A Vocation, Not Just a Profession
When I joined the Department of Chemistry at the Nigerian Defence Academy, I did not simply take on a job — I accepted a responsibility. Chemistry is a discipline that underpins almost every other field of science and engineering, and the quality of chemistry education we deliver today will directly determine the scientific capacity of Nigeria tomorrow.
Over the years I have taught Organic Chemistry, Natural Product Chemistry, and Phytochemistry at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. I have supervised MSc and PhD students, many of whom have gone on to become lecturers, researchers, and industry professionals in their own right.
Academic Administration at NDA
Since 2018, I have served as Director of Academic Planning at the Nigerian Defence Academy. This role has given me a wider lens through which to view the institution's academic development — overseeing accreditation, programme review, and quality assurance across all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
I am proud that under this period, the NDA has achieved full accreditation of all its courses with the National Universities Commission (NUC). Rigorous accreditation is not bureaucracy for its own sake — it is the mechanism by which we assure students, parents, and employers that our degrees represent genuine learning and achievement.
Visiting Professorship and External Examining
I serve as a Visiting Professor to Gombe State University and as an External Examiner to Sokoto State University. These roles matter to me because they connect our work at NDA to the broader Nigerian university system. I also sit on the NUC Accreditation Panel for five universities, bringing the perspective of a practising researcher to programme evaluation.
"A university that cannot produce original research will eventually struggle to teach meaningfully. Research and teaching are not rivals — they are the same activity viewed from different angles." — Prof. Saidu Garba
Aspirations for the Future
My aspiration is to see the NDA Chemistry Department — and Nigerian chemistry broadly — become a hub of natural product research that contributes directly to drug development, environmental monitoring, and materials innovation. This requires sustained investment in laboratory infrastructure, postgraduate funding, and international research partnerships.
To the students reading this: chemistry is one of the most powerful tools humanity has ever developed. Use it wisely, use it ethically, and use it in the service of your communities.
