The Nigerian Academy of Science is the official science academy of

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 philosophi ...

, 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. 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 ...

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 The International Science Council (ISC) is an international non-governmental organization that unites scientific bodies at various levels across the social and natural sciences. The ISC was formed with its inaugural general assembly on 4 July 20 ...

(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 Acade ...

(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 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, 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, FAS (1983 - 1984) *Professor Augustine Njoku Obi, FAS (1985- 1986) *Professor Ifedayo Oladapo, FAS (1987 - 1988) *Professor Caleb Olaniyan, FAS (1989 - 1990) *Professor Akpanoluo Ikpong Ikpong Ette, FAS (1991 - 1992) *Professor Anthony Afolabi Adegbola, FAS (1993 - 1994) *Professor Awele Maduemezia, FAS (1995 - 1996) *Professor Lateef Akinola Salako, FAS (1997 - 1998) *Professor Anya Oko Anya, FAS (1999 - 2000) *Professor Alexander Animalu, FAS (2001- 2002) *Professor Gabriel Babatunde Ogunmola, FAS (2003 - 2006) *Professor David Okali, FAS (2006 - 2008) *Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo Obe, 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