Dr. Yusuf was born and raised in Zaria, Nigeria where he had his early education before moving to the University of Abuja Nigeria where he obtained a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences with 2nd class upper division and a prize for the best graduating student. After the completing the compulsory national youth service, Yusuf worked briefly as an Administrative officer with the Nigerian tourism development corporation before proceeding to the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen UK where he obtained an MSc with Distinction in Instrumental Analytical Sciences (Environmental Analysis). Upon graduation he joined the services of Shehu Idris School of Health Technology, Kaduna as a Biology Tutor in 2004, and there after moved to Kaduna state University as an Assistant Lecturer and to Ahmadu Bello University. In 2006, Yusuf was selected as one of seven African students to study for a PhD at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) Nairobi Kenya under a DAAD scholarship. In 2010, he graduated with a PhD in Entomology specialising in Insect Behaviour and Chemical Ecology. Since then he has worked as a Post-Doctoral and Research Fellow with the Social Insects Research Group at the University of Pretoria where he studies pheromonal communication in honey bees and other arthropods associated with the bee hive.