Date: 2012-10-28

History was made in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital about a fortnight ago when the management of the University of Ilorin included Mrs. Medinat Folorunso Salman in the list of the institution's newly appointed professors.

By her appointment, Medinat Salman who teaches Mathematics Education at the university thus became the first female professor from Ilorin Emirate.

It was therefore not surprising when the Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, deemed it fit to organise a special prayer in his palace to mark Salman's appointment.

The new professor of Mathematics was honoured by the Emir alongside the new Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali; and three other newly appointed professors who all hail from Ilorin Emirate; Professors Badmas Lanre Yusuf, Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi and Yusuf Adebayo AbdulKareem.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP SUNDAY shortly after the prayer session at the Emir's palace, Professor Medinat Salman said that she has always prayed and worked hard to be part of the emirate's success story. This determination she said spurred her to achieve the feat of emerging as the first female professor from the emirate.

She, however, disclosed that the achievement she has recorded and now being celebrated by friends and associates was not without encountering various challenges both at the home front and at her work place.

Salman added that her good intention to impart positively on the lives of others as well as being a good example to the womenfolk in the emirate has always been her drive right from her youthful age.

The female professor, who bemoaned the low rate of women acquiring education in the emirate, however, pointed out that though it is not easy combining career with the demands of duties at the home front but with hard work and commitment, one would scale through.

According to her, biologically both male and female are the same, even though man is the head of the family "but if you are determined whatever the men can achieve, as a woman you can also do it".

"Even if it requires waking up in the midnight, one would have to do it so. I don't believe that there is anything the female cannot do, we are only different structurally".

In his remarks, the emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari said the recent elevation of five of his subjects at once was a rare feat in the history of Ilorin and therefore, it called for prayer.

Gambari, who expressed his joy at the achievements recorded by his subjects, sought Allah's guidance and protection for them.

The chief Imam of Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammad Bashir Imam Solihu, who led the prayer asked Allah to endow the new professors all it takes to be successful in their new positions.

Before her elevation Salman, Medinat Folorunso was a senior lecturer in the department of Science Education and she is the Coordinator of Educational Technology Centre at the university of Ilorin.

She baged her B.Ed. Mathematics, Second Class Upper, from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1985; M.Ed. Mathematics Education, University of Ilorin, 1990; and PhD Mathematics Education, University of Ilorin, 1998.

Her research interests include Mathematics Education, Gender Issue in Mathematics and Science Education; Innovation in Mathematics Education in the Developing World.