MICHAEL OKPARA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, UMUDIKE
COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES
OFFICE OF THE DEAN

1. BRIEF WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN:
I, Prof. Ejikeme Nwachukwu, the Dean of the College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS),
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, sincerely welcome you to the
College Website platform. We shall provide you with information about the College
especially in terms of her academic activities and personnel.

2. VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT:
The vision of the College of Natural Sciences is to be the foremost institution for
producing highly-rated graduates in Agriculture, science and technology and to be a
vehicle for the attainment of the Primary goals of the National Agricultural Policy of
Self-Sufficiency in Food and Fibre production.

MISSION/OBJECTIVE:
The mission of the College of Natural Sciences is to provide high quality practical
training for Students to become professionally competent, develop environmentally –
friendly and people sensitive technologies and enhance the well-being of the people
through extension and other interventions.

VALUES:
Our core values include Excellence, Integrity, Diligence and Hard Work.

3. HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE:
The College of Natural Sciences was created precisely on the 1 st of February, 2013,
following the decision of the University Senate taken in her 145 th Regular Meeting. In
the meeting the College of Natural Sciences was demerged from the former College of
Physical and Applied Sciences. The college took off effectively on the 23 rd of April, 2013
with Prof. Ifeoma Irene Ijeh as the pioneer Dean of the college. It housed four (4)
Departments, namely: Dept. of Biochemistry, Dept. of Microbiology, Dept. of Zoology
and Environmental Biology and Dept. of Plant Science and Biotechnology. It has been
the practice that at the end of each academic year, every college of the University is
appraised in order to determine the level of realization of the aims and objectives so far.

4. ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES/ACTIVITIES OF THE COLLEGE
The college has four (4) Departments and they offer B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D degree programmes
in the relevant areas namely:
i. Biochemistry – B.Sc., M.Sc and Ph.D degrees in the areas of their study.
ii. Microbiology – B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D degrees in the areas of their study.

iii. Zoology and Environmental Biology – B.Sc, M.Sc. Ph.D. Degrees in the areas of their
study.
iv. Plant Science and Biotechnology – B.Sc, M.Sc., and Ph.D. Degrees in the areas of
their study.

The college admits undergraduate Students into the various programmes through:
i. UTME
A prospective candidate is required to have passed JAMB and screening test that
meet the Department cut off mark determined by the university plus the minimum of
5 credit passes including English language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and
Biology in the WAESC or General Certificate of Education (GCE) or National
Examination Council ordinary level (NECO) in not more than two sitting as
stipulated by the Depts. or Programme.

ii. DIRECT ENTRY ADMISSION
Direct Entry admission is based on a combination of “A” level result, ND, HND and
NCE as stipulated by the Dept. or programmes intended. Direct Entry Candidates
must also satisfy UTME (ie. O’Level) requirements.

iii. TRANSFER FROM ANOTHER UNIVERSITY
The college may admit on transfer, a student undergoing undergraduate degree
programme in another recognized university provided such a student is transferring
from the same or similar Dept./Programme run in COLNAS, has a minimum CGPA
of 3.50 and meets all the requirements of this university and the Dept./Programme he
or she is transferring to.

iv. CHANGE OF DEGREE PROGRAMME IN THE UNIVERSITY
The university has provision for students to change from one degree programme to
another after the student must have completed one full academic year. The college
admit students from other programmes into the various Dept. /Programme on the
concurrent agreement with the former Dept. or Programme, Registrar and following
senate approval, where a student is permitted to change a degree of study in the
university.

ACTIVITIES OF THE COLLEGE
The activities of the office of Dean, centers on the coordination of the activities of the four
Depts. that make up the college. The activities include teaching, research, community services,
seminars and workshops. The Dean is always assisted in the performance of these functions by
the Deputy Dean and the College Officer. Other activities performed by these various
Department include, internal and external defense by the final year degree students.

These Departments also run Postgraduate seminar for their Postgraduate students. The college
also organizes orientation programme for newly admitted students under the auspices of an
Association that unites all the students in the college called JANSS (Joint Association of Natural
Science Students). The college prepares newly admitted students for the university matriculation
ceremony.

PAST DEANS:
The College of Natural Sciences has been headed by the following Deans:
1. Prof. Ifeoma Irene Ijeh – 23 rd April 2013 – 2016
2. Prof. Vincent Chukwuemeka Eze – 23 rd April, 2016 – 2019
3. Prof. Polycarp Nnacheta Okafor – 23 rd April, 2019 – 2022
4. Prof. Ejikeme Nwachukwu – 22 nd April 2022 till date

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE COLLEGE:
(a) Turning out graduates at BSc, MSc and PhD levels who are equipped in character and
learning from the different Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, Zoology and
Environment Biology and Plant Science and Biotechnology.
(b) It is worthy to note, that the college has made commendable achievements as producing
the best graduating students in MOUAU as follows:
i. 2016/2017 Academic Session with Onyele, Onyinyechi Gladys, who made 1 st Class in
the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology with CGPA of 4.85
ii. 2018/2019 Uchenna Nkaa of the Department of Biochemistry, who made 1 st class
honour with CGPA of 4.89.
(c) In the area of research, the college can boast of academic staff that are carrying out
research projects both within and outside the country.
(d) The college renders extension services to other college of the University in addition to the
fact that most staff in the professional cadre serve as
Adjuncts, Sabbatical Staff and External Examiners in other Universities.
Dr. Oghale Okore, a Staff in the Department of ZEB was given commendation letter for her
hard work and commitment to her duties.

The College has six (6) Professors who have presented their Inaugural lectures, they are as
follows: –

i. Prof. Ifeoma Irene Ijeh – 36th Inaugural lecture on 15 th August, 2018, titled: “The
Food and Medicine Wedlock: “A Biochemists search for suitable indigenous brides”.
ii. Professor Obinna Christopher Ohaeri – 14th Inaugural lecture on 22 nd August, 2012,
“Plant Anticoagulants: The Health Game Changers in Diabetics, Hypertension and
Cancer”.

iii. Prof. Ome Kalu Achi – 21 st Inaugural lecture on 4 th February, 2015. “Microbial
Biology: Harnessing the Power of Microbes for Industrial Transformation”
iv. Prof. Diane Akudo Avoaja – 49 Inaugural Lecture.
v. Prof. Uchechi Nnembuche Ekwenye – 51 st Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday 17 th
November, 2021. “Microbes : Friends and Foes”
vi. Prof. Polycarp Nnacheta Okafor — 52 nd Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday 15 th
December, 2021. ‘’Metabolism of Cassava Cyanide and Jim Jones Cyanide in
Humans: The Imperative of Food Safety in the Quest for Food Security”

DESK OFFICER CONTACT NUMBER AND E-MAIL ADDRESS:
College officer is the Desk officer — NJOKU DORATHY NNEKA (MRS)
07068909283, njokudorothy@gmail.com

DEAN, COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES
BRIEF PROFILE OF PROFESSOR EJIKEME NWACHUKWU

Prof. Ejikeme Nwachukwu is the current Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Michael
Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike. Nwachukwu, Ejikeme is a Professor of
Microbiology. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Port-Harcourt (2001). His Research
interest is on food/industrial and Public Health Microbiology. He was appointed a full Professor
in 2014. Prof. Nwachukwu has supervised many students at undergraduate, Masters and Ph.D.
Levels. He has over 50 publications in both local and international journals. Some of the
Administrative positions held in the university include:

Examination Officer, Exam Time Table Officer (2005 – 2010), Secretary PG Departmental
Committee (2005 – 2010), PG/University Seminar and Project coordinator (2005 – 2010),
SIWES coordinator (2005 – 2010) for the Department of Microbiology, ETTC Rep. for CNAS
(2008 – 2010).

He has been External Examiner for many Universities such as FUTO, UNIPORTS, ABSU,
IMSU, and FUAAB for postgraduate students as well as External Assessor of staff to
professorial cadre.

Prof. Ejikeme Nwachukwu was the Acting HOD of Microbiology for 4 years (2010 – 2014) and
Acting Dean, COLNAS at various times. He was appointed again the HOD, Microbiology in 3 rd
January, 2022 and Acting Dean in 22 nd April, 2022.

Based on unanimous votes of the Academic Staff for Prof E. Nwachukwu during Deanship
Election for the College, he was overwhelmingly elected as the Dean of the College on 23 rd
November, 2023. All that participated voted “YES” for him. The Vice Chancellor was pleased
and approved his election as the Dean of the College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS) for a period
three (3) years with effect from 23 rd November, 2023.

He served as Chairman as well as member of various university panels. He has been
participating in NUC accreditation of university programmes. Professor Ejikeme Nwachukwu
was the Chairman of University TETFUND Committee from 2018 to 2021 during which over
sixty three (63) staff of the University attended foreign and local conferences while over Thirty-
one (31) staff went for Ph.D. programmes in both foreign and local Universities.

PROF. EJIKEME NWACHUKWU
Email: nwachukwu.ejikeme@mouau.edu.ng
Phone: 08035430429.