By Damola Emmanuel
President Bola Tinubu, Monday, joined millions of Nigerians at home and the diaspora to celebrate Nigerian-born Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience and top-flight researcher, Ijeoma Uchegbu, who was recently elected as seventh President of Wolfson College, one of the 31 colleges of the University of Cambridge.
Professor Uchegbu, renowned for her innovative work in nanoparticle drug delivery, is currently a Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at the University College London (UCL).
A statement issued in Abuja by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said that President Tinubu” celebrates and commends the outstanding accomplishment” of Professor Uchegbu, especially for being an excellent ambassador for Nigeria, and for her relentless efforts in advancing the frontiers of pharmaceutical science.
Ngelale said the President “applauds Professor Uchegbu as epitomizing the ingenuity, brilliance, and hard work that are consistently synonymous with the great Nigerian people both at home and abroad.
And while wishing the Nigerian-born Professor more success as she takes on this important role, President Tinubu, Ngelale restated, “assures Nigerians in the Diaspora that his administration remains committed to building a robust interface mechanism that harnesses ideas, promotes investment opportunities, and strengthens bonds, in line with his ‘4D Foreign Policy’.”
Prof. Ijeoma Uchegbu, whose appointment as President of Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, takes effect from October 1, 2024, graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Benin in 1981, earned her Master’s from the University of Lagos.
Upon returning to the United Kingdom, she pursued her postgraduate studies at the University of London, culminating in a PhD in 1997 under the supervision of Alexander (Sandy) Florence, the Dean of the School of Pharmacy.
She served as a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde from 2002 to 2004.
Prof. Uchegbu whose appointment was announced through a statement on the University’s website titled: “Wolfson elects Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu as the College’s 7th President”, will succeed the current President, Professor Jane Clarke.
“We are thrilled to announce the election of Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu, a groundbreaking nanoscientist, as the seventh President of Wolfson,” the statement said.
“Known for her groundbreaking work in nanoparticle drug delivery, Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu will succeed Professor Jane Clarke on October 1, 2024, as the 7th President of Wolfson.”
Of her new appointment, Uchegbu has this to say: “I am delighted to be joining Wolfson College, an ambitious and forward-thinking College. Leading such a vibrant, diverse, and engaged student community in an intellectually, culturally, and socially stimulating environment will be an honor.
“I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the Governing Body, staff, and students to help them achieve their goals and potential.”
Meanwhile, the outgoing President, Professor Clarke, congratulated Prof. Ijeoma Uchegbu on her election, expressing, “If she finds being the leader of the ‘Wolfpack’ half as rewarding as I have, then I can assure her that she will enjoy herself immensely.”
Here are other things you may wish to know about this Nigerian star in Cambridge as extracted from Wikipedia:
Nigerian by birth and British by citizenship, Prof. Uchegbu is renowned for her pioneering work in nanoparticle drug delivery and presently lectures at University College London.
Currently a Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London, she holds the position of Pro-Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East.
She is also a Governor of the Wellcome, a large biomedical research charity.
Apart from her highly cited scientific research in Pharmaceutical Nanoscience, Uchegbu is also known for her work in science public engagement and equality and diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Her innovative research on drug transport mechanisms has contributed to the development of new treatments, including the enkephalin pain medicine candidate (EnveltaÔ), designed to address the opioid crisis.
Her work has garnered numerous awards, fellowships, and accolades.
She also holds positions on several academic boards and councils including the Wellcome Trust, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and is an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
During her tenure at UCL, she played a key role as Pro Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East, forging new research partnerships in those regions. She also served as UCL’s Provost’s Envoy for Race Equality, driving the institution’s race equality agenda.
