Microbiology, the study of microscopic organisms, plays a vital role in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and environmental science.
In Nigeria, a country with diverse ecological and health challenges, microbiologists have been at the forefront of research and innovation.
Nigeria has a long and proud history of producing some of the world’s leading microbiologists, who have made significant contributions to the field of microbiology.
We will look at the top 10 microbiologists in Nigeria, exploring their accomplishments, research, and contributions to the field.
What is microbiology?
Microbiology is a branch of biology that deals with the study of microorganisms. These microorganisms include a wide range of organisms with simple structures, such as bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and some parasites.
Aside from morphology and physiology, microbiology includes the study of these organisms’ genetics, evolution, and ecology, as well as their interactions with other organisms in their environment, such as humans and animals.
Who is a microbiologist?
A microbiologist is someone whose work is to identify and characterize microorganisms, understand their biology, and develop ways to control these microbes for the benefit of human health, food production, and environmental sustainability.
Microbiologists work to educate students and the public about the importance of microorganisms in our lives and help to raise awareness about important issues related to health, food safety, and environmental sustainability.
Top 10 microbiologists in Nigeria
Nigeria has a rich history in microbiology, with numerous scientists making significant contributions to the field. The ranking uses these factors: area of expertise, contributions to research, H-Index (productivity and impact), publications, awards, and recognition.
Here are some renowned Nigerian microbiologists who have made significant contributions to the field.
- Oyewale Tomori
- Iruka N. Okeke
- Etinosa O. Igbinosa
- Lateef Agbaje
- Iheanyi Omezuruike Okonko
- Tolu Odugbemi
- Oranusi Solomon
- Adebayo Shittu
- Kenneth Iregbu
- Salamatu Mambula
1. Oyewale Tomori
Oyewale Tomori is a renowned virologist, public health expert, and academic who has made significant contributions to the field of Virology.
He has extensive experience in the field of virology, focusing primarily on Lassa fever, ebola hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus disease, and yellow fever.
He has served in various leadership positions in the global health community, including as the President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, and the Chairman of the Expert Review Committee on Polio Eradication in Africa.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service gave him a certificate for his contributions to Lassa Fever Research.
He has received several awards for his advancement of human health. He has received the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award, the Prince Mahidol Award for Public Health, and the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Award.
He is widely respected as an expert in his field and has over 6292 citations in all of his publications with an H-index of 36. You can find him on Google Scholar.
Recommended articles
2. Iruka N. Okeke
Iruka N. Okeke is a Nigerian pharmaceutical microbiologist and professor who made significant contributions to microbiology, particularly the genetics of enteric diseases-causing bacteria such as E. coli.
Okeke received her BPharm, MSc, and Ph.D. in microbiology, from Obafemi Awolowo University. She has held teaching and research positions at several universities in Nigeria, including the University of Ibadan.
She joined the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine as an associate professor of microbiology and immunology.
Her work has contributed to a better understanding of how bacterial infections are spread and how they can be controlled.
She has over 104 publications with 9,300+ citations with an H-index of 44. She has two awards and honors. Her most popular article is titled “Antimicrobial resistance in developing countries. Part I: recent trends and current status.
Read more about her here. You can also find her on Google Scholar.
3. Etinosa O. Igbinosa
Etinosa O. Igbinosa is a professor of molecular microbiology. He is based at the University of Benin in Nigeria and has been recognized as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow.
The Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship is a prestigious research award granted to outstanding researchers from all over the world, in recognition of their exceptional achievements in their respective fields of research.
Being an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow is a significant achievement.
His research interests focus on pathogen surveillance, multidrug-resistant pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and microbial systematics.
He served as an antimicrobial resistance expert of the Joint FAO/WHO Committee on Food Safety for a period of five years (2018-2023).
He has over 120 publications with 9000+ citations with an H-index of 50. His most popular article is titled “Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of stem bark extracts from Jatropha curcas (Linn).
You can find him on Google Scholar.
4. Lateef Agbaje
Lateef Agbaje is a Professor of Microbiology at the Department of Pure and Applied Biology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
He has been teaching and conducting research at the university since 1998 and has a focus on industrial microbiology and biotechnology with particular reference to fermentation processes and enzyme technology.
Lateef Agbaje has a wealth of administrative experience, having served as Head of Departments, Director of the Research Laboratory, and a member of the Governing Council of LAUTECH in Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
He’s also the Head of the Nanotechnology Research Group.
In 2013, Prof. Oyewale Tomori, FAS, as the Head of the Nigerian Academy of Science with affiliation to the Nigerian Young Academy awarded the National Prize for Young Scientists in Microbiology to him.
He has over 93 publications with over 5136+ citations with an H-index of 45. His most popular article is titled “A Novel Approach to the green synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles: the Use of agro-wastes, enzymes, and Pigments.”
You can find him on Google Scholar. Read more about him here.
5. Iheanyi Omezuruike Okonko
Iheanyi Omezuruike Okonko is a well-known virologist, immunologist, and vaccinologist.
Dr. Okonko has authored and co-authored numerous research papers, book chapters, and conference proceedings with a focus on infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.
He is also involved in various community-based health education and awareness programs to promote public health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in Nigeria.
He is a Fulbright Visiting Researcher.
A Fulbright Visiting Researcher is a foreign scholar who receives a grant to conduct advanced research in the United States for a specified period of time.
He has authored over 127 publications with over 4940+ citations with an H-index of 39.
“Microbiological and physiochemical analysis of different water samples used for domestic purpose in Abeokuta and Ojota, Lagos State, Nigeria.” is the most cited of all his works.
You can find him on Google Scholar.
6. Tolu Odugbemi
Tolu Odugbemi is a Nigerian Professor of medical microbiology and parasitology.
He has published numerous research papers and articles on topics related to antibiotic resistance, medicinal plants, and the antimicrobial properties of natural compounds.
Dr. Odugbemi has held various academic and research positions throughout his career, including serving as a professor of medical microbiology and parasitology at the University of Lagos in Nigeria, and as a visiting professor at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
He is an educational administrator and former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and Vice-Chancellor, of Ondo State University of Science and Technology (2010–2015).
Guest Researcher, U.S Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (1982–1983).
He has bagged numerous awards. One of which is the Officer of the Order of the Niger Award (2008).
He has authored over 63 publications with over 3902+ citations with an H-index of 28. Most cited article: Medicinal plants useful for malaria therapy in Okeigbo, Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria.
7. Oranusi Solomon
Oranusi Solomon appears to be a Professor of Microbiology at Covenant University in Nigeria.
He has a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria and is a Fellow of the Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences of Nigeria.
He has published numerous research papers and articles on topics related to microbiology, food safety, and hazard analysis critical control points.
Dr. Solomon has also served in various academic and research positions, including as the Sub-Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Covenant University, and as the Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at Covenant University.
His research has contributed significantly to our understanding of microbiology and food safety in Nigeria and globally.
He has authored over 69 publications with over 2907+ citations with an H-index of 29.
Most popular article: Microbial quality of fruits and vegetables sold in Sango Ota, Nigeria.
8. Adebayo Osagie Shittu
Professor, Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Professor Adebayo Osagie Shittu is a highly experienced Microbiologist with over 24 years of teaching and research experience.
He has a Bachelor’s and Master of Science in Microbiology from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria (OAU), and a Doctorate degree in Microbiology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Republic of South Africa.
Professor Shittu has extensive experience teaching a range of topics in Medical Microbiology, with a particular focus on bacteria of medical importance, antibiotics, and mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
In terms of administrative duties, he has served on various committees within the university and was previously the Head of the Department of Microbiology (August 2010-July 2011).
He is also a member of the American, South African, and Nigerian Societies for Microbiology and a Georg Forster Fellow at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Munster, Germany.
A Georg Forster Fellow is a postdoctoral researcher with exceptional qualifications from developing or transition countries. The fellowship is sponsored by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
He has authored over 44 publications with over 2884+ citations with an H-index of 27. Most popular article: Antibiotic resistance and molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus in Nigeria.
9. Kenneth Iregbu
Kenneth Iregbu is a Nigerian clinical microbiologist who is a specialist in infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance.
He has held various academic and research positions throughout his career, including working as a senior lecturer at the University of Abuja.
He is involved in various public health initiatives in Nigeria and has worked to raise awareness about infectious diseases and the need for antimicrobial stewardship in healthcare settings.
He has authored over 34 publications with 3835+ citations with an H-index of 22. Most cited article: Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systemic analysis with over 2700 citations.
10. Salamatu Mambula
Salamatu Mambula is a researcher in the field of medical microbiology and immunology, with a focus on infectious diseases and immunological responses to pathogens.
She has published numerous articles in scientific journals and has presented her research at international conferences.
Dr. Mambula obtained her Ph.D. in Immunology from Harvard University, where she investigated the role of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in immune responses to cancer and infectious diseases.
Her research on HSPs, which are proteins that are involved in cellular stress responses and immune regulation, has contributed significantly to our understanding of how these proteins can be used as immunotherapeutic targets for cancer and infectious diseases.
She has authored 16 publications with over 3175+ citations with an H-index of 15.
Most popular article: The contribution of the Toll-like/IL-1 receptor superfamily to innate and adaptive immunity to fungal pathogens in vivo.