# Peter Akah

Peter Achunike Akah is a Nigerian professor of pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He was, several times, the head of Pharmacology Department, University of Nigeria; associate dean, School of Postgraduate Studies and dean, Students Affair of the same university. Akah is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria and a Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Science. Akah is in the editorial board of the Global Journal of Medicinal Plants Research; Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research; and African Journal of Traditional Herbal Medicine Supporters Initiative. He served as chief editor of the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research (JMPR), African Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (AJOPRED) and Continental Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (CJPS). He was the vice chancellor of the Imo State University. Akah's publications have been cited 7200 times by other scholars, making him one of the most cited Nigerian scholars.

## Early life and education

Akah was born on November 3, 1957, at Okporo in Orlu, Imo State. He attended the Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu, Nigeria from 1970 to 1974; Federal School of Science, Lagos, Nigeria from 1974 to 1976 and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria from 1977 to 1984, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacology, Second Class (upper Div.) in 1980, a Master of Science degree in Pharmacology & Therapeutics in 1982 and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Therapeutics in 1984.

## Career

Akah was employed in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as a Faculty member in October 1984. He became a professor of pharmacology in October 1995 at 38 years. He was the head of department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Nigeria from 1992 to 1994 and again from 1999 to 2005. Akah served as Associate Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies from 2009 to 2011, and Dean of Students Affair of the same university from 2014 to 2016. He was appointed the vice chancellor of the Imo State University in 2021. He left the position in 2022.

## Membership and fellowship

Akah is a member of West African Society of Pharmacology (WASP); Union of African Societies of Pharmacology (IUPHAR); International Union of Pharmacology; Science Association of Nigeria (SAN); American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS); New York Academy of Science (NYAS); Society for Medicinal Plant Research (GA); Society of African Neuroscientists (SONA); International Brain Organization (IBRO); Nigerian Society of Pharmacognosy (NSP); Neuroscience Society of Nigeria (NSN); Nigerian Environmental Society (NES); Society of African Journal Editors (SAJE); Fellow Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (FIPAN); Fellow Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS); Fellow Nigerian Academy of Medicine Specialties (FAMedS); Fellow West African Society of Pharmacology (FWASP); and, Fellow African Academics Network (FAAN).

## Select publications

* Ethnopharmacology (text book)
* Blood sugar lowering effect of Vernonia amygdalina Del, in an experimental rabbit model.
* Evaluation of Nigerian traditional medicines: 1. Plants used for rheumatic (inflammatory) disorders.
* Potentials of leaves of Aspilia africana (Compositae) in wound care: an experimental evaluation.
* Ethnopharmacology of some asteraceae family used in Nigerian traditional medicine.