- Professor Uchegbu says of her appointment: “It will be an honor to lead such a lively, diverse, and engaged student community in an environment where people are stimulated culturally, socially, and intellectually”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday congratulated Nigerian-born Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience and top-flight researcher, Ijeoma Uchegbu, on her election as the 7th President of President of Wolfson College, one of the 31 Colleges of the University of Cambridge.
She will succeed the current President, Professor Jane Clarke, on October 1, 2024.
Professor Uchegbu, renowned for her innovative work in nanoparticle drug delivery, is currently a Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience at University College London (UCL).
A statement by Presidential Spokesperson, Anjuri Ngelale, states: “President Tinubu celebrates the outstanding accomplishment and commends Professor Uchegbu for being an excellent ambassador for the country and for her relentless efforts to advance the frontiers of pharmaceutical science.
“The President applauds Professor Uchegbu as epitomizing the ingenuity, brilliance, and hard work that are consistently synonymous with the great Nigerian people both at home and abroad.
“While wishing the Nigerian-born Professor more success as she takes on this important role, President Tinubu assures Nigerians in the Diaspora that his administration remains committed to building a robust interface mechanism that harnesses ideas, promotes investment opportunities, and strengthens bonds, in line with his ‘4D Foreign Policy.’
Raised in South East Nigeria and Hackney, United Kingdom, she completed her Pharmacy studies at the University of Benin in 1981 before attending University of Lagos to obtain her Master’s degree.
Because of infrastructure issues, Professor Uchegbu was unable to finish her doctorate in Nigeria. After returning to the UK, she did her postgraduate work at the University of London, earning a PhD in 1997. From 2002 to 2004, she worked as a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde.
Her pioneering work on the mechanisms of drug transport has led to the development of new treatments that promise to transform pain relief, including the enkephalin pain medicine candidate (EnveltaÔ™), designed to address the opioid crisis. With her visionary leadership and extensive experience in academia, Professor Ijeoma is set to make a profound impact on the college’s future. Her appointment brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge that will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of both the college and its students.
Her work has won her numerous awards, fellowships, and accolades, and she holds positions on several academic boards and councils including the Wellcome Trust, and the Academy of Medical Sciences, and is an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
She has also played a leading role during her time at UCL as Pro Vice Provost for Africa and the Middle East, in forging new research partnerships in those regions and as UCL’s Provost’s Envoy for Race Equality, steering the organization’s race equality agenda.
Responding to her appointment, she said: “I am so thrilled to be joining Wolfson College, an ambitious and forward-thinking College. It will be an honor to lead such a lively, diverse, and engaged student community in an environment where people are stimulated culturally, socially, and intellectually. I look forward to working with the Governing Body, staff, and students to help realize their ambitions and potential.”
