Prof. (Mrs.) Namzat Toyin Surajudeen-Bakinde

Prof. Nazmat Toyin Surajudeen-Bakinde (Nee Olagoke) is from Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria. She attended Offa Grammar School and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Ilorin, where she later became a professor. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom in 2010. A registered Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. She has a Certificate in Advance Studies in Academic Practice (CASAP) at Grenoble School of Management, Grenoble, France.       

Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde was an Assistant Director (Administration), Centre for International Education, representative of the faculty on the Academic Planning and Curriculum Committee, Member, University Mock Accreditation Committee, the Senate Representative on Research Grant Committee and Hall Mistress at the Atlantic Height Private Hostel all at University level.

Prof Nazmat was Chair of some committees in the Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET), like FETiCON24, Alumni Committee, Welfare Committee, Ethical Review Committee and a member of the Mock Accreditation Committee and Outcome Based Education Committee. At the department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde was a Level Adviser, a Postgraduate Coordinator, Acting Head of Department, Member of Quality Assurance Committee in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

Prof. Nazmat is an active member of professional associations like Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria, Nigerian Society of Engineers, Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers among others. She is also a girl-child education Advocate. She is a founder of non-governmental organization, MINWAMAH Support and Care Foundation that supports and empowers widows and orphans with donations from generous people.

Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde was selected by the Directorate of Technical Aid Corps, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to serve the Federal Government of Nigeria in a two-year volunteer service in the Gambia University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET). She and her other seventeen colleagues resumed work more than four months ago.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), the Gambia and the Governing Council of USET established a Taskforce to recruit from the Nigerian volunteers to fill the Vice-Chancellor position and three others. At the end of the interview, Prof. Nazmat was recommended and approval was given for her to be appointed as the First Female and Substantive Vice-Chancellor of USET. The handover ceremony by the Interim Vice Chancellor took place on 3^rd October, 2024 at MoHERST conference hall. She has since started work with different meetings scheduled with staff, tour of the facilities and visitations to the TVET centres.