BREAKING: Esimone emerges UNIZIK new VC | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
14th May 2019
Charles Okechukwu Esimone has been appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.
Esimone, a professor of Professor of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, got the appointment after a keen contest along with ten other candidates for the office after interviews coordinated by the governing council of UNIZIK on Tuesday evening, sources within the University to EduCeleb.com.
The new VC who hails from Akwaeze in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State was a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) at the University.
Esimone who became a professor at age 37 was the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Studies at the University. He would be succeeding the incumbent, Joseph Ahaneku whose tenure elapses in June.
In a remark shortly before the announcement and formal presentation of letter of appointment, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council Mr Azeez Bello thanked the members of Council for their efficiency and sacrifice in the discharge of their duty.
He also congratulated the new Vice-Chancellor for emerging tops in the rigorous selection process and urged him to work in the overall interest of the University.
Born in Tiko, Cameroon, Esimone graduated from St. Joseph’s College Sasse, Cameroon and had all of his higher education at the University of Nigeria Nnsuka.
When he became a professor at the age of 37, he was the youngest professor in the University and her first professor of Pharmacy as well as the first professor of Pharmaceutical Microbiology in South-eastern Nigeria. He has well over 200 publications. Recently, in “The List of 28 Most Published Scholars in Nigeria”, Esimone was nominated as the 18th most published scholar in Nigeria.
The multilingual speaks English, French, and German. He is a recipient of several awards which include the Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship to Germany (2003-2005), Visiting Scientist to the University of Pittsburgh, USA (2007-2008), the AND1 Bright Contest Award for the Best African Innovative Researcher, South Africa (2009), Young Scientist representing Nigeria at the “Summer davos” Annual Meeting of New Champions, Tianjin, China (2010) and the CV Raman Senior Fellowship, India (2013).
He also a member of the Governing Council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University and the Nanomedicine Society of Nigeria. He made history equally as the Pioneer National President of the Nanomedicine Society of Nigeria. He has successfully supervised over 50 postgraduate students.
He is a recipient of various national and international grants and a reviewer to several national and international journals. He is a member of several professional bodies including the Global Young Academy and the American Society for Cell Biology.
Esimone is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy. He is also a member, Board of Trustees of Anchor University, Lagos.
The professor is happily married with children