Nigerian Army Produces First Professor, Lt Col Abubakar Surajo Imam, From Katsina
History was made in the Nigerian Army with the elevation of Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Surajo Imam to the rank of Professor, making him the first officer in the service to attain such an academic height.
Professor Imam, who hails from Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State, was promoted to full Professor of Mechatronics and Robotics in October 2022, marking a new milestone in the intellectual and technological advancement of the Nigerian military.
Born on June 22, 1976, Imam began his education at Sultan Bello Primary School, Kaduna, before proceeding to Government College Katsina. He later obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bayero University Kano (2001), a Master’s in Mechatronics from Newcastle University, UK (2009), and a PhD in Mechatronics and Robotics from Newcastle University in 2014.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army through the Short Service Combatant Course 32 and later converted to a Regular Commission. Over the years, he has served in several Army formations, including the 1 Base Workshop, DICON, NAEME Corps Headquarters, and currently the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) where he doubles as Head of Department of Mechatronics Engineering and Director, Centre for Innovation and Creativity (CINOCRE).
At the NDA, Professor Imam spearheaded the establishment of the Department of Mechatronics Engineering and CINOCRE, a centre dedicated to driving Nigeria’s military-industrial complex by promoting indigenous research and innovation. His work has birthed numerous military and civil solutions, including:
Modification and automation of Nigerian Army artillery guns.
Combat Unmanned Ground Vehicles.
Smart rockets and missiles.
Mobile field kitchens, bakeries, and laundries for troops.
COVID-19 innovations such as UV disinfection chambers, ventilators, and touch-free handwash stations.
“School on Wheels” and “Hospital on Wheels” projects to address educational and healthcare gaps in conflict zones.
Hybrid electric-petrol vehicles and agricultural innovations like a motorised groundnut oil extracting machine.
Professor Imam has presented papers in the UK, Spain, Egypt, and the US, and attended over 40 international workshops. He has published several books, including Mechatronics for Beginners: 21 Projects for PIC Microcontrollers and Coding, Robotics and Drone Technology for Kids.
He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). He also serves as an examiner for the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and collaborates with research institutions like DICON, DRDB, NASENI, AFIT, and ABU Zaria.
Married to Maryam Munir, the couple is blessed with four children—Khalid, Humaira, Muhammad, and Deenah.
With his groundbreaking innovations and contributions to military and national development, Professor Imam continues to stand as a shining example of how academia and military service can merge to advance Nigeria’s technological frontiers.
