Prof. Abubakar was the pioneer Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (2006–2016) and former Pro-Chancellor of the Gombe State University of Science & Technology (2018-2020). He is currently a visiting Professor and Chair of the University Research Council at the University of Abuja. He is also the President of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science as well as Chair of the Agriculture Thematic Group of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund's Research & Development Standing Committee.  Previously, he has served internationally as: a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research [CGIAR] ExCo & Fund/System Council representing sub-Saharan Africa (2008–2016); Chairman of the Governing Board of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (2010–2012); a member of the Governing Board of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (2010–2012);  an Expert Panel member on the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (2013); and Executive Board member of the Technical Center for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (2013–2018). He has Master’s and PhD degrees (1983 & 1985 respectively) in Animal Breeding and Quantitative Genetics from Cornell University, Ithaca, USA and has written over 160 publications.  He has served as Chair of the WorldFish Board since July 2019.