Prof. Tesleem Babatunde Asafa
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso
Fall 2015
Prof. Tesleem Babatunde Asafa is a Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and the Director of the Centre for Emerging Skills and Technologies (CEST). A 2015 MIT-ETT Fellow, he is a “Pracademic” who successfully bridges the gap between advanced nanotechnology research and practical student innovation. His research is dual-tracked. On the theoretical side, he is a leading member of the LAUTECH Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO+), specializing in the “Green Synthesis” of nanoparticles. He uses biological extracts (like fungi and plant pods) to create silver and gold nanoparticles for use in antimicrobial paints and biomedical applications. On the practical side, he is a champion of Robotics and Automation, mentoring student teams that have developed autonomous sweeping robots, AI-powered farm security systems, and the “AutoMed” automated medication dispenser. Prof. Asafa holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia, with significant research conducted at the world-renowned imec microelectronics hub in Belgium. His time at MIT was transformative for his pedagogy; he is credited with introducing “Outcome-Based Education” models at LAUTECH. This approach has led his mentees to win numerous national awards, including the Patrick Andrew Engineering Innovation Challenge and the NextGen Innovation Challenge. He actively uses his position at CEST to provide fabrication tools and co-working spaces, ensuring that engineering students can turn their final year projects into market-ready products.
