Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry at Edo State University Uzairue, Edo State, Nigeria, Professor Usunobun Usunomena, has been meritoriously selected a 2024 Fellow of the prestigious Nigeria Science Leadership Programme (N-SLP).
In a letter announcing the selection, the Director, Africa Science Leadership Programme, Dr. Connie Nshemereirwe, congratulated Prof Usunobun Usunomena on the significant achievement.
“The programme received a large number of strong applications from across the country. Following two rounds of assessment by the Africa Science Leadership Programme (ASLP) and N-SLP coordinating teams, your application stood out,” Dr. Nshemereirwe said.
“We have an exciting group of fellows and look forward to engaging with you in this ground-breaking and transformative program,” she said in the letter dated 3 July 2024.
Dr. Nshemereirwe further said the leadership workshop would take place at the University of Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, over three intensive days (August 16-20).
Professor Usunobun Usunomena, who became Nigeria’s youngest Professor of Biochemistry in January 2021, is an environmental and biochemical toxicologist with major interests in medicinal plants and natural products efficacy, safety and disease management, their mechanism of actions as well as isolation and characterization of chemical/bioactive principles in plants. His research interests also include Molecular Biology, signal transduction, apoptosis, antioxidants, oxidative stress and free radicals in health and disease, molecular carcinogenesis and chemoprevention.
Professor Usunobun was the first Nigerian researcher between 2014 and 2016 to use local leaves of annona muricata (soursop) and vernonia amygalina (bitter leaf) to successfully treat and manage liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. He has collaborated with other researchers, locally and internationally, to produce several peer-reviewed publications.
The university don also has experience and expertise in development of competency-based curricula and education, learner-centred education and pedagogy, outcome-based education, teaching strategies and modern training methods, classroom management, mentorship, human resource development, career development and counseling.
He has previously served as Head of Biochemistry Department, Chairman University Admissions Board, Director of Academic Planning and Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences at Edo State University Uzairue. During a one-year sabbatical at Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli, Delta State, between October 2022 and September 2023, Professor Usunobun served as the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies and Director of Academic Planning.
The N-SLP is one of the regional science leadership workshops of the African Science Leadership Programme (ASLP), an initiative led by the University of Pretoria in partnership with the Global Young Academy funded by Robert Bosch Stiftung.
The N-SLP, which is fully funded as fellows traverse Nigeria and the Africa continent, serves career researchers in basic and applied science, engineering, social sciences, arts and the humanities. The programme aims to foster the development of career academics in Nigeria, equipping them with skills in thought leadership, team development, engagement and collaboration. This preparation empowers them to address complex challenges affecting Nigeria, Africa and the global community.
