Mohammad Ishiyaki
 Professor Mohammad Faguji Ishiyaku is a trained Plant Breeder/Biotechnologist. He obtained his Ph D (Agriculture-Genetics) from the University of Reading, UK in 1997, M Sc Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding in 1989 and B Sc Botany in 1983 from the University of Jos and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria, respectively. Professor Ishiyaku received additional non degree trainings in such areas as Molecular Biology, Genetic Transformation, Marker-Assisted Breeding Techniques, Statistical Data Analysis and Experimentation. He had eight (1989-1997) years working experience with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan, Nigeria, as Research Associate Cowpea Breeding where he participated in generating several segregating populations and managed both breeding nursery and multilocation variety trials. At IITA, Professor Ishiyaku interacted very closely with the National Agricultural Research and Extension System in Nigeria and Niger with respect to cowpea variety development and deployment.

Since September 1997 to date, Professor Ishiyaku has been the National Cowpea Breeder for Nigeria. His main work is to introgress genes of resistances/tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses into Nigerian popular cowpea land races and varieties using conventional and modern Biotechnological tools, such as genetic transformation and molecular marker technology. His other thrust is to develop multi-purpose varieties, for grain and fodder production with qualities acceptable to the Nigerian consumers.  He had so far released thirteen different varieties of cowpea jointly with other collaborators. One of the newest varieties is the transgenic variety SAMPEA 20T, resistant to pod borer, the first of its kind ever released in the world. Professor Ishiyaku has led team of researchers to execute research projects such as the community-based promotion of food security crops-USAID, The West African Marker-Assisted Breeding Project sponsored by the Kirkhurst Trust, UK, the Nigeria Agricultural Biotechnology Project sponsored by the USAID, the Biosafety and Stewardship Project of the Syngenta Foundation etc.. He is  the Principal Investigator of the Maruca Pod Borer Resistant Bt Cowpea Project in Nigeria. In addition to research responsibility at the Institute, Professor Ishiyaku is a member of the board of the Faculty of Agriculture and teaches courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels as well as supervising both postgraduate and undergraduate student research projects. Professor Ishiyaku has held and still holding administrative positions at the University. This includes two-time Head of the Department of Plant Science, Dean of Student Affairs of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, Program Leader, Biotechnology Research Program at the Institute for Agricultural Research, Director Academic Planning and Monitoring, Ahmadu Bello University and currently the Executive Director and CEO of the Institute for Agricultural Research. Professor Ishiyaku is a member of a Fellow of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, Fellow of the Genetic Society of Nigeria, Member the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, member of the Network for the Genetic Improvement of Cowpea in Africa (NGICA) Professor Ishiyaku’s research output in addition to varieties released, include up to 123 publications.

Professor Mohammad Faguji Ishiyaku, a Fellow of  the Genetic Society Nigeria (FGSN) and Fellow Biotechnology Society (FBSN), is married with children.