Vice Chancellor
Nasarawa State University, Keffi
PROFESSOR SA’ADATU HASSAN LIMAN, BA, MA, PhD (UNIJOS), PGDE (NSUK). Fellow: UNESCO, ACLS (AHP), FIIFPN AND HER ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIRST ONE YEAR IN OFFICE
Personal Information and Early Background
Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman is a Professor of Islamic Studies in the Department of Islam and Development Studies, Faculty of Arts, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, with specialisation in the area of Women Rights. She has made significant contributions to the Nigerian University System, particularly in Islamic Studies, with special reference to Islamic Jurisprudence and Human Rights. She currently serves as the fifth substantive and first female Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, a historic achievement that underscores her leadership and scholarly excellence.
Professor Liman started her Primary education at the age of 6 in 1976 in Jos, Plateau State, which she completed in 1982. She obtained the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) in 1987 from Government Science College, Wase. In 1993 Professor Liman was admitted into the University of Jos from where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Islamic Studies in 1998 with a Second Class Honours (Upper Division). This gave her the opportunity to serve as a Graduate Assistant on NYSC with the Department of Religions of the University, in the 1998/1999 service year, after which she proceeded for higher degree in the same University where she obtained a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies in 2002 and a PhD. in 2010. She registered for and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in 2015 at NSUK and a Professional Certificate in Banking and Finance (PCBF) in 1988.
Academic and Professional Career
Professor Liman’s academic career in Nasarawa State University, Keffi started on 10th October, 2002 when she was appointed an Assistant Lecturer and one of the two pioneer staff of the Islamic Studies unit. She rose through the ranks to become a full Professor of Islamic Studies on 1st October, 2017, within a span of only 15 years. Professor Liman presented the 35th Professorial Inaugural Lecture of the University on 26th September, 2023 on the topic “Deconstructing the Notion of Oppression and Suppression of Women in Islam: Revisiting the Islamic Versus Universal Concepts of Human Rights”.
As an erudite Academic, Professor Liman has internally and externally examined, supervised and graduated many with PhDs, Master’s and first degrees; assessed many scholars for promotion to Professorial cadre in Islamic Studies; has many national and international publications to her credit, ranging from books, book-chapters, refutable journal articles, technical report and conference proceedings; reviewed many manuscripts for publication into books; edited the International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences; al-Dirayah Journal; and al-Ishraq Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies; and was the editor-in-chief of Keffi Journal of Religions, all of NSUK.
Administrative Responsibilities
In University administration Prof. Liman has held various academic and administrative responsibilities in NSUK, including serving as either Chairman or member of over 100 committees. She has also served as Assistant Dean and Deputy Dean of Students’ Affairs; Acting Head, Department of Religious Studies; Acting Head of Department of Islamic Studies; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics); Director of Research and Publications; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), before her appointment as the fifth substantive and first female Vice-Chancellor of the University on 15th April, 2024, and assumed duty on 22nd April, 2024.
Membership of Learned Societies and Attendance at Learned Conferences
Professor Liman is a member of many learned societies including the Nigeria Association of Female Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NAFTAIS) as President; Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals of Nigeria (FIIFPN) as fellow; Nigeria Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS); International Research and Development Institute; Research and Development Network (IRDI); American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS); and American Academy of Religion (AAR), Atlanta, Georgia.
She has attended and presented papers in more than 60 national and international conferences, seminars and workshops, including a presentation at the 60th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 60) Side-Event on the Role of Culture in Women’s Empowerment: Possibilities and Challenges at the United Nations Headquarters, New York titled “Traditional Mechanisms to Eliminate Violence Against Women: A Perspective from Nigeria” held between 14th and 24th March, 2016.
Community Service
Professor Liman has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Phoenix University, Agwada, Nasarawa State; the Advisory Committee of the National Population Commission; and the Board of the Standtall Africa Initiative (STAI) Nigeria. She was engaged as a Muslim Pilgrims Preacher by the Nasarawa State Government for eight (8) Hajj operations between 2002 and 2011.
Conferment of Awards, Fellowships and Other Recognitions
Professor Liman has been conferred with fellowships, awards and prizes by many distinguished bodies which include UNESCO/Suzanne Mubarak Japan/Egypt Friendship Research Fellowship Award in Egypt in 2006; American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) African Humanities Postdoctoral Fellowship Award (AHP) from 2011 to 2012; Meritorious award by the Organisation of Women in Colleges of Education (WICE) in 2013; Stand Tall Initiative Lecturers’ Face of Reading Award on 31st October, 2020; Certificate of Excellence by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (ABYCN) in 2021; UFUK Dialogue Peace Ambassador by the UFUK Dialogue Foundation on 20th January 2022; The Distinguished GovTech Trailblazer’s Award by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in October 2024; Verbatim Magazine’s Distinguished Patriot Award and ICON of Educational Development by Advanced Management Academy, Abuja, both in April, 2025.
Family Life
Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman is happily married to Dr. Hassan Muhammad Liman, SAN, FCIArb, MON. The marriage has been blessed with well-trained children and grandchildren.