Prof. Helen Obioma Agu
Associate Dean, Students’ Affairs.
Prof. Helen Obioma Agu is a distinguished academic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, and currently serves as the Associate Dean, Students’ Affairs. She previously served as the Head of Department, Food Science and Technology (2019–2023) and has also held the position of Director, TETFund Centre of Excellence for Biomedical, Engineering and Translational Studies (TCE-BEATS).
She obtained her B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology in 1991 from University of Nigeria Nsukka. She further earned an M.Sc. in Food Microbiology in 2004 from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in 2006 from the National Teachers Institute, affiliated with Usman Dan Fodio University. In 2014, she obtained her Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology from University of Maiduguri, and later completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration in 2017 from the National Open University of Nigeria, Enugu.
Prof. Agu began her academic career at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, where she served from 1994 until September 28, 2017, before transferring her service to Nnamdi Azikiwe University on September 29, 2017, where she continues to serve to date. She has consistently been the highest-rated scholar on Google Scholar within her department and faculty for the past nine years. She has extensive experience in teaching, supervising, and examining undergraduate and postgraduate projects, both locally and internationally.
Her research interests include food processing and preservation, food product development, food quality control, and food security. She has an impressive academic record, with over fifty-three journal publications and sixty-three conference papers presented both within and outside Nigeria. She has served as Co-Principal Investigator on two research grants, co-authored six books, and contributed as an editor and reviewer for several academic journals and conference proceedings.
Prof. Agu is a Certified Food Scientist of Nigeria (CFSN) and a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST), Association of Ranking Professionals (ARP), Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), and the Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM).
She is happily married and blessed with three children.
Vision:
As Associate Dean for Students’ Affairs at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, my vision is to foster a student-centered environment that promotes academic success, personal development, and inclusive engagement. I am committed to strengthening student welfare services, enhancing support systems, and creating platforms that amplify student voices. Through collaboration and innovation, we will build a vibrant campus community where every student thrives.
Roles, Responsibilities & Areas of Oversight:
- Overseeing students’ academic welfare services, including academic guidance, learning support, and interventions aimed at promoting students’ academic success and overall academic well-being.
- Ensuring that blacklisted students are not cleared and that their academic results are withheld from Senate consideration until all disciplinary sanctions have been fully served.
- Performing administrative functions such as policy implementation, record-keeping, and coordination of student-focused programs and initiatives.
Key Innovations:
- Students’ Welfare & Support Initiatives
Implementation of targeted students’ welfare programs, including emergency support services, feeding initiatives, and counseling interventions. These efforts are designed to address students’ immediate needs, promote well-being, and provide a supportive system that enhances academic focus and personal stability. - Students’ Leadership & Engagement Development
Coordination of campus-wide students’ activities, leadership training, and capacity-building workshops aimed at developing students’ skills, confidence, and sense of responsibility. These initiatives foster active participation, strengthen leadership capacity, and prepare students for meaningful roles within and beyond the University.
Contact Information: