Professor Sadiq Zubair Abubakar born 61 years ago is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria He obtained his Bachelor of Engineering in 1987; MSc. in 1992; and PhD in 2002 in Agric. & Bio-Resources Engineering, respectively. He attended several academic and professional courses in local and Israel, France, India, Japan, USA, UK, and Brazil to enhance his erudition, competence, and capabilities in teaching, research, and professional services. He is a registered member of many professional bodies including local: NIAE, NSE, AESON, NINCID, and international: ICID, ISTRO, and ASABE. He was later admitted into the Fellowship cadre of NIAE in 2008, NSE in 2011, and NAE in 2023. He became a COREN registered Engineer in 2008 with Reg. No 16041 and was elected a Director, Board of Trustee for NINCID in 2017.

Professor Abubakar joined the service of ABU, Zaria in 1988 as an 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 professorial positions in Agricultural and Bio-Resource Engineering across many universities.

Professor Abubakar held leadership positions during his 34-year academic career. He was HOD of AED in ABU; N-W Zonal Director, Deputy Director, and Executive Director all in NAERLS spanning 1996-2012. He was further elevated to the position of Provost of Agric Complex and Dean Fac of Engineering in ABU between (2012-2014). Abubakar was appointed the pioneer VC of Alvan Ikoku University of Education Owerri in early 2015 which was short-lived due to FG policy change. He returned to ABU to be appointed as the Dean School of Postgraduate Studies (2017-2019) and subsequently became DVC Admin (2019-2021). He was appointed as pioneer VC 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. He was involved in several missions that developed policy and strategic documents on Irrigation and Drainage for Nigeria and several other countries in the West African Sub-region. Abubakar has to his credit as output of his 34 years of academic career 199 publications including journals, edited books, book chapters, edited proceedings, conference papers, extension bulletins, extension guides, training workshop papers, research/technical reports, and edited training manuals. He has produced radio and TV programmes, video documentaries, and slide shows on various aspects of engineering related to agriculture. The adoption of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) in the public Irrigation Schemes under the 11 RBDAs is one visible achievement of Abubakar.

Professor Abubakar is a recipient of several awards including the NSE Presidential Merit Award for Exemplary Commitment; ABU Home Coming Distinguished Honours Award of ‘Pillars of Nation Building; AGRO-SUMMIT Award of Honours in recognition of contributions associated with Agric Education & Training; Nigerian Trucks Manufacturers, Kano, best University grandaunt in Agricultural Engineering Programme.

Professor Abubakar was the Editor-in-Chief of NSE Technical Transaction journal from 2011 to 2022. He served as the Chairman of the Technical Committee for NSE Conferences from 2011 to 2022. He has been a member of the COREN Council from 2018 to date and the Chairman of the Education & Training Council Committee of COREN responsible for planning and conduct of accreditation of all engineering programmes in Universities and Polytechnics in the country. He was the National Chairman of NIAE; a Member National EXCO of NIAE, NSE, and a member of several committees at the national level including PDB, Codes & Standards, Rules & Business, and NSE CPC.

Professor Abubakar led the packaging and publishing of the OBE Implementors Manual and Evaluators Guidelines used to create awareness of and campaign for change in the accreditation process of Engineering Programmes in the Nigerian University system from input-based to OBE and led the conduct of the 6 regional and 2 national training workshops were 734 University lecturers and 217 evaluators of Engineering Programmes in tertiary educational institutions were trained on OBE. He was elected President and Chairman of the Council of COREN in April 2023.