By Auwal Ahmed Ibrahim, Goronyo
In the field of academics, there are queens, kings, and concubines. It depends on the merit of one’s achievements and the zeal to leave an indelible mark in the arena of knowledge. In the field of knowledge, one can be the scorer, the defender, and the goalkeeper in a field of knowledge, and it all depends on one’s contributions to the progress of academia and the magnitude of knowledge one acquires and delivers for the progress of this dear nation.
We have many academics who give everything for their nationalism, passionate zeal to leave a record of history in the book of Guinness, where their stories are written with gold ink, and their records will be remembered forever for centuries of mankind to know them. Dr. Maryam Abdullahi is a knight of knowledge, a prophet of the tourism and a warrior of academics among her amazons. She is a shining star that glitters in the sky of Kaduna Polytechnic, and her contributions to knowledge are indispensable and beckon writers to pen their pens to appreciate her courage, determination, and conquest of knowledge as a pioneer of many things in her department.
With a crown of Doctorate degree of Philosophy in Tourism Management from Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Famagusta North Cyprus, Turkey, Master’s in Tourism and Hospitality Management (MSc) from Bournemouth University, United Kingdom, Higher National Diploma in Tourism, National Diploma from Kaduna Polytechnic (KadPoly ) Kaduna, Advanced Certificate in Management (ACM) from Kaduna Polytechnic Kaduna, Post Graduate Diploma in Cooperative Studies (PGDC) from Kaduna Polytechnic Kaduna, and Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from Usman Danfodiyo University, Dr. Maryam Abdullahi wore the queen’s crown for being the first female lecturer to be awarded a PhD in Department and the first female to reach the rank of Chief Lecturer, and the first female elected HOD of the Department of Tourism Management Technology.
With a high index of more than 147 citations on Google Scholars, Dr. Maryam is flying to the peak to the prophets of knowledge. She has worked as a PGD Syllabus Drafting Committee member in the Department of Leisure and Tourism Management, Kaduna Polytechnic, Assistant Departmental Secretary in the Department of Catering and Hotel Management, Kaduna Polytechnic, Member of the Sub-committee on public/protocol matters of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), Kaduna Polytechnic, Rapporteur of the 9th Annual Conference of National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) Kaduna Polytechnic, Member of the Committee on Restructuring Pre-ND, Pre-NCE, Pre-B, ED Degree Programme, Kaduna Polytechnic, Vice Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Kaduna Polytechnic chapter, Treasurer of National Science and Technology Forum (NSTE) Kaduna Polytechnic, Treasurer of Hospitality and Tourism Association of Nigeria (HATMAN), and has been the editor of the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HATMAN). With the award of cognition of excellent service, the National association of hospitality Management ( NAHOMS) students , Dorben Polytechnic, Abuja, gave Dr. Maryam award of Excellence in recognition of meritorious contributions as Educator in the tourism and Hospitality Hospitality.
Dr. Maryam is a Member of the Nigerian Association of Teachers of Technology (NATT), Member of Nigeria Association of Teachers in Technology, Kaduna, Member of Hospitality and Tourism Management Association of Nigeria (HATMAN), Member of Women in Technical Education and Employment (WITED) Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, Member of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, and has a Digital Bridge Institute certificate in Information Technology Acquisition Skills and African Free ICT Certificate (Advanced certificate in computer). She also has a certificate in UNESCO Nigeria TVE Project Phase I and Phase II, National Diploma Curriculum Development (Instructional Materials), and a certificate of teaching experience in Tourism Department 2000-2001.
As a bookworm, a reader, writer, researcher, and publisher, Dr. Maryam has published many books, including Perception of Service Quality in Higher Education, Acculturation of Food Habits Among International students at EM with Mine Haktanir, book chapters in Destination Marketing and Tourism Entrepreneurship in Ghana, and Social media marketing the African door of return experience in Badagary. Her research has sparked global attention with many titles, some of which include; Social Media as a Destination Marketing Tool for a Sustainable Heritage Festival in Nigeria: A Moderated Mediation Study, E-Tourism and Digital Marketing in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, Perceived environmental concern, knowledge, and intention to visit green hotels, An Assessment of the Impact of Kainji Lake National Park in Ecotourism Development in Niger State, and many more.
Dr. Maryam has attended many conferences in many states of Nigeria and beyond, presenting papers such as Social Media and Festival Revisiting Intention on Badagry Door of Return Festival Quality in Nigeria: The Application of social Identity Theory, The Door of return festival quality and the relationship between social media, festival satisfaction, and revisiting intention: the perspectives of African Americans visiting Nigeria, and Tourism and Digital Marketing in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges.
Based on merit and excellent performance, Dr. Maryam has many accolades, ranging from certificates of participation. She has a certificate of participation in a three-day seminar on the training of teachers on the implementation of a new curriculum from 28th to 30th July 2009, organized by the Central Administration, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna. She also has a certificate of participation in the 13th annual conference of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) on the theme “Nigerian Transformation Agenda on Tourism,” a certificate of participation in the International Civil Aviation Day & Pandemic in Aviation at Cyprus West University, and a certificate of participation in the Maiden Annual National Conference on the theme “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.” Additionally, she has a certificate of participation in “The Media and the Emerging Prospects of Tourism Development in Nigeria in a Digital Television Era” and attended and presented a paper titled “The Effect of Insecurity on Tourism Development in Maiduguri Metropolis” at the Maiden Annual National Conference of Kaduna Polytechnic on the theme “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” She has also received many certificates of excellence and records of good work.
Congratulations 🎊🎉🎈 mummy, thank you for impacting and shaping our lives ❤️ May God crown your efforts 🙌
Masha Allah, congratulations mommy 🙏💪🏻
You have fully described Doctor Maryam Abdullahi from the academic terrain. Those of us who were opportuned to be drilled together during our Secondary School days at Government Day Secondary School, Tafawa Balewa Way, Unguwan Rimi Kaduna, truly know the kind of stuff she is made of in terms of character. She possesses skill and dexterity in equal measure in everything she does and her manners are of the highest degree friendly and loyal. Maryam has never had a quarrel with anyone in the five years of our secondary school days. Apart from the passion for learning that she possessed, she has passion for philanthropy.
Maryam, your academic pursuits has not gone in vain. It will be foolhardy, palpably knavish and tragically inconsiderate for one to say there were no difficulties encountered in the course of achieving these gargantuan academic feats. Whatever the difficulties encountered, you have made good use of your time and resources. I doff my heart once again to this woman of substance. Keep on soaring higher, the sky some say is the limit but I say it is limitless!
May Allah (SWT) continue to bless you, * my H.O.D Dr. Maryam Abdullahi*, with wisdom, strength, and endless success.
May He reward your efforts in guiding and supporting students, and may He protect you from harm, stress, and disappointment.
*Ya Allah*, increase her in knowledge, elevate her status, and grant her good health, barakah in her work, and peace in her heart.
May every step she takes be filled with light, and may she continue to be a source of inspiration and leadership. Ameen.
Our Precious HOD (mummy) genuinely cares about our success and well-being.
She creates a positive and inclusive learning environment as a woman 🥳🥳
Also she’s very approachable and always willing to help.
She is a jewel of knowledge, and contributes immensely to knowledge in her field of study, impacted many lives across the globe through her teaching and research.