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Charles Esimone

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Professor
Charles Esimone
Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University
In office
2019–2024
Preceded byJoseph Ahaneku
Succeeded byBenard Odoh
Personal details
Born (1970-12-31) 31 December 1970 (age 53)
Alma materNnamdi Azikiwe University

Charles Okechukwu Esimone (born 29 December 1970) is a Nigerian professor of biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutical biotechnology who served as the vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria from 2019 to 2024.[1][2] He is the first professor of pharmaceutical microbiology in South-Eastern Nigeria.[3]

Early life and education

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Esimone hails from Akwaeze in Anaocha LGA of Anambra State and was born on 29 December 1970 in Tiko, Cameroon.[4] He attended St Joseph's Primary School Tiko, Cameroon from 1976 to 1982[5] and proceeded to St. Joseph's College, Sasse, Buea, Cameroon where he acquired his secondary school certificate in 1987. Esimone had another academic tutelage at the Cameroon College of Arts and Science Kumba, Cameroon and obtained a General Certificate in Education (Advanced Level ) in 1989.[6] He obtained Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.) in 1995; Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm.), Pharmaceutical Microbiology in 1998; and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmaceutics in 2002 all from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.[7] Professor Esimone speaks English, French, German and Igbo languages fluently.

Professional career

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Esimone started his career as internee pharmacist and then became a laboratory instructor, all in the Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria Nsukka.[8] He became a professor of biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutical microbiology at the age of 37 years and was the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Agulu Campus of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.[9] He also served two terms of 2 years each as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.[10][11][12]

He is a researcher with well over 100 publications and in May 2019 was ranked 18th on the list of 28 Most Published Scholars in Nigeria.[13] Prof. Esimone was also the Director of Confucius Institute of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.[14] On the 14 of May 2019 he was elected the new Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.[14]

He is the State Campus Coordinator for Deeper Life Campus Fellowship, Anambra State and also a member, BOT (Board of Trustees) of Anchor University, Lagos.[11]

Research contributions

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Esimone pioneered research in the use of recombinant viral vectors as surrogates for high-throughput antiviral screening studies, as well as on the use of indigenous medicinal plants as immunomodulators, vaccine adjuvants, and anti-infectives. The vector-based antiviral screening technique developed by Esimone between 2003 and 2005 in Germany significantly revolutionized high-throughput screening for anti-HIV compounds worldwide.[15]

In addition to this work, his research led to the discovery of new antimicrobial compounds—including antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents—derived from endophytes, lichens, ferns, herbs, and spices. Esimone was instrumental in the isolation and characterization of resistance genes from clinical settings, abattoirs, and poultry, with a particular focus on extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) identified in the southeastern regions of Nigeria.[16]

His team became the first to demonstrate the presence of ESBL-producing bacteria harboring the CTXM-15 gene, which confers resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in Nigeria. Additionally, they were the first to identify MBL-producing bacteria containing the blaIMP-1 and blaVIM-1 genes within poultry and abattoirs in southeastern Nigeria. They also reported the increasing frequency of MBL-producing Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Escherichia species in the country.[16]

Moreover, Esimone’s research team was the first to demonstrate the occurrence of the FOX-1 gene, responsible for expressing the AmpC enzyme in gram-negative bacteria in Nigeria. This enzyme significantly enhances the ability of organisms to resist cephamycin antibiotics.[16]

Editorship of journals

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  • Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Current Biomedical Research (2017 to date)
  • Associate Editor of African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences
  • Member Editorial Board of American Journal of Pharmacotherapy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (2024)[16]

Membership of professional bodies

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  • Member of the Governing Council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria,[17] Nnamdi Azikiwe University
  • Member of the Nanomedicine Society of Nigeria[18]
  • Member of the Global Young Academy[19]
  • Member of the American Society for Cell biology[20]I
  • Member of many other professional bodies including, Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria; West African Society for Pharmacology, Nigeria; Society for Medicinal Plant Research, Germany; Pan African Medical Mycology Society, South Africa; International Society for Anti-infective Pharmacology; Materials Society of Nigeria; and, Nigerian Society of Forensic Scientists (Pioneer member of Board of Directors)[16]

Awards and recognition

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Prof Esimone is a recipient of several awards.[9][17] They include:

  • The Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship to Germany (2003–2005)[15]
  • Visiting Scientist to the University of Pittsburgh, (2007–2008)[6]
  • The ANDI Bright Contest Award for the Best African Innovative Researcher, South Africa (2009)[18]
  • Young Scientist (representing Nigeria) at the "Summer Davos" Annual Meeting of New Champions, Tianjin, China (2010)[21]
  • CV Raman Senior Fellowship, India (2013)[18]
  • Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (2017)[15]
  • Pioneer national president of the Nanomedicine Society of Nigeria[22]
  • Recipient of various national and international grants and a reviewer to several national and international journals.[18]

Select academic publications

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Esimone is one of the most published scholars in Nigeria: His publications have been cited 7,402 times according to the AD Scientific index ranking,[23] and 7,463 times according to the google scholar index.[24] Here are a select few:

  • Esimone, Charles, MI Okeke, CU Iroegbu, EN Eze, AS Okoli, “Evaluation of extracts of the root of Landolphia owerrience for antibacterial activity”, Journal of ethnopharmacology 78 (2-3), 119-127[25]
  • Esimone, Charles, KF Chah, CA Eze, CE Emuelosi, “Antibacterial and wound healing properties of methanolic extracts of some Nigerian medicinal plants”, Journal of ethnopharmacology 104 (1-2), 164-167[26]
  • Esimone, Charles, CS Nworu, CL Jackson, “Cutaneous wound healing activity of a herbal ointment containing the leaf extract of Jatropha curcas L.(Euphorbiaceae)”, International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products 1 (4), 1-4[27]
  • Esimone, Charles, IR Iroha, EC Ibezim, CO Okeh, EM Okpana, "In vitro evaluation of the interaction between tea extracts and penicillin G against Staphylococcus aureus", African Journal of Biotechnology 5 (11)[28]
  • Esimone, Charles, PA Ekwealor, MC Ugwu, I Ezeobi, G Amalukwe, BC Ugwu, U Okezie et al, “Antimicrobial evaluation of bacterial isolates from urine specimen of patients with complaints of urinary tract infections in Awka, Nigeria”, International journal of microbiology 2016 (1), 9740273[29]

Personal life

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Prof. Charles Esimone is happily married to Dr. (Mrs) Celestina Chinyere Esimone who is an Associate Professor of Music. They are blessed with five children. They have a son, and a set of quadruplets (two boys and two girls) who are all doing very well.[30]

References

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  1. ^ meridianspy (15 May 2019). "UNIZIK Gets New Vice-Chancellor". Meridian Spy. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  2. ^ Nigerian Universities Commission (2021). "Directory of Full Professors in the Nigerian University System" (PDF). Nigerian Universities Commission. p. 372.
  3. ^ Ogbu, Emma. "PROF CHARLES ESIMONE BECOMES NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR OF NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AWKA - Radio Nigeria". Radio Nigeria. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Esimone beats 37 profs to emerge Unizik VC". Punch Newspapers. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone New Unizik Vice Chancellor » 2KINFOMEDIA". 2KINFOMEDIA. 14 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Curriculum vitae professor esimone charles okechukwu house address". azrefs.org. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Esimone beats 37 others to emerge UNIZIK VC". Vanguard News. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  8. ^ Vincent Ujumadu (15 May 2019). "Esimone beats 37 others to emerge UNIZIK VC". Vanguardng. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b EduCeleb (14 May 2019). "BREAKING: Esimone emerges UNIZIK new VC". EduCeleb. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Professor Charles Esimone is the New Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK". Campusaga Media. 17 May 2019. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esimone Elected as new Vice Chancellor". Nnamdi Azikiwe University. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Charles Okechukwu's Profile |". Global Young Academy. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  13. ^ Aminu, M. D.; PhD. (4 May 2019). "Nigeria's top researchers (II)". Daily Trust. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  14. ^ a b Jannah, Chijioke (15 May 2019). "Charles Esimone: Deeper Life pastor emerges new UNIZIK Vice Chancellor months after welcoming quadruplet". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  15. ^ a b c Ossai, Anayo (16 May 2017). "Prof Esimone inducted into Nigerian Academy of Science". Nigerian Voice. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  16. ^ a b c d e "African Information Database - Prof. Charles Esimone's.pdf". African Information Database. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  17. ^ a b "PinMetrics Alliance Limited ::: Board of Trustees :::". pinmetrics.org. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d "Unizik Governing Council Appoint Prof. Charles Okechukwu Esemone as 6th Substantive Vice-Chancellor" (PDF). unizik.edu.ng.
  19. ^ "Prof. Charles Esimone". Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  20. ^ Obayendo, Temitope (15 May 2019). "Prof. Charles Esimone Emerges New UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor". Pharmanewsonline. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  21. ^ INFO_Donald, U. N. N. (17 May 2019). "Profile of Professor Charles Esimone, UNIZIK New VC". UNN INFO. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  22. ^ "NAPA ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE: (ABUJA 2018)". www.niprd.net. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Charles O Esimone - AD Scientific Index 2025". www.adscientificindex.com. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Charles O Esimone". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  25. ^ Okeke, M. I; Iroegbu, C. U; Eze, E. N; Okoli, A. S; Esimone, C. O (1 December 2001). "Evaluation of extracts of the root of Landolphia owerrience for antibacterial activity". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 78 (2): 119–127. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(01)00307-5. ISSN 0378-8741.
  26. ^ Chah, K. F.; Eze, C. A.; Emuelosi, C. E.; Esimone, C. O. (8 March 2006). "Antibacterial and wound healing properties of methanolic extracts of some Nigerian medicinal plants". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 104 (1): 164–167. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.08.070. ISSN 0378-8741.
  27. ^ "Cutaneous_wound_healing_activity_of_a_herbal_ointm.pdf". Drives for International Journal of Applied Research in Natural Products. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  28. ^ Esimone, C. O.; Iroha, I. R.; Ibezim, E. C.; Okeh, C. O.; Okpana, E. M. (2006). "In vitro evaluation of the interaction between tea extracts and penicillin G against staphylococcus aureus". African Journal of Biotechnology. 5 (11). ISSN 1684-5315.
  29. ^ Ekwealor, Perpetua A.; Ugwu, Malachy C.; Ezeobi, Ifeanyi; Amalukwe, George; Ugwu, Belinda C.; Okezie, Ugochukwu; Stanley, Catherine; Esimone, Charles (2016). "Antimicrobial Evaluation of Bacterial Isolates from Urine Specimen of Patients with Complaints of Urinary Tract Infections in Awka, Nigeria". International Journal of Microbiology. 2016 (1): 9740273. doi:10.1155/2016/9740273. ISSN 1687-9198. PMC 4855006. PMID 27200093.
  30. ^ Emeadi, Agatha (18 March 2024). "I never dreamt of becoming vice chancellor –Esimone, UNIZIK VC". Nnamdi Azikiwe University News. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
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