Dr Langa, Hassan Bangunji (JP): A Life Dedicated to Physics, Public Service, and Community Development

Dr Langa, Hassan Bangunji (JP): A Life Dedicated to Physics, Public Service, and Community Development

By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe

Born on 10 October 1966 in Bangunji, Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State, Dr Langa Hassan Bangunji (JP) has built a distinguished career that bridges academia, public administration, community leadership, and energy research. Over more than three decades, he has emerged as one of Gombe State’s most enduring contributors to science education, institutional development, and public service.

Dr Langa’s early education began at Bangunji Primary School, where his academic curiosity first took shape. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Cham, and later Government Science Secondary School, Gombe, completing his secondary education in 1984. His strong inclination towards science led him to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, where he earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Applied Physics in 1990.

Determined to deepen his expertise and professional relevance, Dr Langa pursued teacher training at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, obtaining a Teachers Training Certificate in Science in 1993. He further enhanced his technical competence with a postgraduate diploma in electrical/electronics from ATBU Bauchi in 1998, followed by a general certificate in computer studies in 2003. His passion for energy studies took him to the Federal University of Technology, Yola, where he earned a master’s degree in energy physics in 2007, and later to Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, where he completed a PhD in energy physics in July 2015.

Dr Langa’s professional journey began with industrial training at ATBU Bauchi and national service at Boys Secondary School, Unubi, Anambra State, where he served as both a physics teacher and a form master. Upon returning to the Northeast, he briefly taught at GSSS Dass as Head of Physics before joining the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, in 1992—an institution that would become the anchor of his academic career.

At FCE (T) Gombe, Dr Langa steadily rose through the ranks, becoming one of the institution’s most experienced and influential academics. He served at various times as Examination Officer, School Secretary, Head of the Department of Physics (2009–2017), Dean of the School of Science (2011–2013), Deputy Director, and later Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance. His leadership was marked by a strong commitment to academic standards, transparent assessment processes, and institutional planning.

Beyond the college environment, Dr Langa distinguished himself in public service, serving as a member of the Gombe State Executive Council between 1999 and 2003. During this period, he was appointed Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment and at different times acted as Commissioner in the Ministries of Health, Works and Housing, and Women Affairs and Youth Development. His tenure coincided with Nigeria’s growing engagement with environmental governance, water resource management, and sustainable development, leading to his participation in National Councils on Water Resources and Environment, as well as Presidential Committees on projects such as the Dadin-Kowa Hydro Power Project and the National Shelter Belt Initiative.

In September 2017, Dr Langa reached a major milestone in educational leadership when he was appointed Provost of the College of Education, Billiri, a position he held until August 2022. His tenure was characterised by administrative reforms, staff development initiatives, and a renewed focus on academic quality and institutional stability. He later proceeded on sabbatical leave to the College of Education, Zing, further extending his influence across Nigeria’s colleges of education.

A committed teacher and mentor, Dr Langa has supervised 45 NCE research projects and 12 undergraduate projects; some of them were published in reputable journals while teaching a wide range of physics courses, including Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Thermodynamics, Atomic and Nuclear Physics, Electronics, Statistical Physics, and Energy & Environmental Physics. His research interests, firmly rooted in energy physics, renewable energy, and domestic energy consumption, have produced numerous scholarly publications in reputable national and international journals.

Dr Langa’s academic output spans studies on solar energy utilisation, biomass and fuel consumption, nuclear energy as a development option, and improved cooking stove efficiency, contributing valuable insights to Nigeria’s energy and environmental discourse. His work has positioned him as a respected voice on sustainable energy solutions, particularly within the context of developing economies.

Outside the classroom and government office, Dr Langa is deeply involved in community service, faith-based initiatives, and traditional institutions. He serves on the traditional councils of the Dadiya, Kaltungo, and Tangale chiefdoms and has held leadership roles in community development associations, youth organisations, and church boards. His advisory roles to student fellowships and youth groups reflect his lifelong commitment to mentorship and moral leadership.

His contributions have earned him numerous traditional titles and merit awards, including Dan Masanin Bangunji, Dan Ruwatun Dadiya, Sarkin Zangon Kaltungo, Garkuwan Ilimin Tangale, and State Patron of the Boys Brigade of Nigeria, Gombe State.

These honours recognise not only his professional achievements but also his enduring service to education, culture, and community development.

Currently a Chief Lecturer at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, under the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr Langa remains actively engaged in academic planning, quality assurance, research supervision, and national educational discourse.

Bangunji has served either as chairman or as a member of sensitive committees both within and outside the college. In his leisure, he enjoys reading and playing badminton.

Dr Langa, Hassan Bangunji (JP), stands as a compelling example of how scholarship, public service, and community leadership can intersect to create a life of sustained impact one that continues to shape institutions, inspire students, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s educational and developmental aspirations.