Simeon Chituru Achinewhu

Simeon Chituru Achinewhu (born 15 August, 1946) is a Nigerian food and nutrition biochemist, scholar and university administrator who served as the past president-general of Ogbakor Ikwerre Socio-cultural Organisation Worldwide. He was vice–chancellor of River State University (formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology), from October 2000 until May 2007. In 2005 he was named the most research active vice-chancellor in the Nigerian university system.

Background and education Born on 15 August 1946 in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria, Achinewhu had his primary education in his home town Aluu. He finished from County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche in 1963 with Grade One. He later proceeded to Government Secondary School, Owerri and got his Higher School Certificate in physics, chemistry, and zoology in 1965. In 1970, Achinewhu graduated from the University of Ibadan, B.Sc. second class honors, M.Sc. in 1972 and Ph.D. 1975 in food science and technology from University of Reading, UK.

He evolved the processing and production of coffee from coffee seed grown in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

He did research on cassava processing, which identified upgrade cassava cultivars with superior quality food values with regards to product output and other physico-chemical properties. He identified new cultivars with high starch yield and therefore high export potentials.

He developed a baby food (weaning) supplement employing the use of a combination of fermented plant food products. This was used to nourish children who were undernourished, in the days of Better Life Programme for Rural Women.

Personal life Achinewhu married Eunice Achinewhu (nee Eunice Nyema Otto) in 1972 and they have four children.

He is a reverend canon of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. He is a crown of peace, justice of peace, and the national president of Peace Builders Association (Council of Ambassadors for Peace and Unification)