IN SHORT

Professor Mohammed Kaoje Abubakar rose from an impoverished background to pursue a career in academics. Many of his students have gone on to become influential figures in their communities, and Abubakar’s success in the academic world has also earned him prominent government positions, such as Minister of Science and Technology and Commissioner Inspectorate in Kebbi State. “Opportunities are things you stumble into while working hard – what you call serendipity in science,” he suggests. “In other words, there is no shortcut. The rule of thumb is to work hard and be honest.”