Prof. Laila Abubakar is currently the Vice Chancellor at Technical University of Mombasa. She is a Professor of Biochemistry having obtained her PhD and MSc in Biochemistry from University of Nairobi, under German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and European Union fellowships, respectively.

Prof. Abubakar is an active researcher, and has won several research grants and awards. This led to her being accorded the University of Nairobi Deans’ award for scholarship and research in 2011/2012.  She was also awarded 1^st prize at the XII Molecular Parasitology Conference held at Woodshole Oceanographic Institute, USA (2002), 1st Prize ICIPE Governing Council Research Award (2002), 2^nd Prize for research dissemination on “Energy, Water and Climate Change” by National Council for Science & Technology, among others.

She has maintained a dynamic academic and professional links with several universities and organizations, and fostered collaborative projects that have contributed to strengthening capacity in the region. She has successfully supervised and examined over 30 postgraduate students and published several papers in refereed journals.

Special appointments include Trustee, Kenya Education Network Board (2020), Vice Chairman, Commonwealth Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa (April 2017–date),  Local Scientific Coordinator for the European Union Edu-Link Energise Project (2014-2018),  Secretary General of  African Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS) (2011-2015), Treasurer of the Biochemical Society of Kenya (2007-2011), member of the implementation team for Development Research Uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa Network, Co-Chair of Africa Nutritional Sciences Research Consortium on Ph.D Training, member of Innovation Fund Committee for Agriculture and Agri-business under the Agricultural Sector Coordination Unit (ASCU), member of the National Steering Committee on Fisheries Policy & Legal Framework that culminated in the enactment of the Kenya Fisheries Management and Development law.