Special Citation on
PROFESSOR MAURICE MADUAKOLAM IWU
Presented on the Occasion of Conferment of
the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt)
by Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria
(Saturday 2nd May 2009) |
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If ever there was a Nigerian Civilian in more recent times who put his life and
hard earned reputation on the line in a singular mined determination to save his
country from disintegration, it is this highly accomplished and much cherished honoree
standing tall and dignified as indeed he should before us today. If you permit me
to borrow a celebrated quote, “He came, He saw, He conquered!” And because of his
triumph over impediments and a campaign of calumny that would have defined other mortals, our country was spared the horrors of political turmoil, even civil war.
The hands of faith and fate have remained ever so strong in the eventful life of
Maurice Maduakolam Iwu, a professor of phamacognosy. He was born on April 21, 1950
in a fairly large family in Umukabia, in what is today Ehime, Imo State. By June
2005 when he was appointed Honourable Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu had covered a great mileage both in
physical travels and the journey of life and career. Remarkably through this eventful
and fulfilling journey, he never wandered far from home and his heritage.
Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu had his early education at Christ the King School,
Aba in Imo State and St. Pius X College, Bodo, Ogoni in Rivers State. He proceeded
for higher education to the University of Bradford, Brandford England, where he
obtained a Masters
degree and a PhD in pharmacy in 1976 and 1978 respectively, specializing
in the area of pharmacognosy.
His professional career has been as eventful as it been rewarding, not only for
him as a person, but also for the larger and humanity. He has a focused and dogged
intellectual all his adult life, with a working career that spans the realms of
academics, research and administration. He has been a teacher, a lecturer at the
University of Nigeria Nsukka (1984-1993), where he became a professor at the age
of 34. As a researcher he occupies an enviable place in the realm of scientific
research, in specifics in the area of medicinal plants. The many parents he has
for original discoveries speak of his success as a researcher.
Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu’s rich working life has also seen him at various times as the vice president, research and Development of Tom’s of Maine (a personal
care manufacturing company) as well as a member of the board of directors Axxon
Biopharm Inc.
He has consulted on technological management and the establishment of strategic
alliances and multinational cooperative research and development project fort international
agencies such as UNIDO, UNDP and the International Organization of Chemistry for
Development (IOCD).
He was a United Nations Lead Consultant for the development of Nigeria’s National
Biodiversity strategy and Action plan as well as a consultant and scientific adviser
to many international pharmaceutical institutions.
Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu has served on the board of several non-profit and
charitable foundations including InterCEDD, Fund for integrated rural development
and traditional medicine, and Center for Economic and Social Justice. Until his
appointment into the Electoral Commission as a National Commissioner in 2003 after
the General Election of that year, Prof. Iwu was a senior research Associate at
the Division of Experiment Therapeutics of Walter Rees Army Institute of Research.
Washington D. C. United States of America.
Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu has a basketful of awards and honours shows for
his professional fecund mind and career. Among the awards he has received are the
World Health Organization (WHO); Visiting Scholar to the Dyson Perrins Laboratory,
University, of Oxford (1980); Fulbright Senior Award (Ohio State University, Columbus
Ohio and Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York (1993); Senior Research
Scholar Award. U.S. National research Council, Washington D. C. (1993 - 1995) and
the Richard Schultez International prize for Ethno biology (1999).
Professor Iwu has presented over 200 scientific papers and has published more than
100 research articles. He is the author of four books and is also the series Editor
of the Elsevier Science series “Advances in phytomedicine”. Till date he remains
member of the Editorial Board of several international scientific journals. Between
1996 2002 Prof. Iwu was president, International Society of Ethno biology; member
and ex-president, Nigerian Society of pharmacognosy; member, American Society of
Tropical medicinal Plant Research. He as the executive Director, bioresearches Development
and Conservation Programme (BDCP).
The focus on professional career did not and has not blunted the sense of social
engagement in Professor Maurice Iwu. He served as branch secretary (UNN) and National
Vice-Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In 2005, two years
after he was appointed into the Independent National Electoral Commission as National
Commissioner,
Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu was appointed Honourable Chairman of the Commission,
thus becoming the Chief Electoral Officer of the nation. As chairman of Independent
national Electoral Commission/Chief Electoral officer of Nigeria, Prof. Iwu has
initiated far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s electoral process. He introduced a new
regime in voter registration through the Electronic voters registrar, a new platform
that has eliminated the practice of Nigerians wasting two or more weeks every four
years in queuing up to register as voters. Professor Iwu also president over the
establishment of the Electoral institute. Steadily but quietly, he has continued
to overhaul the operational structure of Nigeria’s electoral management body, with
the objective of making it more efficient. Against all odds and an inclement political
environment, Professor Maurice Iwu conducted the first successful transition election
from one democratically elected government to another in Nigeria, a historic accomplishment
the full import of which Nigerians will appreciate over time.
Professor Maurice Iwu is dedicated family man. He is married to Mrs. Kate Iwu. His
life is rich in varied ramifications. He is blessed with four children, grandchildren,
parents for original discoveries, sound mind and body and a record of dedicated
service to God, the nation and humanity. This is Professor Maurice Maduakolam Iwu,
knight of the Order of St. Mulumba.
Lord Chancellor, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is Indeed
this knight in shining armour, this innovative scientist, this indefatigable administrator,
this irrepressible political thinker, this tenacious warrior in the service of humanity,
that have the distinct honour of presenting for the award of the Degree of Doctor
of letters (D. Litt.) Honoris causa of the Imo State University with all the rights
and privileges pertaining thereto.
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