By Abdulkadir Bin ABDULMALIK
Professor Mohammed Suleiman Audu has been appointed as the Chairman of the Governing Council of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, in recognition of his distinguished academic career, leadership experience and outstanding contributions to higher education in Nigeria.
Born over six decades ago into the family of Pa Sule Audu and Salamatu Atta of the renowned Atta ruling dynasty of Ebiraland, Nigeria, Professor Audu began his early education at RCM Catholic Primary School, Okene and St. William Primary School, Ilorin.
He proceeded to Community Secondary School, Okene, and Ansarul Islam Secondary School, Ilorin for his secondary education. He later attended the School of Basic Studies, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, where he obtained his Advanced Level qualifications (IJMB and GCE A-Level).
Professor Audu earned his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; Bayero University, Kano; and Benue State University, Makurdi, respectively. His areas of specialization include History, International Relations, Diplomacy and Peace and Conflict Studies.
With over two decades of experience as a teacher, researcher, and active participant in community development, Professor Audu has held key academic and administrative positions, including Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Federal University, Lokoja, Head of Department, Coordinator and Director of General Studies, Dean of Students Affairs, and a two-term member of the Governing Council of Kogi State University now Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, as well as a member of the Governing Council of Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba.
He has chaired and served on over sixty (60) Senate, Management, and Council Committees. As noted earlier, he previously served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the Federal University Lokoja.
Professor Audu is an editor of several academic journals and has published over sixty (60) scholarly articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals both locally and internationally. He is also the author of several textbooks, including War and Peace in the 20th Century and Nigerian Peoples and Culture, two of which were published in Germany.
He has taught and supervised over one hundred (100) undergraduate and postgraduate students, served as External Examiner and Professorial Assessor to numerous Nigerian universities and polytechnics, and contributed as a Resource Person for the National Universities Commission (NUC) in programme accreditation, resource verification, and Open and Distance Learning (ODL).
Professor Audu has presented papers at numerous local and international conferences, including Humboldt University, Berlin and the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. In April 2019, he led the African delegation to Virginia State University, USA, delivering a keynote address titled “Modernization and Globalization in the 21st Century.”
He has completed professional development courses in “Recent Trends in Higher Education” and “Interpersonal Skills and Public Speaking” at the Harvard University Extension School, as well as “Management of Higher Education Institutions” at the Galilee International Management Institute, Israel.
Professor Audu is widely traveled, with academic and professional engagements in Germany, Israel, United Kingdom, United States of America, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia.
His appointment as Chairman of the Governing Council of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, is a culmination of his decades of exemplary service, scholarly excellence, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of higher education in Nigeria.
