This Is The Comprehensive Profile Of Professor Nicholas Akise Ada

Development, Education, Stories 26/09/2024 by iambenue

Nicholas Akise Ada PhD FSTAN is a Professor of Science Education and the past Minister of State 1, Foreign Affairs and a member of the Federal Executive Council of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin) and member of the Governing Council of the Benue State University, Makurdi (2010-2015). He served as the Dean of Students of the Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria (2005-2010). Pioneer Coordinator of the Sandwich Programme of the Benue State University (2000-2005). Pioneer Head of Department Department of Integrated Science College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Benue State, Nigeria; Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Education, Benue State University Makurdi, Chairman, Governing Council, Sinai College of Education and Entrepreneurial Studies, Gboko, Benue State of Nigeria. He also served as a Member BSUTH Management Board 2021.

Born on 6^th February 1954 in Shangev-Ya Clan of Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria, Prof Ada attended Saint Andrew’s Secondary School, Adikpo from 1969 to 1973, Jesus College Otukpo from 1973 to 1975, College of Education Katsina-Ala from 1976 to 1979. Between 1981 and 1983, Professor Ada attended Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and earned a B.Ed degree in Science Education with Second Class Upper Division. He obtained an M.Ed in 1989 from the University of Jos. He also attended King’s College London where he participated in the writing of textbooks for the training of science teachers at the Colleges of Education level in Nigeria under the auspices of the Nigeria Integrated Science Teacher Education Project (NISTEP) sponsored by the British Council in 1991 at Waterloo. He again returned to the University of Jos, for his Ph.D, which he obtained in 2004. He capped his academic pursuit with a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) Management from Benue State University in 2009.

An Educationist to the core, Prof Ada has taught at all levels of education in Nigeria. He has supervised and successfully graduated over 20 PhD candidates, over 80 Masters Candidates and numerous undergraduate students. He has also served as an External examiner to the University of Jos, Nassarawa State University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, and the University of Namibia. Professor Ada has also assessed over 15 candidates for promotion to Professorial Cadre from different Universities across the globe. He did his sabbatical leave between 2016-2017 at the Federal University of Lafia where he headed the team that successfully developed the curriculum for programs, which led to NUC approval for the takeoff of the Faculty of Education at the University.

He was a member of the Economic Team that produced the Development Blue Print Our Benue, Our Future of the Executive Governor of Benue State, Nigeria Rt. Hon. Dr. Gabriel Torwua Suswam CON. He also served as a member 2019 transition committee of the Benue State Government in the capacity of Vice Chairman of the Education Sub-Committee.

An active member of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), Professor Ada holds the award of Fellow Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (FSTAN) and is currently the Curriculum Development Coordinator of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria. He is also National Seminar Coordinator (virtual monthly seminar via Zoom) for STAN. He has several books, chapter contributions in edited books and occasional publications. Among his published books and publications are: 

1. The Dilemma of the Science Teacher in the Implementation of Science Curriculum Reforms at the Basic Education Level in Nigeria, being Inaugural Lecture. 
2. Curriculum and Instruction: An Introduction to General Methods and Principles of Teaching
3. Basic Instructional Technology with Practical Applications to Classroom Procedure
4. Co-Author of Spectrum Basic Science and Technology for Primary Schools in Nigeria (2010)
5. History of Scientific Ideas; Introduction to Scientific Thinking; 
6. Universities and Manpower Development: Third Public Lecture of the University of Mkar 
7. Repositioning the Nigerian Universities for Human Resource Production
8. Implementation Challenges of Emerging Reforms in Teacher Education in the 21^st Century Nigeria: Convocation Lecture, College of Education, Katsina-Ala, 2013. 
9. Research Methods in Education: A Practical Guide.

Professor Ada has several awards and honours bestowed on him as evidence of excellent and selfless service to humanity. He won Professor Ivowi Best Conference Paper Award, at the 46^th Annual Conference of the Science Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (STAN) held at St. Louis College, Jos Nigeria (2005), he was also conferred an Award of Excellence by the Benue State University Makurdi. He is a Commissioned Millennium Ambassador by Teachers without Borders International, an International Organization recognized and supported by the United Nations (UN). Professor Ada also served as Guest Speaker at the University of Namibia Annual Education Conference in 2014 where he delivered a paper on “Quality Teaching and Learning for Improved Educational Outcomes” at the Rundu Campus Namibia.

Professor Ada has visited among others the following countries: Great Britain, South Africa, Cameroon, United Arab Emirate, Malaysia and Kenya.

He is happily married with children.