By Auwal Ahmad Umar
The Board of Trustees of Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, has confirmed the appointment of Professor Fanna Inna Abdulrahman as the institution’s new acting Vice-Chancellor.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday by the University Registrar, Bukar Usman, who explained that the decision takes immediate effect.
According to the release, the appointment followed the recommendation of the Governing Council and was made in line with the provisions of the University Law.
Professor Abdulrahman, born on March 5, 1963, in Maiduguri, hails from Ngumati in Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State.
She began her early education at Yerwa Central Primary School before moving to the Federal Government Girls College, Owerri, where she completed her secondary education in 1980.
Her academic journey continued at the University of Maiduguri, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1987, a Master of Science in Organic Chemistry in 1992, a Master of Public Administration in 1997, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry in 2004.
She started her teaching career in 1988 as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Maiduguri. Through dedication and hard work, she rose through the ranks and became a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry in 2011. Over the years, she has supervised more than 150 undergraduate projects, 35 Master’s theses, and 15 doctoral dissertations, with five of her Ph.D. graduates now serving as professors.
She has published over 150 academic papers in reputable national and international journals and has presented her work at more than 25 conferences across the world.
Within her career, she has held several leadership roles including Head of Department, Sub-Dean, Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Central Administration) at Kashim Ibrahim University. At Al-Ansar University, she previously served as Head of the Department of Chemistry and Coordinator of Examinations and Time Table.
Beyond her teaching and research accomplishments, Professor Abdulrahman is widely respected in the academic and professional community.
She is a Fellow of the Chemical Society of Nigeria (FCSN) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (FICCON), where she currently serves as President and Chairman of Council under the Federal Ministry of Health.
She also contributes to national education through her membership in the Governing Councils of both Al-Ansar University and the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru.
Additionally, she has made notable contributions to the Centre for Research and Innovation at the University of Maiduguri.
With her new appointment as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Al-Ansar University, Professor Fanna Inna Abdulrahman is expected to bring her wealth of experience, academic excellence, and leadership skills to steer the young institution toward greater academic and research achievements.
Her career trajectory and service to education stand as an inspiration for many aspiring scholars across Nigeria.
