Prof Ekanem Braide (President, Nigerian Academy of Science):
Oratory on Professor B.Y. Abubakar OFR
Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar is an accomplished scientist, teacher, administrator and specialist in quantitative genetics and animal breeding. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
He began his working experience by joining the services of the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika-Zaria in 1978 as a Graduate Assistant and attained the rank of Professor of Animal Science 17 years later. During this period, he led the team of researchers that developed Shika Brown Poultry Layer Parent Stock, the first of its kind in Nigeria.
His experience as an administrator is vast. Within a period of three years, Professor Abubakar served as Director, Finance & Supply, Family Economic Advancement Programme [FEAP]; Director, Public Service Office [PSO], Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation [OHCSF]; and Director, Policy Implementation & Monitoring, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation [OSGF].
In 2012, he became the pioneer Executive Secretary/CEO of Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN). His two tenures witnessed the reform of the Agency culminating in a more effective ARCN. The reform included the reintegration of Nigeria into the global international agricultural research system, initiation and co-ordination of the establishment of a National Centre for Crop & Animal Improvement, professional capacity building for best practices and the introduction of a world-class periodic Journal of Applied Agricultural Research.
Professor Abubakar has carried out several other local and international assignments as well as consultancy tasks at State, national and global levels. He served in the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Council representing Sub-Saharan Africa. He also served as Chairman, Governing Board of West African Council for Agricultural Research & Development. He was Liaison Officer, Centre for Agricultural Biosciences International; member, Governing Board of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa; and member, Expert Panel on Development of Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa.
He is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Abuja; member, Advisory Board, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Science prize; incumbent and first African to chair the Board of Trustees, International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management.
It is my pleasure to present to you Professor Baba Yusuf Abubakar for the Hallmarks of Labour Role Model Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science.