10 July 2023 – Professor Dr Nor Haniza Sarmin of the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the Faculty of Science at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) was invited to Taraba State University (TSU) in Nigeria to give a Grand Lecture titled “How to be an Impactful Supervisor?” The lecture was delivered through the Zoom online platform and was attended by over 100 participants at the grand hall at TSU. The lecture was also streamed live on the Taraba State University Official Facebook page, which attracted over 500 participants.
The initiative of this lecture was to revamp the collaborative efforts between the Vice Chancellor of TSU, Professor Sunday Paul Bako and Professor Datuk Ts. Ir. Dr Ahmad Fauzi Ismail, Vice-Chancellor of UTM. This initiative was discussed during Professor Sunday’s visit to UTM in November 2022, which coincided with the 66th UTM Convocation ceremony.
Located in the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria and the West African Sub-region, Taraba State University (TSU) is a highly regarded institution for education, science, technology, and research. For over a decade, TSU has been dedicated to utilising natural resources to address developmental issues across all levels of the value chain. Following a recent visit, TSU’s management is confident that UTM would be an ideal model for the university to enhance its teaching, supervision, and research capabilities. This would provide firsthand solutions to emerging problems and allow TSU to showcase its expertise in science, humanities, and engineering technology to the world.
Given the above, TSU has invited Professor Niza to deliver the Grand Lecture through their Dean of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Mustapha A Baba Ibbi. Professor Niza was recently recognized as a recipient of the UK Council of Graduate Education and has graciously shared and inspired the team of supervisors and the top management of TSU, including the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunday Paul Bako.
Dr Abdulmumini Inda, a Senior Lecturer from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), UTM, and a UTM Alumnus, moderated the lecture. He had previously worked at TSU. The lecture began with Dr Aliyu Isah-Chikaji, President of UTM Global Alumni in Nigeria and a current lecturer at Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria.
Prof. Dr Niza Sarmin, who has been a supervisor for over 20 years and has guided 40 PhD students, 28 master’s students, and 85 undergraduate students, recently shared valuable insights with the audience. She discussed the responsibilities of a supervisor, time management, and the lifestyle of students.
After delivering her lecture, Prof. Dr Niza Sarmin was joined by three of her former PhD students who shared their inspiring stories – Dr Ibrahim Gambo from Bauchi State University in Nigeria, Dr Rabiha Birkia from Shagra University in Al Quwaiyah, Saudi Arabia, and Associate Professor Dr Faiz Muhammad Khan from the University of Swat in Pakistan. The session was followed by a Q&A.
You can access the slides and video recording by clicking on the following link:
Slides and Video recordings of the lecture
Prepared by,
Dr Abdulmumini Inda
Prof. Dr Nor Haniza Sarmin