Laila Abubakar, the first Muslim woman and first female Vice Chancellor from Kenya’s Coast region, is currently the Vice Chancellor of the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM).
She is an alumna of Allidina Visram High School, where she completed her A-levels in 1980.
Laila holds a PhD and MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Nairobi, where she previously served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry.
Laila is a Professor of Biochemistry, having obtained her PhD and MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Nairobi, under German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and European Union fellowships.
Laila Abubakar Career Background
Laila Abubakar began her professional career as a researcher with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) before moving to the University of Nairobi, where she rose through the ranks of academic and professional leadership.
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From 2011 to 2015, she served as the Secretary General of the African Association of Insect Scientists and as a Local Scientific Coordinator for the European Union Edu-Link Energise Project from 2014 to 2018.
Additionally, Laila served as Treasurer of the Biochemical Society of Kenya and as Co-Chair of the Africa Nutritional Sciences Research Consortium on Ph.D. Training.
In 2020, Laila was elected as the Chairperson of the Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa and a Trustee of the Kenya Education Network Board.
She is a Member of the Innovation Fund Committee for Agriculture and Agri-business under the Agricultural Sector Coordination Unit (ASCU) and a Member of the National Steering Committee on Fisheries Policy and Legal Framework that culminated in the enactment of the Kenya Fisheries Management and Development law.
Achievements
As an active researcher, she has won several research grants and awards and published many scholarly articles in refereed national and international journals.
Between 2011 and 2012, Laila received the University of Nairobi Deans’ Award for Scholarship and Research.
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Laila was also awarded 1st prize at the XII Molecular Parasitology Conference held at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, USA (2002), 1st Prize ICIPE Governing Council Research Award (2002), 2nd Prize for research dissemination on Energy, Water, and Climate Change by the National Council for Science and Technology, among others.
In 2025, she was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Kenya, an honour awarded by Africapitol Ventures. The award gala dinner was held to celebrate women across various sectors who have made a significant impact in the country.
Laila was honored with the prestigious *ATUPA 2024 Award of Excellence for Development in Africa* following her successful completion of a four-year tenure as the chair of the Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (ATUPA).
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