Institute for Agricultural Research,
Ahmadu Bello University,
P.M.B 1044
Zaria.
Nafiu Abdu was born in Zaria and his passion has always been in academics. He earned his Bachelor of Agriculture and M.Sc. in Soil Science from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in 2000 and 2006, respectively. He received his Ph.D. in Agriculture from the University of Kassel, Germany in 2010. He served as a Postdoctoral scientist at the University of Kassel, Germany (2010-2014).
Prof. Nafiu was appointed on merit as a lecturer at ABU and rose through the ranks, becoming a professor of Soil Science since 2018. His research interest is broadly on Soil Chemistry, risk assessment of environmental contaminants, and environmental chemistry, among others. He has over 15 years experience and supervised several theses and dissertations. Prof. Nafiu is a distinguished scholar and has made over 70 scholarly contributions in peer-reviewed journals, in addition to conferences and seminars. He has won grants and was a leading researcher many times in Nigeria and abroad.
Prof. Nafiu has vast administrative experience and previously served as the Head of Department of Soil Science, ABU, Zaria, for four years (2019-2023). Currently, he is a Deputy Director at the Institute for Agricultural Research, ABU, Zaria. He was a one time Deputy Director of Academic Planning and Monitoring of ABU, Zaria (2023).
Prof. Nafiu is known to be one of the closest students of Late Sheikh Auwal Adam Albaniy Zaria. He has contributed massively to numerous community services, including serving as Director of Daarul Hadeethis Salafiyyah and Albaniy Science Academy, Zaria (2014-2023). He volunteered for teaching and mentoring in various Charity organizations for over a decade.
Prof. Nafiu's notable achievements and awards include the Kaduna State Government Scholarship, Federal Government Postgraduate Scholarship, Doctoral Scholarship by Volkswagen Foundation, Hanover, Germany, African Credibility Gold Award, COMSTECH-TWAS, Joint Research Grants Programme for Young Scientist by The Academy of Science for Developing World, Italy, and The most promising Young Scientist for the year 2012/13 by the Soil Science Department, ABU, Zaria.
The brilliance of this erudite professor has crossed boarders where he has been recognized in various citations in "Who is Who" including the Marquis Who's Who in the World; Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, and in 2013, he was listed among the 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century, Leading Scientist of the World, and Top 100 scientist, all by the International Biographical Center, Cambridge, U.K. Recently, for his research efforts, he was awarded the Most Cited Scholar of Faculty of Agriculture, ABU, Zaria (2024).
Prof Nafiu is a Member of the New York Academy of Science, U.S.A., the Society of Chemical Industry, UK, the International Union of Soil Science, the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science, the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, A.B.U. Zaria Branch. He is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria and the Pan-African Scientific Research Council.
In his leisure time, Prof. Nafiu enjoys watching Lawn Tennis and reading. He is happily married with children. Today, we celebrate this brilliant professor for his numerous achievements.
©A.H. Abulfikr
