Campus News

UNILORIN produces first female Ph.D holder in Petroleum Geology

By Abubakar Imam

The nation’s most sought-after University, the University of Ilorin, has recorded another feat with the graduation of Dr Serah Japhet Habu as the first female doctorate degree holder in Petroleum Engineering from Northern Nigeria, which consists of 19 states and the Federal Capital territory.          

            Dr Habu, who completed her doctorate programme in October, 2024 at the Department of Geology and Mineral Sciences, was supervised by the immediate past Head of the Department Prof. Olabisi Adeleye Adekeye.

Her work, which centred on energy geoscience, petroleum exploration, and remote sensing, has made her an emerging leader in her field.

This distinguished scientist, who was born on June 10, 1984 in Gombe State, developed a passion for science early in life. She obtained a National Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology at the University of Jos in 2006 and subsequently earned a B.Sc. in Chemical Petroleum Technology in 2011 from the same University.

Dr Habu advanced her education to M. Sc. degree in Stratigraphy and Sedimentology at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 2018 in the course of which she conducted a penetrating research on the stratigraphy and structures of Aptian-Albian succession around Kaltungo Inlier in the Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria.

Her experience laid the foundation for her doctorate programme at  the University of Ilorin during which she developed an innovative GIS-based hydrocarbon prospectivity mapping method for the Bida Basin, Central Nigeria as ably supervised by Prof. Adekeye.

Dr Habu’s doctoral research, which was published in the Arabian Journal of Geosciences, was one of Nigeria’s first comprehensive GIS-based hydrocarbon studies in the in-land basins as it offers critical insights into future hydrocarbon exploration and energy development.

Dr Habu is currently a Research Geoscientist at the National Centre for Remote Sensing (NSRS) Jos, Plateau State, under the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

She applied satellite image processing and spatial analysis to geological and environmental projects such as geothermal resource assessments, hydrocarbon exploration, and coal deposit mapping.

Dr Habu’s expertise has earned her several prestigious awards, such as the 2023 NMGS President’s Young Geoscientist Miner’s Award and the 2024 NMGS President’s Award.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole,SAN, has congratulated Dr Habu on her achievement.

In a statement, the University’s Spokesperson, Mr Kunle Akogun, said that Dr Habu’s journey exemplifies resilience, innovation, and leadership, which  position her as a key figure in shaping the future of geoscience practices in Nigeria. While congratulating the Department of Geology and Mineral Sciences for its efficient service delivery, the Vice Chancellor asssured everyone that the University is prepared to turnout more outstanding graduates as it possesses both the human and material resources to do so.