# Emmanuel Ibezim

Emmanuel Chinedum Ibezim is a Nigerian professor of physical pharmaceutics of the University of Nigeria. He was Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria. and, at various times, Head of Department of Pharmaceutics and Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology in the University of Nigeria as well as Head of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Gregory University, Uturu. He is a 2023 Henri Boulard Public Health award winner for his work on "eradicating water-borne gut diseases in Nigeria; development of cheap nanosized rice husk-based zeolite water filtration candles for common household usage" Ibezim was also the recipient of the 2023 May & Baker Professional Service Award in Pharmacy. He was also a recipient of Nigeria's 2023 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for research. Ibezim was a one time National Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia. He is editor-in-chief, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences. He is the lead researcher of the Pharmaceutical Excipients Discovery Research Group, which aims to modify the existing pharmaceutical excipients from plant, animal and mineral sources to yield superior functions. He also leads the Drug Quality Assurance and Pharmaco-economic Research Group. Ibezim is a Member, New York Academy of Sciences, and Fellow, Third World Academy of Sciences. His publications have been cited 1885 times by other scholars.

## Early life and education

Ibezim was born on January 16, 1964, and he hails from Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State. He attended Ogada Community School. He also attended Amaimo High School, Ikeduru, Imo State, where he earned the West African Senior School Certificate in 1980. Ibezim proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka the same year for his B.Pharm. programme, graduating in 1985. He returned to the same university in 1987 for his M.Pharm. and, later, his PhD in Physical Pharmaceutics (1990–1995).

## Career

Ibezim worked as pupil pharmacist at the General Hospital, Owerri (1985–1986); superintendent pharmacist at Chanpharm, Jos (1986–1987); at Jomaf Pharmacy, Kaduna (1987–1989); and also at Akukris Pharmacy, Nsukka. After earning his M.Pharm. in 1987, he was offered appointment as Lecturer II in the Department of Pharmaceutics of the University of Nigeria that same year. He was also a part-time lecturer for the Science Laboratory Training Scheme, UNN (1996–1998). He was promoted a professor of physical pharmaceutics in 2006. Ibezim was Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria (2014–2016), and he won the University of Nigeria Best Dean's award in 2016. Ibezim was also the Associate Dean of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria (2006- 2008, 2008–2009) and Head of Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Nigeria (2000–2002, and 2008–2010). He was also Head of department, Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology (,2017 to 2019), and Head, Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (2019/2020). Ibezim is the chairman, University of Nigeria's Lion Drug Production Company. He had severally served in the Council of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and undertaken several university/hospital accreditation/inspection visits on behalf of National Universities Commission, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and Government of Burundi. He was on the Board of World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) with Headquarter in New York and College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

## Public lectures

Ibezim delivered the 68th Inaugural lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 2012 entitled, ‘Exploring the exciting world of the wonder agent called drugs’.

## Research contributions

Ibezim has published about 228 papers in scientific journals. He has, with his team, successfully developed bioactive substances from many plants, including Garcinia kola, bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), Dissotis theifolia, Dennettia tripetala, African basil (Ocimum gratissimum), Moringa oleifera, Neem tree (Azadirachta indica), Ashma plant (Euphorbia hirta), Napoleon's hat (Napoleona imperialis), Kola nitida, Lichen (Parmelia perlata), Yellow-dye root (Cryptolepis sanguinolenta), Serratia marsescens, Artemisia annua and Synclisias cabrida, into standard pharmaceutical dosage forms. Ibezim has also produced more than twenty pharmaceutical excipients from plants/natural sources - Colocasia esculenta (Cocoyam), Prosopis africana, Afzelia africana, Anacardiu moccidentale (Cashew), Irvingi agabonensis, Hibiscus esculenta (Okro); Manihot esculenta (Cassava), Tacca, Zea mays (Maize), Dioscolra dumetorum (3-leaved yam), Triticum aestivum (Wheat), Oryza sativa (Rice); Landolphia dulcis (climbing shrub), Colocynthis vulgaris (Melon) seed oil/cake, Natural clay, Beeswax, Mucin, Goat fat, Cow homolipids, Chitosan, Honey and Carragennan.

## Membership and fellowship

Ibezim is a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN); Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (FNAPharm); West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm), Institute of Industrial Administration (FIIA) and African Academic Network (FAAN). He is a member of the Nigerian Society of Pharmacognosy (NSP); Nigerian Association of Academic Pharmacists (NAAP); Foundation for African Development Through International Biotechnology, Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association (associate member), Association of Carbohydrate Chemists of India (associate member), New York Academy of Sciences, Third World Academy of Sciences (Fellow), World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the International Council of Science Editors (CSE).

## Editorship of journals

He is the editor-in-chief, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences; and former editor-in-chief, Nigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, as well as National editor-in-chief, Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA).. He served as editor, Proceedings of the Mandatory Continuing Professional Education for Practicing Pharmacists; and was the editorial assistant, African Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development; and editorial board member, Journal of Catholic Nurses of Nigeria.

## Awards

He won the TWAS/CNPq Fellowship/Travel Award to Brazil, TWAS/CSIR Fellowship to India, TWAS/CONICET Fellowship to Argentina, CV Raman Fellowship to India, FIP Travel Fellowship to Capetown, Trialect Traineeship Fellowship to Italy. and TETFund Travel Grant to Thailand.

## Select publications

* Ibezim, E.C. et al. (2006). "In vitro evaluation of the interaction between tea extracts and penicillin G against staphylococcus aureus" African Journal of Biotechnology. 5 (11):1082-1086.
* Ibezim, E.C. et al. (2012). "QSAR on aryl-piperazine derivatives with activity on malaria" Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 110 (1): 81-88.
* Ibezim, E.C. et al. (2006). "The wound healing effect of herbal ointments formulated with Napoleona imperialis", Journal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences 3 (1): 294-299.
* Ibezim, E.C. & Omeje, E.O. (2008). “The Role of Ginger Starch as a Binder in Acetaminophen Tablets”, African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 3 (2):046-050.

## Personal life

Ibezim is married to Prof. Nnenna Ibezim and they have five children. He is the current President of Christian Movement Fellowship, Onuiyi, Nsukka; Global Chairman, Student Christian Movement, University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association, former board member, Faith Foundations Mission Hospital Nsukka, current Vice Chairman, Chikadibia Mutual Health Association (Insurance Scheme) and President/Founder, Ogada Educational Advancement Forum, Atta. His hobbies include writing and reading of Christian literature, play-acting, singing and playing of musical equipment.