In recognition of his transformational leadership and dedication to higher education in Nigeria, and for his contributions to setting up a network of Universities in Nigeria for the University of Bradford to work with.
Professor Akaneren Idem Essien is a Professor of Animal Science at the Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa campus, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Animal Science, FNSAP, and two-term Member of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science.
In his 39 years in the Nigerian University System, Professor Essien has served creditably in various capacities, rising through the ranks in teaching, research and community service, leading to his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo, Nigeria in 2005. His tenure as Vice-Chancellor witnessed the turning around of the fortunes of the University for the better, in so many ways leaving a legacy of monumental development in academic and research infrastructures, and human resource development.
Professor Essien, from 2011 to 2017 served thereafter as a Visiting Scholar in the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, the regulatory body that oversee the activities of Nigerian Universities. He was appointed Chairman of the NUC Standing Committee on Private Universities (2012-2017) during which he made outstanding contributions in the modalities that were used for the evaluation and licensing of Private Universities in Nigeria. Twenty-two new Private Universities were established during this period.
He is currently the Pro-Chancellor of Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, a fast-developing Private University in Nigeria, that will be exploring academic collaboration with the University of Bradford in Engineering and Nursing Sciences.
He successfully served as the Chairman of the Planning and Implementation Committee of the recently Nigerian Government established Private University, Amadeus University, Amizi, Abia State, Nigeria (2019-2023). Professor Essien’s role as Chairman of the Federal Government of Nigeria-appointed Visitation Panels to some Tertiary Institutions in the country produced far-reaching positive reorganization in those Institutions.
In addition to Professor Essien’s public service in the Nigerian University System, his on-going research thrust at the Postgraduate level, as a Professor of Animal Science is the intensification of the biochemical and nutritional evaluation and utilisation of some agricultural wastes as feed energy and protein sources for increased egg and meat production in parts of Southern Nigeria.
In recognition of his outstanding public service performance to Nigeria, the Federal Government conferred on him, National Honours in the category of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in October 2022.
Listen to Professor Essien's oration and speech from the Graduation Ceremony.