Professor Musa Baba Tanko Umar was born in the serene town of Andaha in Akwanga Local Government of Nasarawa State into the family of late Alhaji Tanko Umar Abubakar and Hajiya Hadiza Adamu Tani on the 29th May 1962. He attended L.E.A Primary School, Andaha between 1968/1974. He then proceeded to the prestigious Government College Keffi and graduated in 1979 as the overall best science student, he was crowned the best Mathematics student as well as best biology student on graduation. He received Dr Abu Obe (former SGF himself an Old Boy of Keffi himself) prize of Ten Naira as the best Mathematics student and twenty Naira as the best science student.
MBT had wanted to read Pharmacy right from secondary School days, but as decreed by Allah he was admitted to the one and only prestigious University in the North Central region of Nigeria, University of Jos, to read Medicine in 1980. He graduated in 1986. He did his mandatory Housemanship in the Jos University Teaching Hospital, from 1986/1987. He then preceded for NYSC, where he was posted to General Hospital, Saminaka Kaduna state and successfully finished serving his country in September 1988.
For his love of Academics and Anatomy, MBT Umar attended interview and was employed Lecturer II in November of the same year, that is 1988. He steadily rose to become Professor of Human Anatomy with bias in physical Anthropology in October in 2012, having gotten his Masters Degree and PhD in the biggest University in sub-Saharan Africa, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
Until his demise Professor MBT Umar was the Director of Academic Planning and Management tenure of which has been renewed for a second term. Before then held the positions of Head of Human Anatomy for Six years, Deputy Dean Preclinicals, faculty of medical sciences for four years and Deputy Director of Academic Planning and Management for four years. Apart from statutory membership of the University Senate, he was a member of Senate Business Committee, Management Committee on Senior Staff Disciplinary matters, Committee on Tetfund Allocation, Committee of from Ashes to Beauty campaign on Burnt Library, Chairman Committee on Transport, Protocol Accommodation And Reception during 40th anniversary celebration of the University, member 5th Cycle strategic plan committee, and elected Senate Representative to the Board of University Consultancy Services and Chairman Senate Special Committee on change of course.
On the national front he was appointed as chairman of NUC Accreditation/ Resourse Verifications panels to University of Benin, Calabar, Ndufu Alike, Rhema University and Bowen University. He also served as a member of the same NUC Accreditation/Resource Verification panels to Yobe State, Gombe State, Benue State, Baze, Madonna, Edo universities. Been Medically Qualified he also chaired Medical and Dental Accreditation panels to Gombe State University and Osun state University. He served in other Medical and Dental Accreditation panels to Universities of Benin, Nnamdi Azikwe Nnewi, Bayero Kano, and Kaduna state, Gregory University Uturu, Ekiti State, Gombe State, Kogi state Ayangba, Ladoke Akintola Ogbomosho, Bingham Universities, and Ondo State University of Medical Sciences.
Until his demise Professor MBT Umar has assessed several academics to the Professorial Rank from different Universities. He was an External Examiner to several Universities for both undergraduate and post graduate programs from across the country. In fact he has examined more than 30 Masters and 3 PhD students. He has supervised several Masters and PhD students. He was a member of technical committee to Nile University and Federal University Lafia for the establishment of Medical program. He has more than 35 publications in peer review journals both locally and internationally.
Prof MBT Umar has attended several conferences and workshops both locally and internationally, of particular interest are the Anatomical Society conferences been held annually. As Director of Academic planning he attended first Regional Benchmarking Capacity Building Workshop organized by World Bank in Abuja, Quality Assurance Workshop for Higher Education in Africa in conjunction with Association of African universities held in Namibia, Ghana, Sudan and Abuja. He also attended workshop on quality assurance organised by peregrine Academics USA in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was part of the team that went to India to train on in Vitro-Fertilization. He was a member of a number of Professional bodies, Nigerian Medical Association, Anatomical Society of Nigeria and Association of Medical and Dental Doctors in Basic Medical Science and its First and current National President, Society for Experimental and Clinical Anatomists, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Neuroscience Society of Nigeria.
On Thursday 25th October 2018 he presented his Inaugural lecture which was the 88th in University of Jos. Titled: FORENSIC ANTROPOLOGY: UNTAPPED SPECIALITY IN HUMAN IDENTIFICATION AND ITS RELEVANCE TO THE NIGERIAN LEGAL SYSTEM. BY PROFESSOR MBT UMAR PROFESSOR OF ANATOMY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN ANATOMY, COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF JOS. UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF PROFESSOR SEDDI SEBASTIAN MAIMAKO VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF JOS.
He was a fellow of the Anatomical Society of Nigeria and also a Fellow of the Association of General And Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria. On community services he has received the award of an Icon of Peace by Northern Peace Foundation, until his demise he was the Medical Director of Nasiha Clinic, chairman Muslim Health Initiative in Nigeria, member Amirul Hajj Team Nasarawa State four consecutive years, Head of Medical Mission of Plateau State Muslims Pilgrims, Vice chairman of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners 0l8Nigeria. PTA chairman kQueen Science Academy Kano. He was honoured by JUMSA by tagging the quiz competition in his.
He died on Tuesday 19th Ramadan 1441 A.H/ 12th May 2020 at Jos University Teaching hospital (Juth) after a brief illness and left behind his aged mother, two beautiful wives Haj Fatima Ishaq Dogara and Dr Fatima Ibrahim Hudu. He was blessed with seven children alive one died four years ago.
May Amighty Allah have mercy on his gentle soul and may Aljannatul Firddaus be his final abode Amin.
