Profile of the Executive Director

Dr. Aminu Raji was born on October 25th 1955 at Girei, Girei Local Government of Adamawa State to the family of Mall. Bamanga Raji and Mrs. Aishatu Raji. He attended Mustafa Primary School, Yola, between 1962-1968 and Aliyu Mustafa Secondary School (now Aliyu Mustafa College, Yola) 1969-1973. He proceeded to North East College of Arts and Science Maiduguri (now University of Maiduguri) 1973-1975.

His quest for knowledge saw him through Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1975-1978. He later proceeded to University of Jos, 1980-1981 for his Masters degree. He further attended University of Wales, UK, 1984-1989 for his Doctorate degree. Dr. Raji has the following degrees;

• B. Sc (Hons.) Zoology
• M. Sc. Applied Hydrobiology and Fisheries
• Ph. D. Fisheries

Awards:

• Best graduating student at Secondary School (1973)
• Best three graduating students at B. Sc. Course 1978
• Best graduating student, M. Sc. Course (1981)
• Fisheries Society of Nigeria Merit Award
• Fellowship award for outstanding contribution to Fisheries Education awarded by Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON)
• Postgraduate scholarship award by the Federal Government of Nigeria utilized at the University of Wales (1984-1989)
• Best Leadership award by the Rotary Club of New-Bussa.
• Fisheries Society of Nigeria award for the most supportive member of the Society - 2008

Services/Membership of Government Committees/Panel on National Issues.

• Secretary, Panel on Biology syllabus for NCE (1990)
• Member, Reaccreditation’s Team for Fisheries Technology Programme, FCFMT, Lagos (1997)
• Member, Committee for the Development of Guidelines for the Management of Federal Colleges of Agriculture (July2000)
• Member, Committee on Curriculum Development and Implementation of Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA) and Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) for teaching in College of Fisheries (2003)
• Member/Secretary, NIFFR Governing Board, 2000 - 2004, 2005 - 2007
• Member, Agriculture and Water Resources Steering Committee (AWRSC) of National Council on Privatization (NPC), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Abuja (2000)
• Member, Implementation Committee for the take off of Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa, Gombe State (2003)
• Member, Presidential Committee on Fisheries and Aquatic Development (2002)
• Member, Federal Ministry of Agriculture committee for the development of guidelines for the management of Federal Colleges of Agriculture (2000).
• Member ad-hoc committee on resolution of crises in Agricultural Research Institutes and Federal Colleges of Agriculture – 2008.
• Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, NIFFR branch award for excellence in leadership of the Institute.

Professional membership

• Executive member, Fisheries Society of Nigeria
• Member, Nigerian Institute of Management.

Contribution to Fisheries

• Chairman, Zonal Chapter of FISON, North East Zone.
• Chairman, LOC of 2001 Annual Conference and Silver Jubilee of Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) - award winning.
• Member, Industry Coordinating Group (FISON) since 1993.
• 4th Vice President of Fisheries Society of Nigeria
• Member, Editorial/ Board, Nigerian Journal of Fisheries.
• Ex-officio member of FISON in the capacity of Executive Director NIFFR

Other contribution

• Certificate of Honour in recognition of outstanding contribution to the Development of National Museum, Maiduguri 2002.
• Member, Semi-Arid Zone Farmers (NGO), Borno State Chapter
• Borno State Best Farmer of the year 2000, 2005.

Contribution to Teaching, Training and Research

• Sustained teaching of Science (Biology Education) at a College of Education for 12 years rising to the level of Chief Lecturer.
• Provided leadership as Principal/Provost/CEO of the two out of the three Freshwater Fisheries Technology Colleges in Nigeria.
• Radically, improved the infrastructural facilities at the Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Baga, Borno State, earning a ministerial commendation.
• Provided exemplary leadership as Provost, Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New-Bussa, leading to the accreditation of all programmes (Pre-ND, ND, HND).
• Founding Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Arid Zone Fisheries, published by Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Baga, Borno State.
• Founding Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Fisheries Technology, jointly published by the Freshwater Fisheries College (Baga and New-Bussa).
• Member of the Editorial Board of Nigeria Journal of Fisheries, published by Fisheries Society of Nigeria.
• Member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Agricultural Technology (JAT), NBTE Kaduna.
• Founding Editor-in-Chief, Nigerian Journal of Fisheries Science and Technology, New Bussa.

Work Experience

• Assistant Lecturer II (Biology) Advanced Teachers College, (now College of Education) Jalingo, Taraba State.
• Assistant Lecturer I (Biology) College of Education, Jalingo, Taraba State (1981-1982)
• Lecturer II College of Education, Jalingo, Taraba State,(1982-1984)
• Lecturer I College of Education, Jalingo, Taraba State (1984-87)
• Senior Lecturer, College of Education, Jalingo, Taraba State (1987-1989)
• Principal Lecturer, College of Education, Jalingo, Taraba State (1989-1991)
• Chief Lecturer, College of Education, Jalingo, Taraba State (1992)
• Principal, Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Baga Borno State (1991- 1994)
• Provost/CEO, Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New-Bussa (1994-1999)
• Provost/CEO, Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Baga, Borno State (1999-2006).
• Executive Director/CEO, National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New-Busa, Niger State. (2006 to date).

Ad hoc/part time

• Town Planning Assistant (Max Lock Group of Companies) - 1974
• Science Teacher, Jada Teachers’ College, Adamawa State – 1975
• Coordinator, Operation Feed the Nation, Song Local Government – 1976 and 1977.
• Part time Teacher in Biology, Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) Auchi, Edo State -1979.
• Facilitator, National Population Commission, Jalingo -1991
• Part time Lecturer Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Niger state – 1997.
• Visiting Lecturer, Adamawa State University Mubi, Adamawa State 2005/2006.

Publications

• Co-authored a book with B.D. Olaosebikan, "A Field Guide to Nigerian Freshwater Fisheries" (1998).
• Co-authored a book with Dr. A. N. Okaeme et al. on Argungu Fishes and festival. Kebbi state, Nigeria – 2008.
• Published over 40 fisheries related research publications

Dr. Aminu Raji is happily married and the marriage is blessed with three boys and two girls. He loves reading and traveling. Vast in current affairs with special interest in politics, geography, history and development issues.

In the course of his traveling he has toured the shores of Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger, the Benelux countries, Ethiopia, United Kingdom, Israel, Mali and Saudi Arabia.