Prof. Casimir Chike Akoh
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May
14
Obinna
Prof. Casimir Chike Akoh
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Distinguished Research Professor Casimir Chike Akoh

Born: 1955

Casimir Chike Akoh studied in Nanka, Onitsha and Nsukka for his primary and secondary Education. He made efforts to travel overseas to further his studies but these efforts did not succeed because the time for it had not yet come. He studied Biochemistry on Government Scholarship and was the overall best graduating student in the subject in 1981 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

After Youth service, he was employed as a lecturer in Biochemistry by the University of Port Harcourt where God sent a professor from USA to take him to Washington state university. It was here that he did his masters and Doctorate degrees, between 1983 and 1988. He did post –doctoral Research at Mississippi state University, USA, and Texas A&M University, USA, between 1988 and 1990. He started as an assistant professor in Alabama A&M University. From here, he moved over to the University of Georgia, Athens, in 1992 where he settled as a professor of food science &Technology. Since then, Chike’s talent as a gifted Researcher blossomed. He found favor among the people as an ambitious hard worker. He has received over 50 Research Grants and Donations so far.

In 2004, Chike was awarded a Distinguished Research Professor of the University of Georgia, possibly the only one in Athens Campus. As at 2011, there were only 12 Distinguished Research Professors of that University. And Chike is one of them. A few years ago, Chike Akoh was honored by the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) with the Supelco Award for his wonderful Researches and contributions to food science. Some past awardees have become Nobel Prize winners! Today Chike is a Global Scholar in food science and a man in full professional demand!!!

Chike is a man engaged in community service right from his younger days. In Nanka, UNN, and WSU, he was involved in community service. In USA, he has been fellow of several professional bodies were he served actively and later became the president of one of such organizations. In Nanka Students Union (NSU), he took over from Augustine Oforkaja as president, in 1978 and handed over to Enuma Okoli in 1980. He was also the production Editor of Revival Magazine of NSU. Chike is a progressive scholar and thinks about the future society. He is a good man and a foresighted professor. He is a Dispenser of Goodwill and helps younger scholars to find their way to fulfillment. His first son, Chike jnr. is a medical Doctor who is also engaged in community service. What Chike hate in life is young people who tell lies. But he encourages honest and straightforward youths.

The lecture he is to give today will serve as an inspiration to all Community Development practitioners, and should be tabled for debates and discussions by NPU committee  to find something to implement as a Roadmap to development. Nanka Patriotic Union (NPU) is grateful to this son-of-the-soil for finding time to tell something to the people. And we are grateful to his wife, Celine, not only for her school project in Nanka, but also for giving Chike a rest of mind for his work. No fireworks at the home front!!! Thank you, Mama!!!