Emmanuel Nwanze; Nigerian Professor of Biochemistry and International scholar, who became Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin. Nwanze was twice a fellow of the Swedish International Seminars in Physics and Chemistry.
Nwanze was a government scholar while at the University of Ibadan. He studied Chemistry between 1968 and 1972. He secured another government scholarship to do his post graduate studies at the University of Warwick, UK. He obtained his Ph.D in Molecular Science in 1976. Starting out as a lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Benin in 1976, Nwanze taught Biochemistry and Membrane Biophysics to science, medical, dental and pharmacy undergraduates. While at the post-graduate level, he taught Biochemical methodology, nemo-biochemistry and clinical Biochemistry. As a prolific researcher, he maintains a fully functional laboratory where he carries out his researches and directs the works of his Ph.D students.
Nwanze who was twice HOD Biochemistry and Dean, Faculty of Science, became a professor in 1987. In February 2004, he was appointed as Vice Chancellor and he settled down smoothly to university administration since he had been in the system for long. His introduction of the online clearance and registration for students among the first of its kind in Africa. Next, he took on the issue of student cultism by setting up a committee on cult renunciation, reformation, reconciliation and rehabilitation. By May, the first hostel construction was started by Intercontinental Bank Pic. Bond and Platinum Banks billed to commence work shortly after[i].
[i] The News November 15, 2004