To say that the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), Professor Babatunde Bakare, keeps shining even brighter, is an understatement. This year has been one of the finest for the salt & pepper Professor, as he is affectionately known.
His achievements include research honours, research funding, and training as part of a partnership that saw him travel to Germany, along with supervising students and colleagues in their quest to attain postgraduate and terminal qualifications. But Professor Bakare has just added yet another bright feather to his colourful plumage.
On Wednesday, 21 December 2022, Professor Bakare received an early Christmas present. He was awarded the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Research Chair in Sustainable Work, Education, Environment and Transformation (SWEET) for an interim period of six months. SARChI is an initiative of the National Research Foundation (NRF).
MUT was awarded the SWEET Chair about four years ago when this position was held by Research Professor Theo Haupt before he retired from MUT. Upon Professor Haupt’s retirement, the NRF requested MUT “to identify a suitable incumbent of comparable seniority” for evaluation of suitability to be a replacement Chair.
“I was then nominated to take up this leadership role and after the review of my credentials and research profile, NRF found me worthy to be suitably qualified as the Replacement Chair,” Professor Bakare explained. “I am humbled by this recent award and how it will impact my career growth. MUT has contributed significantly to my career growth.”
Professor Bakare also thanked staff from the Research Directorate and his fellow researchers for contributing to his research initiatives and ideas.
“I must say this is a well-deserved way to end the year 2022,” said Professor Bakare. “Looking forward to what 2023 has in store by God’s grace.”