Emmanuel Emovon, CON (February 24, 1929 – February 20, 2020) was a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...

professor of

chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

and former

vice chancellor A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system. In most Commonwealth and former Commonwealth nations, the chancellor is ...

of the

University of Jos The University of Jos, abbreviated as Unijos, is a Federal University in Jos, Plateau State, central Nigeria. History What became the University of Jos was established in November 1971 from the satellite campus of the University of Ibadan. ...

. In 1983, he was elected as president of the

Nigerian Academy of Science The Nigerian Academy of Science is the official science academy of Nigeria. The academy of science was established on 18 January 1977, as an association of Nigeria's foremost scientists, but incorporated in 1986. It is the apex scientific organ ...

and succeeded Professor

Umaru Shehu Umaru Shehu (8 December 1930 – 2 October 2023) was a Nigerian physician and academic administrator. He held significant positions in several universities, including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, and the Universit ...

Early life and education

Professor Emovon was born in February 1929 in

Benin City Benin City is the capital and largest city of Edo State, Edo State, Nigeria. It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria according to the 2006 census, after Lagos, Kano (city), Kano, and Ibadan, with a population estimate of about 3,500,000 as of ...

Edo State Edo, commonly known as Edo State, is a state located in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. As of 2006 National population census, the state was ranked as the 24th populated state (3,233,366) in Nigeria, However there was controversy ...

, Southern

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. He died on February 20, 2020. He attended Edo College Benin City, where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1949. He proceeded to the University College, Ibadan now

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university in Ibadan, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 196 ...

for an intermediate bachelor of science degree course but obtained a bachelor's degree in

from the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

and doctorate degree from the same university. He was the first Nigerian to obtain the Ph.D degree of the University of London in Physical Chemistry in 1959. He later returned to Nigeria to join the Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, as an academic staff (Lecturer II). He became a professor of chemistry in 1971 and was appointed vice chancellor of Jos in 1978. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to academics in Nigeria, he was conferred with a National award of Commander of the Order of Niger by

Olusegun Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, , ( ; yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its pres ...

, the former

President of Nigeria The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of state and head of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Niger ...

. .

Awards and recognitions

* Professor Emovon was a holder of the traditional Chieftaincy title: The Obayangbona of Benin Kingdom * A recipient of the National Honour Award of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), * Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS) and * Justice of the Peace (JP) amongst others

Family

Professor Emovon was happily married to Princess Adesuwa of the Benin Royal Family Oba Akenzua and they are blessed with three daughters and three sons.

References

1929 births 2020 deaths Alumni of the University of London Fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science Academic staff of the University of Jos Nigerian chemists {{Nigeria-scientist-stub