Ekanem Ikpi-Braide Becomes First Female President Of Nigerian Academy of Science + 13 Facts To Know About Her

The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS)  has inducted its first-ever female president since the 44 years of its existence.

With her appointment, Professor Ekanem Ikpi Braide, a Professor of Parasitology/Epidemiology becomes the 19th President of the Academy.

Braide, a seasoned researcher and administrator was a previous member of the national committee that achieved the laudable feat of guinea worm eradication in Nigeria.

Here are some interesting facts about her.

1.Ekanem Ikpi Braide was born in Cross River State in 1946.

2. She attended St Anne’s School Ibadan for her secondary school education.

3. She studied zoology at the University of Ife before obtaining her Master’s degree in Parasitology (1973), and Doctorate degree in Epedimiology, Cornell University, New York (1978).

4. She holds a Certificate in Epidemiological Methods from Southampton University (British Council Course).

5. Braide taught in Community Secondary School, Ugep from 1966 to 1968, before transferring to College of Education, Port Harcourt (1973), and later moved to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where she lectured between 1973 and 1976.

6. In 1978, she was appointed Officer/Researcher (pioneer) in charge of the Onchocerciasis Control Unit of the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research, Kaduna until 1979.

7.Between 1988 and 1998, Braide was Zonal Facilitator (South East), Nigerian Guinea worm Eradication Programme, and later joined the World Health Organisation /Federal Government of Nigeria Guinea worm Eradication Certification Committee until 2013 when Nigeria was certified guinea worm free.

8.She was promoted to be a Professor at the University of Calabar in 1991.

9. She is a recipient of Jimmy/Roslynn Carter Award for outstanding dedication and achievement in the eradication of guinea worm in Nigeria. In 2000, she received the Cross River State 2000 Millennium Award.

10. She was the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Lafia (2011 – 2016) and Vice-Chancellor Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Calabar (2004 – 2009).

11. Braide is Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Leprosy Mission (TLM) Nigeria. She is also one of the board members of Nigeria’s foremost non-governmental organization, Society for Family Health, Nigeria.

12. In July 2010, Braide received a Nigerian national honor award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR),

13. She was appointed President of the Nigerian Academy of Science in 2020.