"Prof Fatimah Ja’afar Tahir, the Bauchi state’s second female but the first female Professor of Microbiology and Acting Vice Chancellor Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB), Borno State. She is known to be the first female Professor in Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State and first female Professor in the state produced by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi. Born on 8th February 1966, she did all her education in Bauchi from primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Her outstanding academic achievements within Bauchi State makes her refer to herself as “Made in Bauchi”.
This is because her tertiary education was done in ATBU Bauchi beginning from her first degree, masters and PhD. Equally, her entire professional career was accomplished in ATBU, Bauchi, where she started as a Graduate Assistant and rose to the level of Professor of Microbiology. She started in 1991 as a Graduate Assistant and moved to the rank of Assistant Lecturer in 1994 after her masters. There after she got the usual promotions every year to Lecturer II, Lecturer I, Senior Lecturer and in 2009, she became a Professor.
She is married with children. In 2011, she was honoured by an Association as the first female Professor in Bauchi Local Government area of Bauchi state. Professor Fatimah Tahir has over 30 publications in reputable journals and has supervised many postgraduate students, MSc and PhD. She is a member of relevant learned societies, including Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM), Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and Society for Applied Microbiology (SFAM).
She has held so many administrative responsibilities in the university which include among others; Head of Department (Gombe State University), Director Academic Planning (Bauchi State University Gadau), Dean School of Postgraduate studies (ATBU), DVC Academics (NAUB) and is currently the Acting Vice Chancellor NAUB. Prof Tahir has served and is serving in Governing Councils, and Boards of College of Education, Universities and many NGOs. A reputable researcher, Prof Tahir is lead researcher and member of many research groups in ATBU, including the Tetfund IBR, Tetfund NRF, ATBU Entomopathogenic fungi research group, ATBU BNRCC project, ATBU EU INSIDE project, ATBU NEI/USAID project, ATBU-NNPC EBLS/EIA group and a beneficiary of the third world organisation of women in science (TWOWS) research grant award. She is an external examiner to many other Nigerian Universities and have assessed at least 10 associate Professors/Readers up to 8 Professors for Universities across the country. Prof Fatimah is very active in community services, contributing her quota to the development of the country..."