Offa-born Abdulfatai Bakare Promoted To Full Professor At Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto

Bakare Olorumo Dynasty Celebrates His Humble Beginning To Professorial Eminence

In a quiet office overlooking the bustling corridors of the *Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH)* in Sokoto, a newly inscribed nameplate sits on a desk – *Professor Abdulfatai T. Bakare.* This simple title marks the culmination of a remarkable twenty-year journey from a dedicated young medical officer to an eminent leader in Nigerian psychiatry. The *Bakare Family* of *Ile-Odiwo/Ile Olomi* celebrates this elevation, a testament to a career built on compassion, relentless advocacy, and scholarly excellence.

Registered with the *Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria* in February 2004, Dr. Bakare’s story in mental health care began during his National Youth Service. Posted to the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Kware, Sokoto State, his innate dedication to caring for mentally ill patients did not go unnoticed. Senior colleagues saw in him a rare blend of empathy and sharp intellect, recommending him as a *“trainable medical officer.”* This endorsement became the gateway, leading to a residency in psychiatry at that very institution – a full-circle moment that set the foundation for an illustrious career. Today, as a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians and a Consultant Psychiatrist, Special Grade I, Professor Bakare’s clinical work is enriched by over a decade of specialized experience in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. However, it is perhaps his visionary leadership as Head of the Department of Psychiatry at UDUTH since 2019 that has etched his name into the institution’s history. Under his stewardship, the Department has witnessed unprecedented growth. One of his landmark achievements is brokering the first-ever Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UDUTH and the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kware. This strategic partnership has provided invaluable, expanded training grounds for resident doctors, directly enhancing the quality of psychiatric education in the region.

Yet, Professor Bakare’s most tangible legacy may still be rising from the ground. Recognizing a critical gap in service provision, he embarked on a relentless campaign to hospital management. His advocacy bore fruit: the ongoing construction of a modern 60-bed psychiatric complex. This facility stands as a concrete symbol of his mission to increase access to quality mental health care in Nigeria, moving from acknowledgment to action. Beyond administration and clinical service, Professor Bakare is a prolific scholar, with more than 40 research articles published in peer-reviewed local and international journals. His academic rigor recently culminated in his recommendation for promotion to the rank of Professor of Psychiatry, effective January 1, 2025, pending external assessment. His influence extends to national discourse, as seen in his recent participation on a World Mental Health Day panel in Sokoto, discussing the challenges and solutions for mental health in the state – a forum where his frontline experience meets public policy.

A proud son of Ile Bakare, and younger brother to *Professor Taibat Bakare Oduola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics)* at the University of Ilorin, Professor Bakare’s achievement is a point of immense family pride.

The Bakare Family describes this promotion not merely as a personal triumph, but as a “remarkable milestone” that showcases a profound dedication to a field often shrouded in stigma. It is the story of a healer who became a builder, a doctor who became a professor, and an advocate whose work promises to reshape the landscape of mental health care in Nigeria for generations to come.

In the *Offa community,* we venerate educational achievement, and this news has been met with great pride, demonstrating what is possible through dedication. As congratulations flow in, we as a family unit celebrates a son whose professional ascent honors both his lineage and his hometown.

*E-Signed:*

*Mr. Bakare Mohammed Mudathir*
*On behalf of the Bakare Olorumo Dynasty – Ile Odiwo/Ile Olomi Compound*