“A home without a head, they say is a home without a direction”. This can never be the situation of a reputable organization like the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, (NBRRI).
The DG/CEO of NBRRI, Engr. Prof. Danladi S. Matawal gave all his best to make the institute an outstanding force in the Ministry and the research environment during his eight years tenure as the DG/CEO of NBRRI.
After successfully completed his tenure, he bowed out of the system on February 28, 2019 as a fulfilled man. In other not to leave his flock unattended to, Prof. Matawal handed the mantle of leadership in the interim to a renowned academician and the Director of Research, Abuja, Engr. Prof. Samson Duna.
Engr. Prof. Samson Duna was born on the 13th of March, 1968 in Katsina-Ala Benue state and hails from Gombe state. An erudite scholar who had his first school leaving certificate in 1980; General Certificate of Education, June 1985; Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering in 1991; Masters of Science in 1998; Doctor of Philosophy in 2012.
Samson Duna is a member, Nigerian Institute of Engineering Management, corporate member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a COREN Registered Engineer and a Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Civil Engineers.
He has worked in both the private and public sector as an engineer and lecturer. As a Structural Engineer, he consulted for Partner for Development (PFD) where he conducted an investigative Study on bridge failure at Mwari Bogoro L.G.A Bauchi State in 2006; Consultant to Horman Nig. Ltd on Geotechnical investigation on the construction of Lariski – Kolmani road project at Alkaleri L.G.A Bauchi State in 1997.
In April, 2016, he became a visiting reader and an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi . He was promoted to the rank of Professor of Civil Engineering.
Prof. Samson Duna has many publications, seminar and conference papers, productive works as well as articles on professional issues. He has graduated many undergraduate and postgraduate students and has attended series of seminars and workshops locally.
He has a lot of awards to his credit amongst them are Merit Award by the Student Union Government (S U G) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi Chapter, 2013; Award of Excellence by Gombe State Students Association (GOSSA) ATBU Bauchi branch in the year 2013; Award of Excellence as “Icon of transformation” by National Youth Discovery and Creativity Initiative in the year 2017; Award of Academic Excellence by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Alumni Association, Plateau State Chapter in the year 2017.
Prof. Duna loves Investigative Engineering Research, Interacting with the youths, assisting the less privilege, watching football and community development through communal effort.