BRIEF PROFILE OF PROF. IDRIS MUHAMMAD BUGAJE,
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NATIONAL BOARD FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION,
KADUNA
Born in March 1958 at Bugaje, Katsina State, Prof Idris Bugaje holds a Bachelor’s and M.Sc. degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Ahmadu Bello University obtained in 1980 and 1988 respectively as well as a Ph.D. in Energy Engineering from the University of Newcastle-Upon- Tyne, UK in 1993.
After serving the NYSC with NNPC Refinery, Warri, Bugaje started his career with the Nigerian Paper Mills, Jebba from 1981-1983, Energy Research Centre, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto from 1983-1988 and Kaduna Polytechnic as Lecturer I and rose to the rank of Senior Lecturer and Head, Department of Chemical Engineering between 1988-1995. He joined the services of Ahmadu Bello University in 1995 and two years later left for the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1997-1999). He returned to ABU Zaria in 1999 as Reader (Associate Professor) from where he was appointed Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa in 2000.
At the end of his tenure in 2004, he proceeded to the University of Johannesburg, South Africa on a one-year Sabbatical in the Department of Chemical Engineering after which he returned to his employers; ABU Zaria and served from 2005-2008. While at ABU, Zaria, he was the Founding Chair, Renewable Energy Research Group (2006-2008), Head of Department of Chemical Engineering (2007-2008) and Dean, Faculty of Engineering (2007-2008).
Prof Bugaje was appointed Professor of Chemical Engineering in 2006 by the University of Maiduguri but joined only in 2008 to become Dean Faculty of Engineering in 2009. In 2011 he was appointed Director-General of the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria.
Upon the successful completion of his tenure at NARICT in 2016, he went for a one year Sabbatical leave with- the Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, Katsina and towards the tail end of the sabbatical, he was appointed Rector of the famous Kaduna Polytechnic in October 2017. In April 2021 he was appointed Executive Secretary of the NBTE.
A scholar of international standing, Prof Bugaje has over 68 publications (Journals and Books) and 64 as conference and seminar papers, with Google scholar citations as at January 2021 totaling 1086. Prof Bugaje’s major research area is Renewable Energy especially the area of Biofuels.
With five patents to his name, Prof Bugaje, a COREN Registered Engineer is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (FNSChE), Fellow Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (FSESN) and Fellow, Materials Society of Nigeria (FMSN). He has received several awards in his 40-year service to humanity. He is married with several children.
