Pharm. (Prof.) Charles Okechukwu Esimone, has been appointed deputy vice chancellor (DVC) – Academic, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.
The new DVC, a professor of biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutical sciences of the university, holds B.Pharm., M.Pharm., and PhD degrees from the University of Nigeria (1995, 1998 and 2002 respectively).
Prof. Esimone, the pioneer dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, NAU, who became a professor at the age of 37, emerging as the youngest professor in the university and first professor of pharmacy, is also the first professor of pharmaceutical microbiology in south-eastern Nigeria.
He has well over 180 publications to his name. He has pioneered research in the use of recombinant viral vectors as surrogates for high throughput antiviral screening studies and on the use of indigenous medicinal plants as immunomodulators, vaccine adjuvants and anti-infectives. His vector-based antiviral screening technique developed between 2003 and 2005 in Germany has significantly revolutionalised high-throughput screening for anti-HIV compounds worldwide.
Esimone 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 ANDI 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 is a member of the Governing Council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, the Nnamd iAzikiwe University and the Nanomedicine Society of Nigeria; he is, indeed, the pioneer national president of the Nanomedicine Society of Nigeria.
Prof. Esimone, who has successfully supervised over 35 postgraduate students, 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. He is happily married.
Prof. Esimone is a great teacher
I had the privilege to sit and heard the teachings of this great man yesterday. He’s not only accomplished scientist but most importantly, a true child and servant of God.
keep up your good work