Walter Okwundu Enwezor (born 3 July 1936) is a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other tertiary education, post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin ...

of soil science, an

agriculturist An agriculturist, agriculturalist, agrologist, or agronomist (abbreviated as agr.) is a professional in the Agricultural science, science, practice, and management of Farming, agriculture and agribusiness. It is a regulated profession in Canada, ...

and former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1985 to 1986, and much later in 1997). His administration is notable for introducing the idea of “farm year”, that is, one year of practical farm work experience by undergraduate students. This idea was adopted by other Nigerian universities. Enwezor was also former President of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria from 1984 1988.

Early years and education

Enwezor was born on July 3, 1936, in Awkuzu,

Anambra State Anambra () is a States of Nigeria, state in Nigeria. It is located in the South East (Nigeria), South-eastern region of the country. The state was created on 27 August 1991. Anambra state is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State and Ri ...

. He attended the Church Missionary Society Central School, Awkuzu from 1943 to 1949. Then, he attended the

Government College, Umuahia Government College Umuahia, or GCU, is an independent secondary school for boys located on Umuahia- Ikot Ekpene road in Umuahia, Nigeria. Twenty years after the establishment of King's College, the first government-owned high school, by the Briti ...

, from 1949 to 1955, and was able to obtain the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate Division One. Enwezor enrolled to study agriculture at the

University College, Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public university located in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Initially founded as the University College Ibadan in 1948, it maintained its affiliation with the University of London. In 1962, it became an independe ...

, from 1955 to 1962, and utilizing a State Scholarship, he obtained both the bachelor's degree (second class, upper division) in Agriculture (London) and the master's degree in Soil Science (London). In 1962, he gained admission into the Imperial College, London, SW7. He was also awarded a State Scholarship. And he graduated with a PhD in Soil Chemistry in 1964. He was also able to earn the

Diploma of Imperial College The Diploma of the Imperial College (DIC) is an academic certificate awarded by Imperial College London to its doctoral and master's students upon graduation. DIC is a post-nominal award that is issued by Imperial College London to postgraduate s ...

from the

Imperial College Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a cultural district in South Kensington that included museums ...

, London, that same year.

Career

Enwezor was employed as lecturer in Soil Science in the

University of Ibadan The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public university located in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Initially founded as the University College Ibadan in 1948, it maintained its affiliation with the University of London. In 1962, it became an independe ...

(1964-1966). In 1966, just before the Nigerian civil war, he was appointed Lecturer in Soil Science,

University of Nigeria The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal and public research university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, South-east Nigeria. Founded in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe who was Governor-General of Nigeria between 1960 and 1963 ...

, Nsukka. in 1970, he rose to Senior Lecturer and then, in 1976, he became Reader. Walter Enwezor became a professor of Soil Science (Soil Fertility), University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1978.

Fellowship and membership

Enwezor is member, International Society of Soil Science; member, British Society of Soil Science; Member and Secretary, Soil Science Society of Nigeria (1971 to 1984). He is a member, Agricultural Society of Nigeria; member, Science Association of Nigeria; member, Association for advancement of Agricultural Science in Africa. He was awarded the Commonwealth Academic Fellowship to University of Aberdeen (1975 to 1976). Enwezor was elected the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1985 to 1986. He was elected Dean again in 1997.

Recognitions and awards

Departmental Prize Award in BSc degree examination (1960). Listed in University of Nigeria Book of Fame (Volume One)

Personal life

Walter Enwezor married Mabel Ifeyinwa Eloji in 1979. They had two sons and four daughters.

Okwui Enwezor Okwui Enwezor (23 October 1963 – 15 March 2019) was a Nigerian curator, art critic, writer, poet, and educator, specializing in art history. Enwezor served as artistic director of several major exhibitions, including Documenta11 (2002) and th ...

was his nephew

Selected publications

The Biological Transformation of Phosphorus during the Incubation of a Soil treated with Soluble Inorganic Phosphorus and with Rotted Organic Materials (it was published in 1966 in Plant and Soil, Vol. 25, pages 463 to 465) Significance of the C: Organic P Ratio in the Mineralization of Soil Organic Phosphorus (published in 1967 in Soil Science Journal, Vol 103, pages 62 to 66) (in collaboration with the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam) Cooperative Study of Possibilities of Standardization and Improvement of Soil Testing Methods of Soils from the Humid Tropics, with Emphasis on Soil Phosphate.

References

{{morecat, date=June 2024 People from Anambra State 1936 births Living people Nigerian academics Nigerian agriculturalists Academic staff of the University of Ibadan