By Livinus Ayih (Deputy Student Editor)
Professor Hayward Babale Mafuyai was born on October 29, 1961 at Kunet, Butura Ward in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State to Late Dah Babale and Naah Hannatu Mafuyai (nee Maren).
He attended the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School Butura from 1968-1971, before proceeding to Demonstration Primary School Gindiri from 1972-1974. He gained admission to the famous Boys Secondary School Gindiri in 1974 and completed secondary education in 1979.
Between 1979-1984, Professor Mafuyai enrolled at the University of Jos and studied Zoology graduating with a second class honours degree in 1984. He was posted to Bauchi State for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and was deployed as a class room teacher at the Pilot Junior Secondary School, Azare where he also doubled as the Christian Corpers’ Zonal Representative.
He returned to continue his postgraduate studies in his alma mater in the Department of Zoology for a Masters Degree in Applied Entomology and Parasitology from 1985-1986. He was later employed as Graduate Assistant in and was later confirmed as a tenured staff in 1987.
He was awarded the highly competitive Research Training Grant by the World Health Organization (WHO, Geneva) to undertake his Doctorate studies in Medical Entomology at the University of Salford in the United Kingdom. He rose through the ranks by dint of hard work to become a Reader in Zoology in 2002 and Professor in 2005. He has supervised many undergraduates and postgraduate students and PhD students.
Professor Mafuyai has held several positions in the University which include: Deputy Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences in 2002, Acting Head, Department of Remedial Sciences (2004-2005), Head, Remedial Sciences (2006-2008), Director, Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) 2008-2009 and Director, Office of Resarch and Development 2009 till date.
He was twice a member of the Governing Council of the Plateau State Polytechnic as well as a member of the Board of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) 2005-2007. He is widely travelled and has published extensively in local and international journals.
Professor Mafuyai is happily married to Kiyenpia (nee Jacob Lot) and the union is blessed with children. His interests include gardening, current affairs and animal husbandry.
