THROWBACKTHISDAY; Samuel Ejikeme Okoye an astrophysicist died

                                 

 

 

Samuel Ejikeme Okoye was a Nigerian astrophysicist from Amawbia in Anambra State, Nigeria . He later became a British citizen in 2005. Samuel was the first black African to obtain a doctorate in Radio Astronomy.

Samuel was born in Umuahia, in the old eastern region of Nigeria, to Simon and Agnes Okoye. He was the fifth of nine children. His father died late 1949 when Samuel was just ten. He was raised by his mother and Eldest brother Denise Okoye.

Samuel obtained a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc) from the University of London and a doctorate degree (PhD) in Radio Astronomy from the University of Cambridge in theUnited Kingdom, making him the first black African to obtain a doctorate in Radio Astronomy.

Samuel was a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science as well as the Royal Astronomical Society of the United Kingdom. He was a member of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs. He was a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility and theInternational Astronomical Union.

He started teaching Physics at the University of Ibadan in 1965 and later transferred to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)just before the outbreak of the Nigerian civil war. He was elevated to a professorship in physics in 1976. Between 1978 and 1989,Professor Okoye was appointed the Director, Division of General Studies, Head Department of Physics and Astronomy; Associate Dean and later Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, all at the University of Nigeria.He was elected as Dean of the School of Post Graduate Studies in 1987. Professor Okoye also acted during the summer of 1978 as Vice Chancellor of UNN.

Samuel published numerous scientific papers on Ionosphere Physics, Solar Physics, Theory of Extragalactic Radio Sources and Cosmology. He also published a monograph, Viable and Affordable Policy Objectives for a Nigerian Space Programme in the 1980s and co-edited two books: Basic Science Development in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects, and the World at the Cross-roads: Towards a Sustainable, Equitable and Liveable World.

Samuel served Nigeria in a number of capacities including: (i) Member of the Federal Government delegation to the World Administrative Radio Conference in Geneva 1979;

(ii) Member of the Federal Government delegation to the United Nations Conference on Peaceful Uses of Space in Vienna, 1981;

(iii) Member of the Federal Government Panel charged to produce an integrated energy policy for Nigeria (1984);

(iv) Chairman, Court of Governors of the Awka Campus of the Anambra University of Science and technology(ASUTECH), (1988–1989);

(v) Member of the Governing Council of Anambra University of Science and Technology, Enugu (1988–1989).

At international level, Samuel was a part-time consultant to the United Nations on the development of Space Science end Technology in developing countries (1979–1986). From 1990-93, he was appointed a visiting Professor/Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Astronomy, and Fellow Commoner at Churchill College at the University of Cambridge. In December 1993, Samuel was seconded from the University of Nigeria to the Federal Government as Director (overseas liaison), initially at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Lagos, and subsequently the Nigerian Ministry of Science & Technology Abuja, where he also served as the pioneer Science attaché and Head of the Science and Technology Unit at the Nigerian High Commission, London.

Samuel married Chinyere Ucheime Obioha in April, 1969. Chinyere was a native of Arondizuogu in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State. She was a Deputy Librarian at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and was later appointed Assistant Director of Library Services at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Abuja. The couple had four children: Maureen, Obinna, Ndidi and Amaechi.

Okoye died in London on 18 November 2009.

THROWBACKTHISDAY; makes it 6 years and TBT Blog remembers him. May his soul continue to rest in peace.