Prof Bashar Nuhu emerges national president of NES
Prof Bashar Nuhu emerges national president of NES
By Abubakar Hassan
ESV. Prof. Muhammad Bashar Nuhu has emerged as the National President of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) following his election on Saturday in Benin City, Edo State.
His emergence marks a historic milestone in the 41-year history of the Society, as he becomes the first Northerner to occupy the position since its establishment.
Prof. Nuhu, an illustrious son of Niger State, is the first person of Northern Nigerian origin to obtain a PhD in Estate Management and Valuation and the first professor in the field from the region.
A multidisciplinary scholar with extensive experience in academia, public administration and professional practice, he holds qualifications in Estate Management and Valuation, Construction Management, Architecture, Public Administration, Education and Management. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) and the Nigerian Environmental Society, among other professional affiliations.
His contributions to environmental and land administration include serving as the consultant who facilitated the establishment of the Niger State Geographic Information System (NIGIS), an initiative designed to improve land administration, land information management and the management of environmental resources.
Before his election as NES president, he served as chairman of the Society in Niger State and National Vice-Chairman of its Caretaker Committee. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the NES Journal and has contributed to professional development and environmental advocacy through various committees and assignments.
In the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, he served as chairman of its Niger State branch and held several national leadership positions, including chairman of the National Council Education Committee. During his tenure, he introduced online registration for professional examinations and organised the institution’s first national education summit.
Prof. Nuhu also served as Commissioner for Tertiary Education in Niger State from February 2012 to November 2014, during which he initiated reforms that included the development of the state's first Tertiary Education and Scholarship Policies. He also promoted vocational and technical education, contributing to the initiative that transformed the Works Training School into the Minna Institute of Technology and Innovation.
In academia, he served as Head of Department at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and pioneered the Department of Estate Management at Bayero University, Kano, during his sabbatical. He later directed the Centre for Human Settlements and Urban Development at FUT Minna from 2018 to 2023.
His public service and administrative experience also include serving as chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau, Zamfara State, following his appointment in June 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In August 2025, he was appointed Executive Director, Finance, of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), a position he currently holds.
Prof. Nuhu has also served on the governing council of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, including as Acting Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor between 2021 and 2023. His academic contributions include supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research, serving as an external examiner and contributing to accreditation exercises for tertiary institutions.
He delivered his inaugural lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, in August 2019, titled “Land Safety: How Secured,” examining land security in Nigeria and globally in relation to sustainable development. He has also published more than 100 scholarly articles in national and international journals.
As the new NES president, Prof. Nuhu is expected to bring his experience in environmental management, land administration, research and professional leadership to bear on the Society’s activities, particularly in promoting environmental protection, climate action and sustainable development.
His emergence comes with expectations that the Society will strengthen professional collaboration, promote evidence-based environmental policies and practices, and deepen engagement with government institutions and other stakeholders towards building cleaner, healthier and more resilient communities across Nigeria.
