By Umar Ahmad Aminu
“I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.” – Great Expectations, Charles Dickens.
I find no words better suited to describe the stormy waters of academia. It takes ambition, coupled with determination, to meet great expectations. Dr. Murtala Aminu Baba is emblematic of this. His glittering profile reads as follows:
An academic and professional engineer specializing in Communication Engineering, particularly antenna design and wireless communication systems. He is also a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer and Communications Engineering at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Nigeria. His career combines university lecturing, engineering research, departmental administration, and professional services.
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His academic development has taken him from undergraduate training in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in Nigeria to postgraduate studies in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and doctoral research in Communication Engineering in Malaysia.
This background is reflected in his research, which covers antenna technologies, wireless communication, information security, cloud computing, and related topics.
His career extends beyond research and lecturing. He has held various administrative roles, including Acting Head of Department and Head of Department, and has led a research project funded by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). He has also contributed to scholarly publications, presented papers at national and international conferences, and participated in professional activities related to engineering standards and practices.
These years of academic and administrative dedication and sacrifice culminated in his latest achievement: Associate Professor (Reader), following his successful internal Government Council review at ATBU, a prestigious Federal University in Nigeria. While the external review is pending, we must celebrate his professional excellence and sing his praises as we share an account of his contributions to academia.
Personal Life
Dr. Aminu Baba hails from the Limamin Kobi family, a historically Islamic-oriented family that has significantly contributed to Bauchi State’s growth and development over the past century. He was born in 1983 in Bauchi. At a young age, he memorized the Holy Qur’an with near-perfect accuracy. His unforgettable, melodious recitation of the Qur’an brings tranquility to hearts during Ramadhan Tahajjud prayers.
Dr. Murtala is also a family man, married and blessed with children, split evenly between the two genders. Suffice it to say, our academic future is secure.
Education and Academic Formation
He began his early education at Sa’adu Zungur Primary School in Bauchi, where he studied from 1990 to 1996. He then attended Fariah Foundation Secondary School in Bauchi from 1997 to 1999, and completed his secondary education at Government College Toro in Bauchi, earning his Senior Secondary Certificate in 2003.
In 2004, he enrolled at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
He completed the program in 2010, graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) degree. His undergraduate project, Design and Construction of a Programmable Door Lock System, involved developing a practical engineering solution and was part of his early technical training.
His undergraduate education was supported in part by a merit scholarship from the ELF Petroleum Nigeria Limited scholarship scheme, which covered the period from 2006 to 2010. The scholarship was an important part of his academic development before he proceeded to postgraduate study.
In 2012, Dr. Murtala Aminu Baba moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a Master of Science in Information Technology at the University of Wolverhampton. He completed the program in 2013. His postgraduate work extended beyond the immediate concerns of electrical engineering to include software systems, cloud computing, and information security. His projects included the design and development of a Heavy Goods Vehicle Logging and Maintenance System and a dissertation examining security issues and challenges in cloud computing database architecture.
The significance of this stage of his education lies in the range of technical problems it exposed him to. His training was no longer confined to communication hardware. It also encompassed the software systems and information infrastructure that underpin modern technological services.
He received a Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) scholarship for the 2012-2013 master’s program.
Dr. Aminu Baba later returned to advanced research in his primary engineering discipline. Between 2016 and 2020, he pursued doctoral studies at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Electrical (Communication) Engineering in 2020. His thesis was titled Metamaterial Antenna for Compact Wireless Local Area Network Multiple Input Multiple Output Applications.
This doctoral research set a clear direction for much of his subsequent scholarly work. It focused on antenna design for compact wireless systems, particularly the use of metamaterial structures in multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) applications. His later publications and conference contributions continued to examine antenna miniaturization, multiband operation, frequency reconfiguration, and related challenges in wireless communications.
Academic Career and Administrative Responsibilities
Dr. Aminu Baba’s academic career has been based at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, where he has combined lecturing and research with departmental administrative responsibilities.
His administrative experience began with assignments supporting the routine operations of the Department of Computer and Communications Engineering. From February 2014 to April 2016, he served as Examination Officer. He also served as Acting Registration Officer during the 2013/2014 academic session. From 2014 to April 2016, he served as Deputy Chairman and Secretary of the departmental Undergraduate Admission Committee, also known as the Absorption Committee.
During this period, he represented the department on the Faculty of Engineering and Engineering Technology’s Absorption Committee.
These positions placed him within the administrative processes through which a university department manages examinations, student registration, and undergraduate admissions. They also provided experience coordinating academic responsibilities that require cooperation among staff, students, and university administrative structures.
In January 2021, he became Project Coordinator in the department, serving from January 28 to December 2021. In March of the same year, he was appointed Acting Head of Department. He held that position until March 2023, after which he served as substantive Head of Department from March 9 to October 31, 2024.
His appointment as Head of Department marked a transition from individual administrative assignments to broader departmental leadership.
The position carried responsibility for coordinating the work of an academic unit focused on engineering education, research, and professional development. His earlier experience in examinations, admissions, and project coordination formed the background against which he undertook this role.
His university service has also included participation in committees and research beyond the immediate responsibilities of departmental administration. From July to November 2020, he served on the university task force on Information and Communication Technology. Between November 2021 and October 2023, he was a member of the NCC Professorial Chair Occupant and Research Team.
Taken together, these responsibilities show that his work at the university has extended beyond the classroom and personal research. He has also participated in administrative and collaborative activities that support the broader academic institution.
Dr. Aminu Baba’s contributions also include a two-year national assignment on secondment with the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) Program in the Republic of Uganda.
The secondment commenced in November 2024 and concluded in October 2026; during this period, Dr. Aminu Baba served as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer and Communications Engineering at Makerere University Kampala, Uganda. The assignment gave him a valuable opportunity to contribute to teaching, research, curriculum development, community service, and academic administration in a diverse, dynamic academic environment.
In addition, the experience significantly strengthened international academic collaborations and further developed his competencies in teaching, research, leadership, and institutional service. The experience has been both professionally rewarding and intellectually enriching, and he is confident that the knowledge and skills acquired will contribute positively to his future responsibilities at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and Nigeria in general.
Research and Areas of Specialization
Dr. Aminu Baba’s research centers on Communication Engineering. His principal interests include microstrip and patch antennas, metamaterial antennas, MIMO systems, wireless communications, antenna miniaturization, frequency-reconfigurable designs, and related radio-frequency and microwave technologies.
Much of this work focuses on designing antennas that meet the requirements of compact wireless devices and communication systems.
As wireless technologies advance, antenna design must address competing requirements for size, operating frequency, bandwidth, gain, and interference between antenna elements. These requirements provide the technical context for much of his research.
His doctoral thesis examined metamaterial antennas for compact WLAN MIMO applications. The topic addresses two key concerns in wireless engineering: fitting multiple antenna elements into limited physical space while maintaining strong communication performance. His subsequent publications have explored related questions using various antenna structures and design approaches.
His scholarly work addressed, among other topics, compact patch MIMO antennas with low mutual coupling for WLAN applications, miniaturized multiband patch antennas using complementary split-ring resonators, wideband monopole antennas, and frequency-reconfigurable metamaterial designs.
He has also contributed to research on antennas for fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems and antenna structures for X-band applications.
These are not isolated topics. They fall under a broader research interest in designing or customizing antenna structures to meet wireless communication demands. The recurring emphasis on compactness, multiband operation, reconfiguration, and MIMO applications provides a consistent thread across several of his publications.
His research interests also extend into information technology and computing. His postgraduate dissertation examined security challenges in cloud computing database architecture.
Other works address information security, encryption algorithms, wireless sensor networks, home automation, image detection, and data-mining techniques for indoor localization.
More recent topics include smart irrigation using machine learning and digital farming approaches, as well as developing a hard-drive failure prediction model for cloud platforms using intelligent techniques.
These subjects broaden his research beyond antenna engineering, although Communication Engineering remains his primary area of specialization.
Research Funding and Project Leadership
One of Dr. Murtala Aminu Baba’s major research responsibilities was serving as Lead Researcher and Principal Investigator for an NCC-funded project conducted between 2020 and 2022.
The project, funded under the NCC 2019 Tertiary Institution Telecommunication-Based Research Grant Award, was titled Design and Development of a Prototype High-Gain Metamaterial MIMO Antenna Array for Wireless Communication Systems and Energy Harvesting in Urban and Rural Areas.
The project brought together several subjects central to his research interests: metamaterial antenna design, MIMO technology, antenna gain, wireless communication, and energy harvesting.
Its intended applications spanned both urban and rural environments.
As noted, he was also a member of the NCC Professorial Chair Occupant and Research Team from November 2021 to October 2023.
These activities demonstrate his involvement in funded research and collaborative work within the university, alongside his individual scholarly contributions. These matters testify to the breadth of his intellectual, leadership, and academic capabilities.
This kind of research requires more than identifying a technical problem. It involves developing a design approach, evaluating its performance, and working within a framework that harmonizes people and resources. The NCC project, therefore, represents an important part of his professional record, particularly because it connected his specialization in antenna engineering with a funded research initiative.
Publications and Scholarly Engagement
Dr. Aminu Baba has authored and co-authored journal articles and conference papers in engineering and technology. His publications span antenna design, wireless communications, metamaterial structures, information security, and related technical fields.
His work has appeared in journals and scholarly outlets including PLoS ONE, the International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, ELEKTRIKA: Journal of Electrical Engineering, and AEU – International Journal of Electronics and Communications, among others.
His conference contributions include papers on microstrip antennas with complementary split-ring resonator structures, planar monopole antennas, multiband patch antennas, MIMO antenna systems, and frequency-reconfigurable metamaterial antennas.
He has participated in the International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, the International Conference on Electrical, Electronic, Communication and Control Engineering, the IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Applied Electromagnetics, and the IEEE International RF and Microwave Conference.
His scholarly engagement also extends beyond wireless communication hardware. Earlier work addressed wireless sensor networks for agricultural development in Sub-Saharan Africa, internet security and countermeasures, and encryption techniques for cloud database security. More recent conference contributions include work on smart irrigation and digital farming.
The range of these publications reflects both a sustained interest in Communication Engineering and participation in research addressing related technological problems.
He has worked with other researchers, as shown by the collaborative authorship of several journal articles and conference proceedings listed in his CV.
In addition to publishing and presenting research, Dr. Aminu Baba has participated in scholarly review. Reviewing is part of the academic process of evaluating published research, and this recognition is another element of his scholarly service. He received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Bayero Journal of Engineering and Technology in 2025.
Professional Activities and Service
Dr. Aminu Baba’s professional activities extend beyond university appointments and research publications. He has participated in engineering conferences, chaired academic sessions, served as a rapporteur, and presented papers on issues affecting engineering practice in Nigeria.
In November 2019, he served as Rapporteur for the 6th National Conference on National Development: Issues, Challenges and Prospects, held at Abubakar Tatari Polytechnic in Bauchi. In the same year, he also served as Session Chair at the 4th International Conference on Electrical, Electronic, Communication and Control Engineering in Malaysia.
His presentations at COREN assemblies have addressed the relationship between engineering practice and national development. In 2021, he presented on Advancing the Frontiers of Engineering Practitioners and Entrenching Professionalism for National Development. In 2022, he presented on Domestication and Development of Codes, Standards and Regulations as a Panacea for Engineering Infrastructural Failures in Nigeria.
These topics address an engineering dimension that extends beyond technical system design. Engineering practice also depends on standards, regulations, and professional responsibility. His participation in these discussions indicates an interest in the institutional conditions under which engineering work is carried out.
He is affiliated with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and he is registered with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
These affiliations connect his academic and research work to broader engineering communities.
His service has also included student and community activities. At Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, he served as Honorary Treasurer of the International Student Society – Nigeria Session during the 2017-2018 session and as General Secretary during the 2018-2019 session. The Nigerian student chapter placed third in the Best Country Chapter category during the 2017-2018 session.
Beyond his academic and professional activities, he has taught the Qur’an and Tajweed and serves as the Imam of the mosque attached to their family house (Limamin Kobi family). These responsibilities are part of his broader community service.
Conclusion
Dr. Murtala Aminu Baba’s career brings together three principal areas of activity: engineering research, university service, and professional engagement. His education in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Information Technology, and Communication Engineering has provided the foundation for research spanning antenna systems, wireless communications, information security, and related technological applications.
At Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, he has lectured and conducted research while serving in several administrative roles, including Acting Head of Department and Head of Department. His leadership of an NCC-funded research project on metamaterial MIMO antenna technology is a notable part of his research record. His publications, conference presentations, and scholarly review activities further demonstrate his ongoing engagement in academic research.
His professional activities also demonstrate engagement with engineering standards, regulations, and professional development. He has also participated in student and community service, including Qur’an and Tajweed instruction.
The result is a professional profile shaped not by a single appointment or research project but by sustained participation in education, research, administration, and service. His work in Communication Engineering remains the central thread linking these aspects of his bright, dazzling academic career.
Dr. Murtala Aminu Baba, congratulations on your promotion to Reader in Communication Engineering. Here’s to more. Contrary to the popular adage that limits one to the sky, the sky is your starting point.
Umar Ahmad Aminu is a Software Engineer, Political Analyst, and Student of Usul ul-Fiqh at the Islamic University in Niger.
