PROF. EMERITUS SIMEON CHITURU ACHINEWHU

PROF. EMERITUS SIMEON CHITURU ACHINEWHU

Village Elder, Ochi Ohna Ikwerre XIV (2016 - 2018)

Born August 15, 1946, Prof. Emeritus Simeon Chituru Achinewhu is a Nigerian food and nutrition biochemist, scholar, and university administrator. Academically, starting as lecturer at Rivers State University in food chemistry/biochemistry, food process technology, safety and fermentation, toxicology and nutrition in 1975, he has remained there to date. He was Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University (formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology) from October 2000 until May 2007. In 2005, he was named the most research active vice-chancellor in the Nigerian university system. As of 2021, he serves as Professor Emeritus at Rivers State University.

Traditionally, he is a Reverend Canon of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, a Crown of Peace, Justice of Peace, and National President of Peace Builders Association (Council of Ambassadors for Peace and Unification). He served as President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Socio-cultural Organisation Worldwide from 2016 to 2018.

His contributions to Ogbakor Ikwerre and the Ikwerre nation were remarkable. Prior to being appointed Vice-Chancellor, he held positions including Dean of Post Graduate School (1998-2000), Head of Department of Food Science & Technology (1995-1998), Dean of Faculty of Agriculture (1989-1994), and Director of Rivers Institute of Agricultural Research & Training (RIART) (1986-1989). He received international academic awards including Post-doctorate fellowship senior scholar Fulbright Fellowship (1985) and Post-doctorate fellow Association of Commonwealth Universities (1984-1985). In 2010, he was selected as an expert in Europe-Africa Quality Connect, a collaborative project between European Universities Association (EUA) and the Association of African Universities (AAU). His academic contributions include analyzing more than fifty homegrown foodstuffs, evolving coffee processing from Bayelsa State, researching cassava processing, and developing a baby food supplement for undernourished children during the Better Life Programme. He is married to Eunice Achinewhu and they have four children.