to Government Girls College, Dala, Kano, where she obtained West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1980. She proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where she graduated with a degree in Botany in 1984. She undertook her National Youths Service Corps at Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Kano State. She did her master’s degree at Bayero University, Kano in 1994.  She afterwards got employment with the same University in the Department of Biological Sciences. She immediately enrolled for a Ph.D program in Botany (plant physiology) which she completed in 2005. The research work was done at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Kano Station. Her Ph.D thesis was one of the three selected by the University and entered into a National competition where it scored 5th position. She also has a certificate on Agricultural biotechnology following a short course in Michigan State University, USA in 2012.

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Professor Fatima started working with B.U.K in 1994 as assistant lecturer and through hard work she rose through the ranks to become a Senior lecturer in 2003, Associate Professor in 2007 and Professor in 2010. She has taught several courses and supervised many under-graduate students.

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Professor Fatima has held several academic positions in the University as member of various faculty and departmental committees, remedial and undergraduate level coordinator from 2001 to 2002. She was also post graduate level coordinator from 2002 to 2008. She served as Head of Plant Science Department from 2012 to 2013. She is editor to many journals and has participated in accrediting the academic programmes of some tertiary institutions in the country. She has been an external examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in some Universities. She has also assessed candidates for promotion to the post of Associate professor. She was honoured with two awards by her students.

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In 2013 she was released on leave of absence to a newly established university, Northwest University to establish the Faculty of Science as the pioneer dean. She has held many academic and administrative responsibilities in addition to being the Dean of the Faculty including member, Appointments and Promotion committee, Staff Audit Committee, Chairperson, Academic Staff Development Committee, Chairperson, Committee for the Establishment of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Chairperson, committee for the establishment of Biotechnology Programme at Northwest University, Kano. She is a member of Senate and Governing Council of NWU, Kano. She was in 2015 searched for the post of Vice - Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano.

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In 2015, Professor Fatima was appointed the pioneer Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Northwest University, Kano. Since then she has chaired ICT Committee, Hospital Revolving Fund Committee and Budget Monitoring and Performance Committee. She was appointed Vice- Chancellor Federal University, Dutse in February, 2016 to 2022.

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At the state level she served in many committees including technical and implementation committees for the establishment of Northwest University, Kano (NWU, Kano). She also served in Kano State political transition committee in 2015 and was appointed member of the Kano State Education Promotion Committee in the same year. At the National level, Professor Fatima has served as a resource person to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the accreditation of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in the Country.

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Professor Fatima is a distinguished researcher with about 60 peer- reviewed journal articles, some newspaper articles, and has authored 3 books; An Introduction to Biostatistics, Experimental Research Methodology and Data Analysis in the Life Sciences and Careers in Botany. She has also co –edited 1. She has supervised and co – supervised more than 30 postgraduate students at the masters’ and PhD levels. She has attended many conferences both local and international and presented papers and posters. Professor Fatima has organized scientific conferences and workshops at various times.

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Professor Fatima solely founded and established the Kano Botanic Garden in 2008. The Garden is mainly for conservation of indigenous plants, education, public enlightenment and leisure. She did her one year sabbatical leave in National Universities Commission (NUC) between 2021 and 2022 at the end of her tenure as Vice- Chancellor. She then returned to Bayero University, Kano where she continued with her service of teaching, research and supervision. She is also a visiting Lecturer with Yusuf Maitama Sule, Kano. Prof. Fatima was appointed pioneer Vice- Chancellor, Azman University, Kano in August, 2023.

 

She is a member of both national and international professional organizations including Botanical Society of Nigeria, Science Association of Nigeria and Botanical Society of America as well as Non- Governmental organizations including, Muslim Sisters Organization, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Women Farmers Association of Nigeria (WOFAN).

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Professor Fatima is married with 5 daughters. Her hobbies are; reading, writing, travelling and gardening.