Joseph Ahmadu Abalaka

Biographical record

Title

Prof.

Surname

Abalaka

First Name

Joseph

Other Names

Ahmadu

Gender

Male

Source of Publication

NIBC Who's Who (3rd Edition)

Date of Birth

March 16, 1947

Status

Died

Date of Death

December 29, 2008

State of Origin

Kogi State

Place of Birth

Odu Ofugo, Dekina, Benue State

Father's Status

N/A

Mother's Status

N/A

Marital Status

Married

Name of Spouse

Rita Asimawu (married 1969)

Number of Children (Male)

2

Number of Children ( Female)

3

Profession

Biochemist

Working Experience

Laboratory Technician, Government Training School, Bukuru, Jos, January-September 1965
Customs and Excise Officer, Board of Customs and Excise, Lagos, June-September 1967
Quality Control Brewer, North Brewery Ltd Kano, 1971-72
Science Master and Acting Principal, St. Thomas Secondary School, Kano, July-December 1972
Graduate Assistant, Biochemistry Department, University of Wisconsin, 1973-74
Graduate Assistant/Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin, 1975-77
Assist, Director, Foreign Students Centre, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1975-77
Lecturer in Biochemistry and Biology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1977-81
Lecturer, Federal University of Technology, Minna
Assistant, Dean, Faculty of Science, 1978-81
Acting Head, Department of Microbiology, 1981-82
Senior Lecturer, 1981-86;
Head, Department of Microbiology, 1982- 87
Deputy Dean, Faculty of Science, 1983-84;
Associate Professor, Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1985-87
Dean, 1985-87;
Professor/head, Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna, 1988-90
DG/CEO, standards organisation of Nigeria, 1990

Education Level

Tertiary

Schools Attended with Dates

Odu Gboyaga Primary School, 1954-57; Alloma Primary School, 1958-59; Ochaja Secondary School, 1960-64; Federal School of Science, Lagos, 1965-67; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1967-71; University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA, 1973-77

Membership of Professional Bodies/Professional Qualifications

ICSA Scholar, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1967-71;
Federal Government Postgraduate Scholar, 1973-77.
Nigerian Institute of Food and Technology, 1976;
Nigerian Society for Microbiology,1976;
Aflatoxin Check Sample Committee;
New York Academy of Science, USA, since 1980;
Biochemical Society of Nigeria, 1982;
Association of Official Analytical Chemists, USA, 1982;
International Agency for Research on Cancer, Paris, 1983-88;
Representative, Benue State, Board of Directors, Benue Cement Company, Gboko, 1984-86, 1987-91;
Coordinator, British Council and Overseas Development Administration Programme on Rehabilitation of Equipment, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1986-87,
Board of Directors, Jos Steel Rolling Company Ltd 1987-89;
Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, since 1988;
Japanese Agricultural and Biochemical Associations,1988;
Chairman/Coordinator, United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission’s Committee for Africa, 1991-95;
American Society for Microbiology, 1995;
Vice Chairman, United Nations Codex Alimentarius Commission, 1995-97;
Fellow: Institute of Administrative Management of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology;

Previous Appointments

Member, American Society for Microbiology, since 1976;
Member, New York Academy of Sciences, 1978
Member, Benue State Public Accounts Committee, 1978-79;
Head, Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1981-87;
Member, World Health Organisation, Aflatoxin Sample Check Committee, 1983;
Member, Board of Directors, Benue Cement Company, since 1984;
Member, Governing Council, College of Educa tion, Ankpa, Benue State, 1984-87;
Dean, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1985-87;
Member, Science Panel, National Universities Commission Panel on Academic Standards of Universities,1986.
Member, Board of Directors, Jos Steel Rolling Company, 1987;

Have you ever been a member of any political party?

N/A

Awards and Honours

Stauffer Company, Graduate Research Award, Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin, USA, 1975-77;
Hatch’s Grant for Outstanding Graduate Research Programme, University of Wisconsin, 1976;
Best Foreign Research Student Assistant, University of Wisconsin, 1976;
Honorary Scientist of Egyptian Academy of Scientists, 1983

Creative Work/Major Exhibitions

Co-author, The Role of Universities in National Economic Recovery,
Baraka Press and Publishers Limited, Kaduna, 1990;
Co-author, Immobilization of Whole Cells in Alcoholic Fermentation, Nigeria Food Journal;
Co-author, Raw Materials and Resource Utilization: Potential for Local Cereals and Tubers as Raw Materials for Brewing;
Minna Food Agricultural Journal;
and many other publications

Hobbies

Lawn tennis, Reading (political books), Ayo, Draught