Born on the 21st of February 1962, Professor Sunday Ene-Ojo Atawodi is a distinguished Nigerian scientist renowned for his exceptional contributions to academia, scientific leadership, and community service. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, followed by MSc and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Ibadan, respectively, His dedication was recognized through prestigious fellowships like the German Academic Exchange Scholarship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) fellowships. Rising to the rank of Professor of Biochemistry at Ahmadu Bello University in 2004, he has since become a leading figure in Nigerian and African educational and scientific landscape.
Professor Atawodi actively contributes to national and continental scientific development. He sits on crucial committees like the Tetfund National Research & Development Standing Committee (RDSC) and the National Research Fund Screening & Monitoring Committee (NRF), and provides expertise to organizations like the National Universities Commission (NUC), ECOWAS Commission, UNICEF, and AU Scientific Commission, and serves as a member of Policy Advice Development and Programme Committee of the Inter-Academy Partnership (IAP). His impact extends to doctoral and professorial assessments across the continent,
His passion for science and prowess in scientific leadership extends to prestigious Academies, beyond borders, having been elected a fellow of the esteemed African Academy of Science and the Nigerian Academy of Science, where he served in various Council capacities. His dedication to fostering scientific progress, led him to co-found the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria, where he is a Vice President. He is a Fellow of the African Science Leadership Program (ASLP).
Professor Atawodi is not just an accomplished academic, but also a prolific researcher with an h-index of 34 and over 4,000 citations. He is also a highly respected mentor, having guided over 60 MSc and 20 PhD candidates in their scientific pursuits. His research interests are diverse, encompassing medical biochemistry, cancer chemoprevention, neglected tropical diseases, and ethnopharmacology.
He is currently at the Federal University Lokoja, to where he transferred his service from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in December 2019.
