Prof Charles Igwe emerges new UNN VC

Professor Charles Igwe has emerged as the New Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

Until his emergence on Thursday, Igwe was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration in the university.

He will replace outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Benjamin Ozumba whose tenure comes to an end on June 7.

Igwe, Professor of Soil Science was announced as the new Vice Chancellor after a meeting of the Governing Council yesterday.

No fewer than 86 professors from within and outside the country vied for the post.

A selection committee set up by the Governing Council pruned down the list to 15 and later five before Igwe emerged as the new Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Igwe was born on August 23, 1958, and hails from Awka in Anambra State.

According to his biography culled from the UNN website, Igwe holds a PhD, M.Sc. and B Agric degrees in Soil Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He also obtained Postgraduate Diploma in Soil Science from Agricultural University, Norway, Ås. He was Head of Department; Associate Dean of Faculty; Dean of Faculty and Directors of Centres at various times.

Charles was Visiting Researcher/Professor in Universities located in Germany, Japan, Norway, Italy and France. He is a member, University Governing Council and has supervised Undergraduates, Masters and many PhD students in his discipline. He is an External Examiner and Professorial Assessor in many Nigerian and European Universities.

Professor Igwe’s research focuses on the contributions of organic and mineral colloids in the stability of tropical soils. He contributed significantly in the knowledge of the stability of unstable tropical soils which undergo catastrophic soil erosion with intensive tropical rainfall. In the face of Global Climate Change, he expanded the scope of his research to include the “Carbon sequestration in tropical soils”.

In his search to unravel inherent soil factors influencing erodibility (K) factor of erosion models, he published some pioneering works on soil colloidal-dispersion.

He is author/co-author of many peer-reviewed articles in reputable Journals of Soil/Environmental Sciences.

He is a NORAD Fellow; Fellow of Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Germany; Regular Associate, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy; Fellow, Japanese Society for Promotion of Science; Winner, University of Nigeria Vice-Chancellor’s Faculty and University Prizes 1992/93; Listed in Marquis Who’s Who in Science and Engineering; participant in German DAAD/DIES Deans Course 2009. Charles attracted scientific equipment donations to the University from AvH in 2001 and 2010.

He is a two-time recipient of Research Grant from Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). Professor Igwe is married with 4 children.