Ritman University Appoints Professor Akan Bassey Williams as New Vice Chancellor

Ritman University Appoints Professor Akan Bassey Williams as New Vice Chancellor.

Professor Akan Bassey Williams was born on February 16, 1970 in Calabar, Cross River State; an indigene of Itoko, Ibesikpo, Ibesikpo Asutan LGA of Akwa Ibom State.

He attended Primary School, Fosbery Road, Calabar and later proceeded to Lutheran High School, Obot Idim, Ibesikpo in 1981 for his secondary education where he completed in 1986 as the School’s Senior Prefect.

He earned B.Sc degree in Chemistry from University of Calabar in 1991, an M.Sc degree in Petroleum Chemistry from University of Port Harcourt in 2001 and a Ph.D degree in Environmental Chemistry from Covenant University in 2011.

He has obtained 21 certifications from COURSERA; many certifications from Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy, and Harmonization, Accreditation and Quality Assurance in African Higher Education (HAQAA2) MOOC Series.

He joined the services of Covenant University on September 1, 2004 as an Assistant Lecturer after a stint at University of Uyo. He moved through the academic ranks and was announced a full Professor of Chemistry in December 2017, with effective date of January 1, 2018.

He is a Professor of Chemistry with specialization in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry. Cumulatively, he has been an academic in the Nigerian University System for twenty-three (23) years. He is the former Director, Covenant University Central Instrumentation Research Facility (CUCIRF); the immediate past Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies and former Chairman, Committee of Deans at Covenant University.

He is a former Acting Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University. He was, prior to his appointment as the 6th Vice-Chancellor in 2020, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University. He had earlier served as Head, Department of Chemistry; Director, Vice-Chancellor’s Office; Director, Academic Planning and Dean of Students.

He served as chairman, Senate Business Committee for three years and has chaired about twenty-five standing and adhoc committees of the University at different times. He has been an External Examiner and professorial assessor to universities within and outside Nigeria, including University of Johannesburg, University of Fort Hare, South Africa; University of Sierra Leone; Bharathiar University and University of Madras, India.

He is a Fellow, Chemical Society of Nigeria; Fellow, Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria; Member, Royal Society of Chemistry and Member, American Chemical Society. He is a former Chairman, Chemical Society of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter. He has been Chairman and member of NUC accreditation teams to Nigerian Universities and has chaperoned many students for competitions and exchange programs within and outside Nigeria. He has been Convocation Lecturer and Guest Speaker at different Universities, Academies, Schools, governmental agencies, churches and organizations.

Professor Williams’ research focus is on the monitoring of persistent organic pollutants in the environment and the use of bio-resources for environmental clean-up. He has supervised many Master’s dissertations and five Ph.D theses to completion. A Public Speaker and Covenant University Chief Orator, he has served on the Editorial Board of many journals and is a reviewer to many high impact Journals.

He has to his credit a hundred and ten (110) published articles in international refereed journals, Encyclopedia and conference proceedings. He is a member of many research clusters and is a regular attendee at local and international Conferences, and Workshops.

He has had many awards and prizes, including award as the Best Former Vice-Chancellor at VICBHE training, Module 8, on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching, Research and Community Service in Higher Education; and at the Module 9 Training on Writing Grant-Winning Proposals and Fund Raising. Award of Leadership Excellence was conferred on him by Ibesikpo Union and Clan Council of Ibesikpo Kingdom.

He is a member, Board of Trustees, Book Aid for Africa (BAFA). He served as a Deacon in the Living Faith Church Worldwide from 2001 to 2008, and has been a Pastor in the Commission since 2009, serving as Zonal, District and Provincial Pastor at various times. He served as Assistant Chaplain, and has been lecturer at all the tiers of the Word of Faith Bible Institute (WOFBI). He is married to Dcns Lifted Williams and is blessed with two sons, Divine and Dominion.

With his wealth of experience and proven dedication to academic excellence, we are confident that Professor Williams will steer Ritman University to greater heights.

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