COREN elects Prof. Zubair as new president

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) has elected Professor Abubakar Sadiq Zubair as the council’s new president.

Zubair takes over from Engr. Ali Rabiu, who served as President of COREN from April 2019 to April 2023.

Zubair who was born 61 years ago, is a graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, where he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Agriculture and Bio-Resources Engineering in 1987, an MSc in Agriculture and Bio-Resources Engineering in 1992 and a PhD in Agriculture and Bio-Resources Engineering in 2002.

In a bid to enhance his erudition, competence and capabilities in teaching, research, and professional services, he attended several academic and professional courses locally and internationally (Israel, France, India, Japan, USA, UK and Brazil).

He is also a COREN registered engineer and a registered member of many professional bodies including Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Agricultural Extension Society of Nigeria (AESON), Nigerian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (NINCID).

He is also a member of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), International Soil Tillage Research Organisation (ISTRO), American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).

The Council President is a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE),

Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and just elected fellow of Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Professor Abubakar joined the service of ABU, Zaria in 1988 as assistant lecturer with triple tasks of teaching (AED), research (IAR) and extension service delivery (NAERLS). He rose to the rank of professor in 2006 in ABU Zaria through diligence, hard work and rich outputs in his area of competence establishing a niche for himself in and outside Nigeria.

He supervised and mentored several postgraduate and undergraduate students and assessed candidates for professional positions in Agricultural and Bio-Resource Engineering across many universities.

The new COREN also president held various leadership positions during his 34-year academic career and counting.

He was the Head of Department of Agric Engineering Department in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; N-W Zonal Director, Deputy Director, and Executive Director, all in (NAERLS) spanning 1996-2012.

Equally, he was further elevated to the position of provost of Agric Complex and Dean, Faculty of Engineering in ABU between 2012 and 2014. He was appointed the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri in early 2015.

However, the appointment was short lived due to Federal Government policy change.

He returned to ABU and was appointed as the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies between 2017 and 2019.

He subsequently became Deputy Vice Chancellor, Admin, from 2019 to 2021.

He was appointed as pioneer

Vice Chancellor of Capital City University, Kano in January 2022 where he is currently serving.

Professor Abubakar led the development of several research/ development project grant proposals which were won and successfully implemented.

Professor Abubakar led the packaging and publication of Outcome Based Education (OBE) Implementors Manual and Programme Evaluators Guidelines used to create awareness on and campaign for change in the accreditation process of Engineering Programmes in the Nigerian University system from input based to Outcome Based Education (OBE) and also led the conduct of the 6 regional and 2 national training workshops where 734 University lecturers and 217 evaluators of engineering programmes in tertiary educational institutions were trained on OBE.

L –R , Vice President , Women Development , Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry , Mrs. Rose Nwosu ; Director General , Governors Forum , Asishana Okauru ; Nate Okauru ; former Executive Chairman , Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) , Mrs. Ifueku Omoigui –Okauru and the Executive Secretary , Guaranty Trust Bank , Oseni Elamah at the 2nd. Memorial mass service of Dr. Nowamagbe Austin Omoigui held at the Holy Trinity Church Maitama , Abuja ….yesterday ( 18th. APRIL 2023 )