Lecturer I
Years of Service at ABU Zaria:7 years
Research Interests / Specialization: Dr Abdulazeez’s research sits at the intersection of evolutionary genetics, environmental toxicology, and infection biology. She uses Drosophila melanogaster as a model system to investigate how chronic, sub‑lethal exposures to environmental contaminants (heavy metals, food additives) reshape host biology, population dynamics, and susceptibility to infectious disease.
Selected Publications:
Agi, A.M., Abdulazeez, R., Dakup, T.N., Al-hassan, N.A., Abdulfatahi, O.H., Wada, Y. and Shehu, D.M. (2025). Molecular mechanisms of anti-diabetes effects of Mormodica charantia L. Ethanolic leaf extract on type 2 diabetes in strains of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1838. bioRxiv preprint. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.11.669659
Hamidu, S. K., Umar, A., Abdulazeez, R., Muhammad, Z., Alkhamis, A. I., Umar, M., … Maina, M. B. (2024). Simple models for neuroscience research discoveries: how often are these models used in Africa? Molecular Psychology: Brain, Behavior, and Society, 2:20. https://doi.org/10.12688/molpsychol.17511.2
Abdulazeez, R., Highab, S., Onyawole, U., Jeje, M., Musa, H., Shehu, D., & Ndams, I. S. (2024). Co‑administration of resveratrol rescued lead‑induced toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 109, 104470https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2024.104470
Wang, Y., McNeil, P., Abdulazeez, R., Pascual, M., Johnston, S. E., Keightley, P. E., & Obbard, D. (2023). Variation in mutation, recombination, and transposition rates in Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans. Genome Research, 33, 1–14. https://www.genome.org/cgi/doi/10.1101/gr.277383.122
Sadiq, I. Z., Katsayal, B. S., Abdulazeez, R., Adedyin, O. S., Omengwu, Y. F., & Usman, A. G. (2023). Peptides from casein extend the survival rate and protect Drosophila melanogaster from oxidative stress via ineracting with the Keap1–Nrf2 pathway. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences, 16(2), 297 https://doi.org/10.54319/jjbs/160214
Community Engagement & Service:
Volunteer Scientist, Leaders in Science Scotland (2025–2026): Engaged with primary and high school students in Edinburgh (West Lothian, Gala, Craigmillar) through hands‑on science activities, including “DNA Hunting” and BioScience Quarter Week events.
Faculty member, BioRTC Summer Schools (2022–2024): Delivered training in Drosophila biology and research methods at BioRTC (Yobe State University, Nigeria) summer schools, contributing to capacity building for early‑career researchers in Nigeria.
Coordinator, 1st North West Brain Bee Quiz Competition for Secondary Schools, ABU Zaria (2022): Organised and coordinated a regional neuroscience competition for secondary schools in North West Nigeria, hosted at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Schools and Community Outreach Fellow, DrosAfrica (2019–present): Delivered Drosophila‑based workshops in secondary schools, trained teachers, and led a panel discussion for DrosAfrica’s online workshop. Adapted complex genetic assays into affordable teaching materials for African institutions.
Founder, Droso4Nigeria (2018–present): Established and lead a national initiative promoting Drosophila as a cost‑effective teaching and research tool across Nigerian universities and secondary schools. Delivered teacher trainings, adapted laboratory protocols for low‑resource settings, and built a network of Drosophila labs nationwide.
Professional Memberships:
Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE)
Science Association of Nigeria (SAN)
Genetics Society of Nigeria (GSN)
Zoological Society of Nigeria (ZSN)