MOUAU: Amazing Things You Don’t Know About Incoming VC, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe … No. 6 will interest you

By Charity Uwakwe

Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, the 6th Substantive Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, shall be inaugurated on Monday, March 1.

It would be recalled that students from the Niger Delta region had, upon his arrival, lauded the provost of Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu, Phillips Nto over what they described as his patriotic role leading to the emergence of the renowned Professor.

Here are some mind-blowing facts you might not have known about the man, Prof. Iwe.

1. Prof.Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe was born on April 7, 1958 in Umucha Amuda Isuochi, Abia State, Nigeria.

2. EDUCATION
Prof. Iwe studied at the University of Nigeria Nsukka where he obtained a Bachelors (Honors) degree and PhD in Food Science and Technology. He also obtained a Master of Science degree from the University of Ibadan in Food Technology. His PhD research took him as far as the Wageningin Agricultural University, The Netherlands, through a World Bank/NUC sponsorship.

He took up lectureship job at the University of Jos, Makurdi Campus (now University of
Agriculture, Makurdi) in 1985 and rose to the rank of a Senior Lecturer in 1999, before joining Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike in AD 2000.
He has been a Professor
since 2003.

3. MEMBERSHIP OF BODIES
Prof. Iwe is a Premier (Professional) member of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Chicago, USA, and International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), a member of the
Nigerian Soybean Association, and a Professional member of the Institute of Public Analysts
of Nigeria (IPAN). He is an Internationally Certified Food Scientist (CFS), and an Alumnus of the Haggai Institute, USA, from where he obtained an Advanced Leadership Certificate in
Evangelism and Christian Leadership. He is currently The National President of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST).

4. COMMUNITY SERVICE
Prof. Madu O. Iwe has served in many capacities and committees of Universities. He left University of Agriculture, Makurdi as a Deputy Dean of College of Food Technology. He has served as an Ag. Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology, Dean of the College of Food Processing and Storage Technology of the Michael Okpara University and
first Academic Dean of Student Affairs of the University for six years and a Deputy Vice Chancellor.

He is a resource person on Soybean Utilization, resource person on UNICEF Household
Food Security, and was a member of Benue State Committee on Vitamin A deficiency control.
He was a resource person for the 1st Abia State Council of Health and Development Policy Plan, December 13-19, 2013.

Consultant to NICCUS Industries Ltd, Onitsha, 2004-2009. The renowned prof. has also advised on the establishment of
analytical laboratories in the industry, as well as made recommendations on recruitment of staff and
advised on processing lines.

Prof Madu O. Iwe was a member of the TETFUND Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of TETFUND Book Development Committee (2009-2017), and was a Board member of the
SHEDA Science and Technology in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (2013-
2015).

5. PUBLICATIONS
As an academic of repute, Prof. Iwe has to his credit a large volume of journal articles
in the field of Food Science and Technology, published in Nigeria, Africa, Europe and
America, as well as other book titles including the Science and Technology of Soybean;
Handbook of Sensory Evaluation and Current Trends in Sensory Evaluation of Foods. He has contributed several relevant chapters in textbooks.
He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Food Journal (2007-2010), an official
publication of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), and of course
he is a member of NIFST Council.

6. MARRIAGE/FAMILY
Prof. Madu O. Iwe is married to Dr. Nkechi, a Deputy Director in Federal Ministry of
Defence. They are blessed with three married children, one son and two grandchildren.

Amazing isn’t it? Drop your opinion on this, please!