Dr Abdullahi Saka

Abdullahi is a Senior Lecturer with research interests in construction management, digital construction, BIM, modular construction, and sustainability to improve the status quo and develop practical solutions.

Abdullahi holds PhD in Construction Engineering and Management, and a Bachelor of Technology (First Class) in Quantity Surveying. He has cognate experience in teaching and research across three continents of Africa, Asia, and Europe. He worked in various capacities in the construction industry as a quantity surveyor and construction manager. He is actively involved in industry research and has been serving as the Research Director for BIM Africa – an organisation enabling and promoting the implementation of digital construction in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry across Africa - since 2018.

Prior to joining Leeds Beckett University, Abdullahi worked in a multidisciplinary research group and actively participated in externally funded projects of over £ 2 million by the UKRI. He has expertise in construction informatics (machine learning, BIM and IoT), construction technology, circular economy, risk management, modular integrated construction, innovation diffusion and management. He has published in these areas in refereed journals, conferences, textbooks and contributed to industry reports over the years.

Abdullahi is an active reviewer for refereed journals:

• Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
• Architectural Engineering and Design Management
• International Journal of Construction Management
• Journal of Engineering, Design, and Technology
• Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering
• Built Environment Project and Asset Management

He is an Associate member of the Hong Kong Institute of Project Management (HKIPM), a member of the Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM) and a member and board member of BIM Africa.

Abdullahi sees his teaching role as that of a midwife (a guide and collaborator by the side of the students to make knowledge and engage the students’ experience) and banker (to deposit and transfer knowledge that is research-informed to the students). He strikes balance between these two roles to develop career-ready students that are critical thinkers. He gamifies learning by using technologies to stimulate students’ interest and develops modules that are research-informed with the view of improving the teaching/learning experience and overall satisfaction of the students. 

• Construction Technology
• Research Methods
• Project Teams
• Management and Site Practice