Prof. Emeritus Abubakar Sani Sambo

Born on the 31st July, 1955 in Zaria, Kaduna State, Prof Abubakar Sani Sambo graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with a First Class Honours B.Eng degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1979. In 1983, he obtained his doctorate degree (DPhil) also in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Prof Sambo started his working career at Bayero University, Kano (BUK) as a Graduate Assistant in Mechanical Engineering Department in 1980 and rose to become a Senior Lecturer in 1987. In 1989 he joined Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) as Reader (Associate Professor) in Energy Studies and Director of the Sokoto Energy Research Centre (SERC) of that University. In 1991 he was appointed Professor of Mechanical Engineering (Energy Studies) at Sokoto. From 1995 to 2004 Prof Sambo served as the Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi. He served briefly, that was between July to December 2004, as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University before his appointment as the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) where he served for two terms of a total of eight years from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2012.

Prof Sambo was named the Special Adviser to the President on Energy in July 2011. In recent times Prof Sambo was given the following appointments: 1. Member of Tertiary Education Trust Fund Standing Committee on Research and Development and Coordinator of the Energy Thematic Group – March 2020; 2. Chairman, Ministerial Task Force on Power, appointed by Minister of Power in 2020; 3. Chairman, Minister’s Policy and technical Advisory Committee on Environment appointed by the Minister of Environment in 2021; 4. Chairman, Technical Board of Power Equipment and Electrical Machinery Development Institute (PEEMADI)  of NASENI appointed by the Presidency in 2021; 5. Member of the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) Consultation Committee – June 2021;  6. Member of the African Union High Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) – April 2022;  7. Vice Chairman, Working Group on Environmental Standards for the Sustainable Procurement Environmental and Social Standards Enhancement  (SPESSE) Project appointed by Minister of Environment in February 2024.

Prof Sambo has supervised 16 PhD candidates to successful completion and has written more than 200 articles in books, journals, conference proceedings and seminars and workshops. He is registered by COREN to practice as a Mechanical Engineer and he is a FELLOW of the following 10 associations: 1. Nigerian Academy of Engineering; 2. Nigerian Academy of Science; 3. Nigerian Society of Engineers; 4. Solar Energy Society of Nigeria; 5. Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers; 6. Nigerian Association of Energy Economists; 7. Renewable and Alternative Energy Society of Nigeria; 8. Nigerian Institute of Management; 9. Nigerian Institute of Power Engineers and 10. Energy Institute of the U. K.

Having served as the Vice Chair for Africa of the World Energy Council (WEC) in 2007-2013, Prof Sambo is now the Chairman of the Nigerian Chapter of the Council which is the principal impartial network of leaders and practitioners promoting affordable, stable and environmentally sensitive energy systems for the greatest benefit of mankind. Prof Sambo, who has been a staff of the Sokoto Energy Research Centre of UDUS, is now with the Faculty of Engineering & Environmental Design of the University.

Prof Sambo is the recipient of two national honours: the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) in 1997 and the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in year 2000. National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) - December, 1997. He was turbaned as the Shettiman Gabas Zazzau by the Emir of Zazzau in Zaria in July 2018. In December 2022 he was one of the recipients of the 2021/2022 Role Model Award of the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation. On 24th February 2024 he was conferred with the honorary Doctor of Engineering degree (D.Eng) by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi. And on 23rd January 2025, Prof Sambo was inducted as the 20th President of the Nigerian Academy of Science. Having retired from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Prof Sambo was honoured by the institution with Professor Emeritus appointment. Prof Sambo is happily married and has three children.