Born on 8 February, 1943, Silvanus Anika began his early education at the College of Immaculate Conception, Enugu and Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha where he obtained the Cambridge Overseas Certificate and Higher School Certificate respectively. He holds a DVM and Dr.med.vet from Justus Liebig University, Giessen, West Germany; MS and Ph.D. from Cornell University, Ithaca, USA. He was a foundation lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, where he attained the rank of a Professor in 1987 and Emeritus Professor in 2016. He is currently the Founder/Pioneer Director, University of Nigeria Vaccine Research Centre.
He attracted several research grants, including German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ); UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Grant; European Economic Community Lome III Research Grant; British Council Fellowship among others. He received special trainings in Gastroenterology (Cornell University), Epidemiology (Cambridge University), Technical Epidemiology (Berlin Institute), Human and Veterinary Vaccinology (Oxford University), Health System Management (Israel), etc. His major research interests are satiety mechanism, environmental toxicology, chemotherapy of African trypanosomiasis, and vaccine development/production.
He was Head of department, Dean of Faculty and Consultant to many Establishments such as Shell Petroleum Company of Nigeria Limited, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, United Nations Children Education Fund, Chairman UNN Centre for Environmental Management and Control, and UNN Consultancy Services Limited.
He is a member of several Professional Organisations such as New York Academy of Sciences, Sigma X1 Scientific Research Society etc. He is a Fellow College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria, Nigerian Environmental Society, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, etc.
He has mentored several younger academics, had numerous scientific publications and professional books, and attended several International Conferences. He is family-oriented, and served his community for several years as the President General of his town union, where he also holds the title “Ichie Obidigbo II of Ukpo”. He loves swimming and music.
