Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan sets to inaugurate Prof. Jacinta A. Opara as first female Vice Chancellor of the institution on Monday, 1st July, 2024 by 12 noon at Tom and Carolyn Walker Hall of the institution.
Prof. Opara was born in Southern Nigeria. She is a leading international environmental scholar, scientist, educator, health researcher, consultant and development activist with the combined power of management and human rights. She is a full-ranked Professor of Environmental Health, Population and Management at University of Maiduguri. She was previously a Professor at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Kampala International University (KIU), Kampala-Uganda; Chairman of Governing Council of the Institute of Policy Management Development; and Visiting Professor of Biodiversity at Department of Environmental Sciences, Laikipia University, Nyahururu-Kenya.
She received MSc and PhD Magna Cum Laude from Universidad Central de Nicaragua(UCN) and did postgraduate studies at Akershus University, Lillestrom-Norway. She was trained as a teacher at University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria before proceeding for graduate degrees at Rivers State University of Science and Technology and the University of Port Harcourt.
Professor Opara began her career in 1996 as a Science Teacher(Biology) at College of the Immaculate Conception(CIC), Enugu State-Nigeria under National Youths Service Scheme(NYSC). Since the 1990s, Professor Opara has held teaching, research and consulting experiences across Africa, America, Europe and Asia. She held teaching and research appointment as an Associate Professor and Director, Centre for Environmental Education at the School of Environmental Studies, Universidad Azteca, Chalco-Mexico; Visiting Professor, Department of Biology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Kwararafa University, Wukari-Taraba State, Nigeria; Visiting Professor at Department of Science Education at Sule Lamido University(SLU), Kafin Hausa, Jigawa State, Nigeria; briefly as a Professor and Chair of Environmental Management and Toxicology at Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria as well as Academic Member (Visiting Professor), on joint appointment in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Department of Education at Athens Institute for Education and Research, Athens-Greece.
Professor Opara is President of African Association for Teaching and Learning; founding Co-Executive Director, Center for Environment and Community Development; founding President, Association of Women in Education and serves on the Board/Governing Council of Mediterranean Center for Social and Educational Research, Rome-Italy; Development Africa Consortium amongst other institutions and agencies including non-governmental organizations (NGOs). She has received several awards, fellowships and grants including the Erasmus Mundus of the European Commission, Brussels-Belgium and the prestigious IATEL Award for Academic Excellence in 2015. Professor Opara has visited over 30 countries. She has over 150 publications and is married with children
“Prof. Opara’s appointment is anticipated to usher in an era of scholarly distinction and progressive leadership at Dominican University. Prof. Opara’s appointment is notable as she becomes the institution’s first female Vice Chancellor. This is a five-year term ahead with which she will serve as the Academic and Administrative Head and Chief Executive, reporting directly to the university’s Governing Council.
“Dominican University, formerly known as Dominican Institute, is the first university of the Order of Preachers on the African continent. The Order, founded in 1216 by Spanish priest Dominic de Guzman, has a long-standing tradition of involvement in higher education globally. The university received its license from the Federal Government of Nigeria on November 22, 2016, marking its official establishment. That date marked the birth of the first university of the Order of Preachers in Africa. The university is accredited and recognized by National Universities Commission.
Invited friends and well wishers are expected to be at the auspicious event. The event can also be viewed through zoom.
