A Professor of Inorganic Chemistry, the new Vice Chancellor was born on August 28, 1970 in Kano Municipal Local Government Area.
He attended Yolawa Islamiyya Primary School from 1976 to 1981; Masallaci Special Primary School from 1977 to 1981, where he obtained primary school leaving certificate and Government Secondary School Rano from 1981 to 1982.
Prof. Kurawa was at Government Secondary School K/Nassarawa between 1982 and 1983, while he proceeded to Science Secondary School D/Tofa from 1983 to 1986 to obtain secondary school leaving certificate.
His thirst for furthering education saw him at Bayero University, Kano between 1986 and 1991 where he bagged a Bachelor of Science Degree Honours in Chemistry and again he was at the same university from 1994 to 1999 to read M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry.
The new Vice Chancellor also read from University of Bristol, United Kingdom from 2005 to 2009 to bag Doctor of Philosophy in Inorganic Chemistry {PhD.).
After he finished his mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1992, Prof. Kurawa started his working career as Education Officer with Kano State Ministry of Education from 1992 to 1993.
In 1993, he joined the service of Bayero University, Kano as Graduate Assistant and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in 2015, a position he has been holding till date.
He has been a Visiting Lecturer to Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil from 2010 to date; Visiting Lecturer, Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa 2014 – 2018 and was appointed Rector, Kano State Polytechnic in 2016, a position he held till his appointment into the university.
On academic activities, Prof. Kurawa taught courses at all levels ranging from sub-degree to PhD.
He had supervised over 70 undergraduate projects and over 15 PGD Projects as well as 17 M.Sc. Dissertations.
He is currently supervising six PhD Theses and three more MSc Dissertations.
The Professor has been external examiner to many institutions: he served as an External Examiner for one PhD and six M.Sc. candidates at Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto; Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
This is in addition to serving as an Internal Examiner for two PhD and 12 M.Sc. Candidates at Bayero University, Kano, while he also served as an External Assessor for one candidate for promotion to the rank of a Reader and also an external examiner (Undergraduate Programmes) at Yobe State University.
He also holds the same external examiner (Undergraduate Programmes) at Police Academy Wudil, in Kano State.
Prof. Kurawa has many scholastic publications in local and international journals. He published 35 papers in peer reviewed journals as well as attended and presented papers at many national and international conferences.
He attended many seminars and workshops too in addition to many short-courses including ‘An Intensive Computer Training Course’ in BUK (2004) and Advanced Digital Appreciation Programme for Tertiary Institutions,’ facilitated by Digital Bridge Institute (2020).
On university administrative responsibilities, Prof. Kurawa served in various capacities, including Coordinator General Studies Unit at Bayero University, Kano from 2010 to 2011; Science Technology and Society (STS); Peace and Conflict Resolution (PCR); Head of Department, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Bayero University, Kano from 2011 to 2015; Dean, Faculty of Science Bayero University, Kano from 2015 to 2016; Faculty of Science Rep. to Board of S.G.S, 1994 to 1996 and Assistant Faculty of Science Examination Officer, 2001 to 2003.
He was an examination officer at Faculty of Science of Bayero University, Kano, 2003 to 2005; Level Coordinator, Chemistry Department of the same university, 2001 to 2005; Member Faculty of Science Admission Committee of BUK, 2003 to 2005; Level Coordinator Chemistry Department of BUK, 2009 to 2012; Member Central Lab. Management Committee of BUK, 2009 to 2011; Head, Inorganic Chemistry Section Chem. Dept. of BUK, 2010 to 2013; Member Dept’al A&PC Chem. Dept. BUK, 2010 to 2015 and Member Dept’al DTLC Committee, Chem. Dept. of the university, 2010 to 2015 among others.
He contributed immensely to the development of Bayero University, Kano and Kano State Polytechnic.
During his sojourn at the Kano State Polytechnic, Prof. Kurawa sought for the intervention of State Government which led to the successful re-accreditation of 51 programs by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and became fully accredited.
Under him, the Board also approved mounting of 15 new programs for the Polytechnic.
Moreover, within the shortest time possible, Prof. Kurawa elevated the institution to the 17th ranking position among the Nigerian Polytechnics among other accomplishments in the Polytechnic.
A seasoned academician and administrator per excellence, the new Vice-Chancellor is a member of many professional associations, including Member, Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (MICCON); Member Chemical Society of Nigeria (MCSN); Member Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC); Member British Crystallographic Association (BCA); Honorary Fellow Chartered Institute of Loan & Risk Management of Nigeria; Sept 08, 2018.
Prizes and awards won by Prof. Kurawa include Bayero University Scholarship Award winner for being the Best Level 300 BSc Chemistry Student for 1989/1990 Session; 2009 Best Demonstrator Bristol ChemLabS Postgraduate Teaching Prizes, School of Chemistry University of Bristol 2009, United Kingdom; NLC 2018 Merit Award and 47 other awards received from various organizations among others.
He was a member, Governing Board for JAMB, since 2018 till date; member, Governing Board for NBTE from 2019 to date; member Governing Board of Raw Materials, Research and Development Council (RMRDC) from 2018 to 2019; member Governing Board for National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in 2019 and Chairman, Examination & Admissions Committee for JAMB, Governing Board since 2018 to date among other memberships.
On community service, he was a member, Local Organizing Committee for Commonwealth Association for Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA) International Conference 2018 (November 2017); member, Editorial Board for the Commonwealth Association for Polytechnics in Africa (2017 – date) and chairman, Opening Ceremony of the 4th Annual International Conference organized by the Faculty of Science, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano in 2019 among others.