Professor Anthony Obiosa Onyekweli, is Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta State University, Abraka and member of the institution’s Senate. Born in Calabar, Cross Rivers State, in 1948, he attended St. Patricks College, Asaba, Delta State, where he had his WASC in 1966.
He proceeded to the University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Osun State, and obtained B.Pharm.( Second Class Upper Division) in 1974.
Prof. Onyekweli began his career as an Intern Pharmacist at the Specialist Hospital, Benin (1974 to 1975) and had his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) programme at Mary Slessor Hospital, Akwa-Ibom State (1975 to 1976).
A Professor of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, he obtained his Ph.D from Chelsea College, University of London in United Kingdom, in 1981. He served as the chief pharmacist at Sharoura General Hospital and clinical pharmacist at King Fahad Hospital, Al-Baha, both in Saudi Arabia from 1989 to 2003.
As an academician, Professor Onyekweli joined the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Edo State, as a Graduate Assistant in 1976 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2005. An erudite scholar, Professor Onyekweli has many published articles to his credit which have been acknowledged locally and internationally and used as reference materials by others in their research publications.
In 1996, he developed an equipment with dual functions (measuring the tap densities of powders and the friability of tables); and in 2010, he, in partnership with other researchers, identified an easy method for ameliorating Brittle Fracture in Compacts, among others.
Professor Onyekweli, though preoccupied with academics, has served and actively participated at state and national levels of the PSN. Some of the positions he held include: Chairman, Board of Trustees, PSN, Delta State (2015); two-time Returning Officer, PSN, Delta State Election (2013 and 2015); Participant as Dean/Member at the PSN Election Summit, 2015.
Under his leadership as the Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta State University, full accreditation was given to the faculty by NUC, leading to the induction of five sets of Pharmacy graduands (135 inductees) by PCN in 2014 and 2015 respectively. This milestone also led to his being conferred with the Distinguished Pharmacist Award of the PSN, Delta State, in September 2014, as well as fellowship awards (FNAPharm and FPSN) in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Professor Anthony Obiosa Onyekweli is happily married for 42 years to his beautiful wife, Mrs. Bridget Ikhayere Onyekweli. They are blessed with children and grandchildren.
Prof Onyekweli is an astute gentleman, a father and a leader. He has employed all measures at his disposal to ensure that there is peace and Harmony in PSN Delta state. We of Delta state PSN proudly support the stand of Pharmanews in naming him the personality of the month. Congrats Prof