Prof.
Abubakar Sani Sambo was born on the 31st July, 1955 in Zaria, Kaduna State. He
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. Prof Sambo was elected Chairman
of the Nigerian Chapter of the World Energy Council (WEC) in 2006 and he served
in that capacity up to 2024. He was the Vice Chair for Africa of WEC from
2007-2013. WEC 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 since 1989, was tasked to commence the
development of the Faculty of Engineering & Environmental Design of the
University in 2017. 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. 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 in 2024. Prof Sambo is happily married and has three children.