Engr. Professor Salihu Mustafa was born in Hong, Adamawa State of Nigeria in 1948 and had his secondary school education between 1963 and 1967 at Government School, Yola.   In 1968, he proceeded to the Federal Government College, Sokoto for higher School Certificate and in 1970, gained admission to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained his BSc degree in Civil Engineering in 1973.  he obtained an M.Sc degree  (Water Resource Technology) from the University of Birmingham, UK in 1977 and in 1978, from where he proceeded to the University of Strathyclyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK where he obtained a Ph. D in Water Resources Engineering in 1981.

On completion of his graduate studies Glassgow, he returned to Ahmadu Bellow University, Zaira, Nigeria to continue his career and in 1981 was promoted to the post of lecturer Grade 1, and gradually rose up the ladder until he became reader at ABU, Zaria. In 1987. He was later appointed to the chair of Civil Engineering in 1989 by the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, where he initially served as the head of Department of Civil Engineering and later Dean of Engineering.  Professor Mustafa also served as Special Adviser in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in 1990-1991 and later in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1992-1993 where he was mostly responsible for the development and implementation of existing irrigation and water resources policies in Nigeria.  Although, his working experience in tertiary institutions started at Ahmadu Bello University of Technology, Yola where he serve as the Vice Chancellor (1999-2004).  Between 1999-2005, he also successfully chaired committees for the establishment of two other Universities in his State viz: Adamawa State University at Mubi and Abti-American University of Nigeria, at Yola.  He has also served the Nigeria Universities Commission, NUC in various capacities.

Professor Mustafa is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Academy of Science. He has published over 60 papers in national and international journals as well as authored the book: A textbook in Hydrology and Water Resources.

SPECIALIZATIONS

• Water Resources Engineering