PROF. URSULA NGOZI AKANWA

BRIEF PROFILE OF PROFESSOR ELECHI FRANCA ASAWALAM, DVC ADMIN MOUAU
asawalam.elechi@mouau.edu.ng

Prof. Elechi Asawalam attended Federal Government College, Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria where she obtained West African Senior Secondary School Certificate and won the prize of the best-behaved girl in 1988. She then proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Nigeria  where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree (Second Class Upper Division) in Agricultural Biology in 1994 and Master of Science degree in Pathology in 1997. In 2005, she obtained a Doctorate degree in Applied Entomology from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.

Between 2004 and 2007, she was a Research Fellow at International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Nairobi, Kenya where part of her PhD research was conducted with funding support from the Third World Organization for Women in Science Trieste Italy. In 2010, she was a Visiting Scientist at Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA and at the Institute of Agricultural Research and Development, University of Port Harcourt Nigeria from 2011-2012.

Prof. Elechi Asawalam joined the services of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in 1999 and lectures in the Department of Plant Health Management. She has to her credit, a book and many peer-reviewed publications in reputable local and international journals. She rose through the ranks by due appraisal process and was elevated to the rank of Professor of Entomology in 2014. She has served the University as Head of Department of Plant Health Management from 2012-2014 and 2017-2018. She was Dean of the College of Crop and Soil Sciences in 2018 and 2020.

She was a collaborating partner with African Fruit Fly Initiative (AFFI) of ICIPE, Kenya and a member of National Fruit fly Management Committee. She is a member of many professional bodies including Entomological Society of Nigeria (ESN), Agricultural Society of Nigeria (ASN), Organization of Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD),International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWENS), National Association for Women in Academics (NAWAC), National Association of University Women (NAUW),Coleopterist Society, Society of Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (SOMPED),
Entomological Society of America (ESA) and Crop Science Society of America (CSSA). She is also a member of the Editorial Board of Nigerian Journal of Entomology.

Professor Elechi Asawalam has won several awards/fellowships including the following: Best behaved girl award, Federal Government College, Okigwe (1988), Most Student friendly Head of Department by National Association of Plant Health Management Students, MOUAU, Federal Government postgraduate scholarship (2002), TWOWS fellowship for Doctoral research at ICIPE (2004), USAID fellowship for Faculty Exchange Program (FEP) in USA (2010). She is a Fellow, Nigerian Society for Plant Protection (NSPP).

She has also received several awards from her community and church.

Professor Elechi Asawalam is a God – fearing woman, a devoted Catholic faithful and a member of Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement (CCRM). She has served the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) in different capacities and is still serving. She was a member,Education Committee, CWO, Umuahia Diocese and Secretary, CWO of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy (STACC). She is the current Vice President of CWO – STACC, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike. In 2004, Professor Asawalam gave bursary award to four female students in Umuaro in Ehime Mbano L.G.A. Imo State to encourage them to study agriculture.
Professor Elechi Asawalam is happily married to Professor Damian Okwudiri Asawalam

and their marriage is blessed with four lovely children.
She is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (|Administration), Michael Okpara University of
Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State and she is happily married with children.