Prof. Umma Abdullahi: A Pacesetter In Mechanical Engineering

Until Prof. Umma Abdullahi broke the academic barriers, engineering in Nigeria, especially in the North, was largely a male-dominated profession.

In 2024, Abdullahi changed the narratives when the management of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) appointed her a professor of Mechanical Engineering.

This remarkable appointment made her to become the first female professor of Mechanical Engineering in Northern Nigeria.

Abdullahi specially  built her academic career around mechanical engineering, with expertise in manufacturing and materials engineering, which has made her the face and symbol of women’s advancement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

BUK’s Faculty of Engineering lists her  qualifications as B.Eng., M.Eng. and PhD, as well as Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and registration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

Born in Kano Municipal, Abdullahi, according to a profile published by BUK’s official bulletin, originally sought to study Geography after completing her remedial science programme, but eventually found herself in Mechanical Engineering.

This switch has developed into a distinguished professional career in mechanical engineering when she graduated in 2005 and pursued postgraduate studies, including a doctorate in Malaysia.

The bulletin indicates that she completed her PhD programme at the International Islamic University, Malaysia in 24 months, an achievement it described as exceptional.

Her professional journey has also included a stinct at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where available rwcords identify her as a lecturer between 2017 and 2022.

Her promotion to the rank of professor was approved by Bayero University’s Central Appointments and Promotions Committee in December 2024, with effect from October 1, 2023. Her promotion was subsequently celebrated as a landmark achievement for women in engineering in Northern Nigeria.

Beyond the symbolism of her professorship, Abdullahi has made a name in manufacturing and materials engineering.

Her published work examines the mechanical properties of engineering materials, including alloy steels and aluminium-based composites.

In a 2023 study, she investigated the effects of alloying elements and heat treatment on the mechanical properties of alloy steels.

She has also researched into the use of agricultural waste in engineering materials. One of her studies examined rice-husk ash-reinforced aluminium matrix composites, investigating their hardness and tribological behaviour using powder metallurgy. The research reflects an important area of contemporary engineering: finding productive uses for agricultural waste while developing materials with improved engineering properties.

Earlier research associated with her work at ABU also explored the utilisation of rice husk as an agro-waste reinforcement in composite fabrication.

Other research interests have included aluminium alloys, nanocomposites and materials optimisation.

Her research has therefore extended beyond conventional classroom teaching into practical questions of materials development, manufacturing efficiency and engineering innovation.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of Prof. Abdullahi’s achievement is its potential influence on younger women considering careers in engineering.

Her rise in a discipline historically dominated by men demonstrates that gender and cultural expectations need not determine the limits of a woman’s professional ambition. BUK has described her achievement as an inspiration to a new generation of female engineers.

As a professor, researcher and engineer, Abdullahi now occupies a position from which she can influence not only engineering education but also the next generation of Nigerian scientists.

Her journey from Kano to the professorial chair is therefore more than a personal success story. It is a story of perseverance, academic excellence and barrier-breaking achievement—and a reminder that Nigeria’s engineering future will be better when women are given equal opportunities to participate and lead.