By Najeeb Sani
The Governing Council of North-Eastern University (NEU), Gombe, has approved the promotion of its Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Dr Mohammad Sani Isyaka, to the rank of Professor of Organic and Natural Products Chemistry.
The promotion, effective Oct. 1, 2026, followed the successful completion of the university’s external assessment process and was ratified by the Governing Council.
The Registrar of the university, Hajiya Hauwa Abubakar, conveyed the promotion in an official letter, congratulating Isyaka for his dedication to scholarship and institutional development.
Born on Aug. 30, 1986, in Gombe Local Government Area, Isyaka, at 40, is said to be the youngest Professor from Gombe State.
He had previously become the youngest Deputy Vice-Chancellor from the state at age 37.
In recognition of his contributions to chemical sciences, Isyaka was also admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (FICCON).
Our correspondent reports that Isyaka obtained a http://B.Sc. (Hons) in Chemistry, Second Class Upper Division, from the University of Abuja in 2008, http://M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry from same university in 2012, and a Ph.D in Organic and Natural Products Chemistry from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, in 2020.
According to a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mukhtar Saulawa, he began his academic career in 2012 as Assistant Lecturer at the Federal University of Kashere before joining NEU, where he rose to Associate Professor in 2023 and full Professor in 2026.
The statement added that the DVC has published over 100 research papers in Scopus-indexed journals. His research in natural products chemistry includes isolation and identification of 47 novel chemical compounds from three African Croton species.
“Among the compounds associated with his research is Saniolide, named in his honour, which has demonstrated activity against melanoma (M14), renal (786-0) and colon (HCT-116) cancer cell lines in laboratory studies.
“At NEU, Isyaka has held several responsibilities including Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, Chairman, Senate Business Committee and Pioneer Director, Centre for African Medicinal Plants Research”, it says.
It also adds that he has also played a significant role in the development and integration of 30 per cent local content into the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) across more than 30 academic programmes.
The statement quoted the management of the university as congratulating Isyaka, describing his elevation as a significant milestone in his academic career and appreciating his contributions to scholarship and institutional development.
