundu (Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance).
This was revealed in a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the DG, NTAC, on Media and Publicity, Nkem Anyata-Lafia.
The statement reads in part: ”This development follows the submission of a Report by a Taskforce set up by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and the Governing Council of USET.”
Meanwhile, The Gambian Education Ministry has requested endorsement from Nigeria following appointment.
The letter requesting endorsement, was addressed to the Nigerian Mission in Kanifing, the Gambia and a copy forwarded to the Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub.
The New Diplomat reports that Surajudeen-Bakinde, the VC designate, is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Ilorin.
She is a native of Offa in Kwara State who attended Offa Grammar School for her Secondary Education and wrapped up in 1990. She proceeded to the University of Ilorin, where she obtained her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering in 1998 and 2004, respectively.
She attended the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, where she obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical Engineering and Electronics in 2010. Her PhD at Liverpool University, UK, was sponsored by the Commonwealth Academic Staff Scholarship between 2005 and 2010.
