By Opeyemi Quadri 
On Friday, October 31, 2025, the Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, appointed a renowned Nursing educator Khadijat Toyin Musah as professor of Nursing Services, making her the first to occupy the exalted academic position since the establishment of the institution in 2011.
Khadijat Toyin Musah, was a pioneer Head of the Department of Nursing Sciences at the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and pioneer Dean, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences at UNIABUJA.
Early life and education
Prof. K.T. Musah hails from Balogun Gambari in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria.
She began her education in Arabic school, where she received basic Islamic and Arabic instruction. She trained as a nurse and midwife at the School of Nursing, Osogbo (now College of Nursing) and the School of Midwifery, Ilorin (now College of Midwifery).
Musah holds two bachelor’s degrees, a B.Sc. in Nursing Science from Babcock University, Ogun State, and another B.Sc. (Ed.) in Health Science from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State.
She earned three master’s degrees in Nursing Science, Epidemiology and Tropical Diseases (from the University of Nicaragua), and Education (from Olabisi Onabanjo University). She also holds two doctorates: a Ph.D. in Nursing Science with focus on Ph.D.Nursing (Geriatrics & Gerontology) from the University of Nicaragua and a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Ilorin, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Career
Musah began her professional career at the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, where she served as a senior nursing sister. She later joined the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, where she held several administrative and academic roles, including Head of the Department of Community Health, pioneer Director of the Centre for Paramedics and Emergency Services, and Director of the Centre for Wellness and Creative Arts Therapy.
She was instrumental in securing KWASU Senate approval for the establishment of the university’s nursing programme.
In 2024, Musah was appointed to the University of Abuja as the pioneer Head of the Department of Nursing Sciences, where she oversees the commencement of the institution’s nursing programme.
Khadijat Toyin Musah has served as an external examiner, keynote speaker, and curriculum reviewer for several universities and health institutions across Nigeria and abroad, including Adeleke University (Ede), the James Lind Institute (Singapore), and the West African Health Examiner Board.
She is also the Chair of the West African Postgraduate College of Nurses and Midwives, Oyo–Osun Branch, and a co-author of Fundamentals of Clinical Practice for Public Health Nursing Officers, a book adopted for training public health nursing officers in Nigeria.
Research and professional interests
Her areas of specialization include community health, geriatric nursing, and public health. She has been involved in curriculum development and professional training for nurses across West Africa.
Recognition
Musah has delivered keynote lectures across Nigeria and has participated in academic visits to the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia.
Professional membership
She is a member of several health-related bodies, including:
- Member Professional Association of Public Health Nursing Officer of Nigeria (PAPHNON)
- Fellow, West African Postgraduate College of Nurses and Midwives
- Fellow, Institute of Public Health Professionals
Selected works and publications
Some of her selected works and publications, according to her ResearchGate profile include:
- Perceived quality of life and lifestyle modification of cancer patients undergoing varied treatments in a tertiary health institution, Ekiti State, Nigeria (2021).
- Contextualizing the cultural factors associated with cancer care in Nigeria: An ethnonursing study (2020).
- Community participation and mobilisation as an effective tool in enhancing personal hygiene and combating faeco-oral transmission of diseases in Northern Nigeria (2018).
And a lot of other publications co-authored with other scholars in Nursing and Medicine.
Personal life
Musah is married to Alhaji Zakari Musah, a banker. She is a cycling enthusiast and a member of the Board of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria. Through the Khadijat Toyin Musah (KTM) Foundation, she promotes health, wellness, and community development initiatives in Kwara State.
Featured image: Khadijat Toyin Musah, when she was an Associate Professor of Nursing Science, and Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, at the University of Abuja. Credit: Facebook page of UNIABUJA.
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Editorial Staff