The Nigerian Academy of Science is the official

science academy An academy of sciences is a type of learned society or academy (as special scientific institution) dedicated to sciences that may or may not be state funded. Some state funded academies are tuned into national or royal (in case of the Unite ...

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 ...

. The academy of science was established on 18 January 1977, as an association of Nigeria's foremost

scientists A scientist is a person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of the natural sciences. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosophica ...

, but incorporated in 1986. It is the apex scientific organization in Nigeria. The Academy acts as a scientific advisor to the Federal Government of Nigeria, funds research fellowships, and scientific

start-up companies A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship refers to all new businesses, including self-employment and businesses that never intend t ...

. The Academy is governed by its council, which is chaired by the academy's president, according to a set of

Statute A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs the legal entities of a city, state, or country by way of consent. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. Statutes are rules made by le ...

s and

Bye-law A by-law (bye-law, by(e)law, by(e) law), or as it is most commonly known in the United States bylaws, is a set of rules or law established by an organization or community so as to regulate itself, as allowed or provided for by some higher authorit ...

s. The members of council and the president are elected from, and by its Fellows. The basic members of the Academy are also elected by existing Fellows. There are currently 268 Fellows allowed to use the postnominal title FAS, with not more than 10 new Fellows appointed each year. The current president is Professor Ekanem Ikpi Braide, a professor of Parasitology/Epidemiology. The Nigerian Academy of Science is Nigeria's national representative on such bodies as the International Science Council (ISC) – the umbrella body for all science associations and unions – and the Inter-Academy Partnership for Policy (IAP) – the umbrella body for all national science academies globally. The academy is also a member of the

Network of African Science Academies The Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) was formed in December 2001 as an independent forum for African science academies to discuss scientific issues of common concern. Member academies are: * African Academy of Sciences * Cameroon Academ ...

(NASAC).

Structure and governance

The Academy is governed by its council, which is chaired by the academy's president, according to a set of Statutes and Bye-laws. The members of council, the president and the other officers are elected from and by its Fellowship.

Fellows

The Academy's core members are the Fellows: scientists and engineers from Nigeria nominated to be fellow of the academy based on having made "a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including Engineering, Science, Mathematics and Medical Science". The process of becoming a fellow of the academy is procedural. It begins by a nomination of qualified candidate by a fellow of the academy, often refers to as the principal nominator who must be in the same academic field as the candidate. He would submit a nomination form on behalf of the preferred candidate and the nomination period last for one month, from June to July. Thereafter, the candidate will be invited for screening by appropriate Sectional Committees before a recommendation to the council chaired by the president for short-listing. Short-listed candidates are then presented to the general assembly for election. To be successful, candidates must score at least half of the total votes cast. Fellows are elected for life, and gain the right to use the

postnominal Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, academic degree, accreditation, ...

Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS) title. The rights and responsibilities of Fellows also include a duty to financially contribute to the academy, the right to stand for council posts, and the right to elect new Fellows. Not more the ten (10) Fellows are elected annually.

Council

The Council is a body of 17 Fellows, including the officers (the president, the treasurer, three Secretaries—one from the physical sciences, one from biological sciences— the Foreign Secretary and the public affairs secretary). The council is tasked with coordinating the academy's overall policy, managing all business related to the academy, amending, making or repealing the academy's Standing Orders. Members are elected annually via a postal ballot. The president, vice president, 3 secretaries, and the treasurer are collectively the officers of the academy. The officers in 2022 are: *President: Professor Ekanem Ikpi Braide, FAS *Vice President: Professor Abubakar Sambo, FAS *Treasurer: Professor Oluwole Familoni, FAS *Biological Secretary: Professor Olatunde Farombi, FAS *Physical Secretary: Professor Chidi Akujor, FAS *Foreign Secretary: Professor Alexander Acholonu, FAS *Public Affairs Secretary: Professor Musbau Akanji, FAS

President

* Prof. Ekanem Ikpi Braide became president in January 2021 . She is the Pro-Chancellor of Arthur Jarvis University and she is the first woman President.

Past presidents

*Professor Victor Adenuga Oyenuga, FAS (1977- 1978) *Professor

Professor Cyril Agodi Onwumechili Cyril Agodi Onwumechili (20 January 1932 – 16 May 2023) was a Nigerian physicist, academic administrator, and professor of geophysics at the University of Ibadan and later University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He was the fourth Vice Chancellor of th ...

, FAS (1979 - 1980) *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 ...

, FAS(1981- 1982) *Professor

Emmanuel Emovon Emmanuel Emovon, CON (February 24, 1929 – February 20, 2020) was a Nigerian professor of chemistry and former vice chancellor of the University of Jos. In 1983, he was elected as president of the Nigerian Academy of Science and succeeded Prof ...

, FAS (1983 - 1984) *Professor

Augustine Njoku Obi Augustine Njoku Obi (1930 – 2003) was a Nigerian Professor of virology and former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science. He was known for developing a cholera vaccine approved as efficacy in 1971 by WHO. In 1985, he was elected Preside ...

, FAS (1985- 1986) *Professor

Ifedayo Oladapo Ifedayo Olawole Oladapo, OON, FICE, NNOM, (24 November 1932 – 6 March 2010) was a Nigerian academic and professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Lagos. Early life Ifedayo was born in Ondo City and had his early education at Gover ...

, FAS (1987 - 1988) *Professor

Caleb Olaniyan Caleb Olaniyan is a Nigerian Professor of Zoology, and former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science. In 1989, he was elected President of the Nigerian Academy of Science to succeeded Professor Ifedayo Oladapo Ifedayo Olawole Oladapo, OO ...

, FAS (1989 - 1990) *Professor

Akpanoluo Ikpong Ikpong Ette Akpanoluo Ikpong Ikpong Ette NNOM (23 September 1929 - 17 September 2018) was a Nigerian Professor of Physics and former secretary and vice-president of the Nigerian Academy of Science. In 1991, he was elected President of the Nigerian Academy ...

, FAS (1991 - 1992) *Professor

Anthony Afolabi Adegbola Anthony Afolabi Adegbola was a Nigerian Professor of Animal science and former President of the Nigerian Academy of Science. In 1993, he was elected President of the Nigerian Academy of Science to succeeded Professor Akpanoluo Ikpong Ikpong Ette ...

, FAS (1993 - 1994) *Professor

Awele Maduemezia Awele Augustine Maduemezia (7 August 1934 – 20 February 2018) was a Nigerian professor of Physics, mathematician, researcher and educator. He was former Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University. He also served as president of the Nigerian As ...

, FAS (1995 - 1996) *Professor

Lateef Akinola Salako Lateef Akinola Salako NNOM, CON (5 July 1935 – 8 December 2017) was a Nigerian academic who was professor emeritus of pharmacology and therapeutics at the University of Ibadan. Early life Lateef Akinola Salako was born on 5 July 1935 in La ...

, FAS (1997 - 1998) *Professor Anya Oko Anya, FAS (1999 - 2000) *Professor

Alexander Animalu Alexander Obiefoka Enukora Animalu (born 28 August 1938) is a Nigerian academic, who is Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He holds a BSc (London), M.A. (Cantab.) and PhD (Ibadan), FAS, NNOM, IOM A pioneer of ...

, FAS (2001- 2002) *Professor Gabriel Babatunde Ogunmola, FAS (2003 - 2006) *Professor David Okali, FAS (2006 - 2008) *Professor

Oyewusi Ibidapo Obe Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe (5 July 1949 – 3 January 2021) was a Nigerian professor of Systems Engineering educational administrator and vice chancellor of the University of Lagos. He died from COVID-19 complications on 3 January 2021, during the COVI ...

, FAS (2008- 2013) *Professor

Oyewale Tomori Oyewale Tomori (born 3 February 1946, Osun State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian professor of virology, educational administrator, and former vice chancellor of Redeemer's University. Life and career Tomori was born in Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria on 3 F ...

, FAS (2013- 2017) *Professor Kalu Mosto Onuoha, FAS (2017-2021)

References