Professor, Department of Biotechnology

Prof. Tobias I. N. Ezejiofor


Prof. Tobias Innocent Ndubuisi Ezejiofor

PhD., AMLSCN, FCBET, FWAPCEH, DEH, DPH
Department of Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences
E-Mail: tinezejiofor@gmail.com  favourtine@yahoo.com;   tobias.ezejiofor@futo.edu.ng

Biography

Tobias Innocent Ndubuisi Ezejiofor (a.k.a, T.I.N. Ezejiofor) was born on 21st January, 1966 at Aba, and hails from Amorka, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. He had his primary and secondary education at Aba between 1970 and 1975, 1975 and 1980 respectively. Thereafter, he proceeded to the School of Health Technology Aba, where in 1983 he obtained the diploma in Environmental Health(DEH) of the institution as well as  the Public Health diploma(DPH) of the West Africa Health Examination Board(WAHEB) thereby qualifying as a Public Health Officer. Beyond this, Mr Ezejiofor obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences from Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria (1988), an M.Sc. degree in Applied Biochemistry from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria (1997/98), and the degree of doctor of philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Health Biology from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria (2009/10). To cut his professional teeth, Dr. Ezejiofor also schooled at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria (1990) and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria (1996) for the Associate and Fellowship of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria in Chemical Pathology and Medical Microbiology respectively. He is duly registered and Licensed by both the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). He is also a Fellow, College of Biomedical Engineering and Technology (FCBET) of Nigeria; and Fellow, West Africa Postgraduate College of Environmental Health (FWAPCEH), as well as a member of several national and international professional and learned societies.

At various times, Dr. Ezejiofor had served in several capacities in different institutions including the Imo State Ministry of Health; Schools of Health Technology at Aba and Amaigbo respectively; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Abia State University Medical School (Chemical Pathology); and presently, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria where, now a Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, and also a Research Fellow in the institute of Environmental Health and Environmental Justice of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, he is actively engaged in teaching, research and community services. He is credited with many professional and administrative experience laced with achievements in those capacities. He is a prolific researcher as he finds interest in everything within his environment, though with particular attention to issues bothering on health, safety and environment – an area in which he had published quite considerably in both national and international peer reviewed journals. Presently, he is the Vice President of the Environmental Health Scientist Association of Nigeria (EHSAN), a committed and active member of the National Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (NAMLSN). He has earned membership and fellowship of several national and international professional bodies and learned societies. He is on the editorial board of some journals, and also serves as a reviewer to several others. He had attended and presented papers at several local and international conferences and workshops.                 

With a background that spans through almost all aspects of Medical/Biomedical and public health sciences, Professor Ezejiofor is ready and available to undergo any further tutelage (as may be needed/required for certain positions), and/or to embark on enterprising research that would be of relevance towards resolution of the many challenges/problems beseeching humanity, particularly those that requires application of knowledge in the realms of biological, biotechnological, biomedical, medical and public health sciences.

Professor Ezejiofor is a Christian of Catholic denomination. He is married to Dr (Mrs.) Favour Anthonet Ndidiamaka Ezejiofor, and the marriage is blessed with 4 children- 2 boys and 2 girls.

List of Academic & Professional Qualifications with dates

S/NSchools AttendedDatesQualification
a.Akoli Primary School, Aba.1970-1975FSLC (credit)
b.Iheorji Secondary School, Aba.1975-1980WASC (Division1); GCE O/L
c.School of Health Technology, Aba.1980-1983DPH (WAHEB); DEH
d.Rivers State University of Science Technology, Port Harcourt1984-1988B.Sc (Hons), Medical Laboratory Sciences (Clinical Biochemistry Option)
e.School of Medical Lab. Sciences University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port HarcourtJan-Dec. 1990Associate, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (AMLSCN)
(Graduate Internee)
f.Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka (Federal Government Scholar, 1993/94)1993-1997M.Sc Applied Biochemistry (Research in Occupational and Environmental Toxicology)
g.School of Medical Lab. Sciences University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu (Training in 1995-1996 Fellow, Medical Laboratory Science, Council of Nigeria (FMLSCN) (Not Awarded)
Medical Microbiology for the Fellowship of Medical Laboratory Sciences Council of Nigeria)
h.Federal University of Technology, Owerri2000-2008Ph.D. Environmental Health Biology (Research in Occupational and Environmental Toxicology)
(Federal Government Scholar, 2003/2004)

TEACHING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Full–time post Masters teaching in a University (give dates, employees, posts held):

  • 2000 – 2002 Lecturer II, Department of Pathology (Chemical pathology), College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu/Teaching Hospital, Aba (Lecturer II)
  • 2002–2005. Lecturer II, Department of Biotechnology, Fed. University of Technol. Owerri (FUTO) (Lecturer II)
  • 2005 –2010. Department of Biotechnology, Fed. University of Technol. Owerri (FUTO) (Lecturer I)
  • 2010 –2013. Department of Biotechnology, Fed. University of Technol. Owerri (FUTO) (Senior Lecturer)
  • 2013 – 2016. Department of Biotechnology, Fed. University of Technol. Owerri (FUTO) (Reader)
  • 2016 – Date. Department of Biotechnology, Fed. University of Technol. Owerri (FUTO) (Professor)

                                                                                                                       

Relevant professional experience in the industry of appropriate non-teaching /research institution

  • Formerly, Principal Environmental Health Officer, Ministry of Health, Imo State, Nigeria.
  • Formerly, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu.
  • Formerly, Medical Laboratory Scientist, National Youth Service Corp(NYSC), State Specialist Hospital, Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Research Interest

Environmental and Medical Biotechnology

  • Environmental epidemiology and burden of Infectious diseases in Nigeria
  • Medicinal properties and toxicology of indigenous plants and natural resources
  • Health Risks/Impacts of exposures to hazards /toxicants in the work / total environment
  • Development and validation of biomarkers of exposures and effects of  various environmental agents
  • Waste to wealth: Environmental remediation/management strategies to turn wastes/pollutants into beneficial products or industrial raw materials for wealth creation

 

Primary Teaching Area

Medical and Environmental Biotechnology

PUBLISHED PAPERS IN REFERRED JOURNALS

  1. F.C Ezeonu, T.I.N Ezejiofor (1999). Biochemical indicators of occupational health hazards in Nkalagu Cement Industry workers, Nigeria. The Science of the Total Environment 228: 275-278
  2. Tobias I. N. Ezejiofor (2001). Anicteric Hepatitis: An occupational hazard in cement industry workers. Journal of Medical Investigation and Practice 3:53-57
  3. Onyemaechi J Afonne, Orish E Orisakwe, Chudi E. Dioka, Ejeatuluchukwu Obi, Tobias Ezejiofor, Lasbery Asomuga and Ukoha U (2002). Effects of Rinbacin Extracts on Rat Kidney. Biol. Pharm. Bull 25(8): 1022-1025
  4. Tobias I.N. Ezejiofor and Francis C. Ezeonu (2002). Biochemical indicators of occupational health hazards in Enugu coal miners, Nigeria. International Journal of Environmental Health & Human Development 3(2): 31-35
  5. Ezejiofor T.I.N and Mba I.E.K (2003). Serum Bicarbonate levels in Cement factory workers: A Predictor for Occupational Lung Disease. Journal of Medical Investigation & Practice (2003) 4: 15-18
  6. Obiekezie S.O, Okereke J.N, Anyalogbu E, Okorondu S.I, Ezejiofor T.I.N (2006). Underground water quality of Rock mining in Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Estud Biol. 28 (63): 61-67                                      
  7. T. I. N Ezejiofor (2010a). Morbidity and Mortality Patterns in Nigerian Petroleum Oil Refining and Distribution Industry. Mary Slessor Journal of Medicine 10(1):8-22
  8. T. I. N Ezejiofor (2010b). Patterns of Accidents and Injuries in Nigerian Petroleum Oil Refining and Distribution Industry. Mary Slessor Journal of Medicine 10(1):23-28
  9. R.I Okechukwu, J.N. Okereke, T.I.N Ezejiofor (2010). Microbial Contamination of expired and unexpired Orange and Pineapple juices sold in Owerri municipality. International Journal for Environmental Health & Human Development 11(1):28-52
  10. Nwoguikpe R.N, Braide W, Ezejiofor T.I.N (2010). The effect of aloe Vera Plant (aloe barbadensis) extracts on sickle cell blood (hbss). African Journal of Food Science and Technology 1(3):058-063
  11. Duru C.M, Mbata T.I, Nwanze P.I, Ezejiofor T.I.N (2011). Roll Back Mycotoxicosis: Ethnobotanical Alternative. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology 32 (2):277-282
  12. Okechukwu R.I, Okereke J.N, Ezejiofor T.I.N, Obasi K.O, Ebere G.O (2011). Relationship between Malaria Vector Densities in Artificial Container habitats, Land-Use Changes and Temperature. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology 32 (2):283-286
  13. Cosmas O. Ujowundu, Favour N. Kalu, Reginald N. Nwaoguikpe, Kalu O. Igwe, Rosita I.Okechukwu and Tobias I.N. Ezejiofor (2011). Salt iodization and thyroid function of pregnant women in early pregnancy in Owerri-southeast Nigeria. International Research Journal of Biochemistry and Bioinformatics 1(10):248-256
  14. Okechukwu R.I., Ewelike N.C., Okechi R.N., Duru C.M., Ezejiofor T.I.N. (2011). Microbial Quality of “Kunun Zaki”: A Nigerian Indigenous Fermented Food Drink. International Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry 7(5): 585-591                                                                  
  15. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor, Eke N.V., Okechukwu R.I., Nwoguikpe R. N. Duru C. M. (2011). Waste to wealth: Industrial raw materials potential of peels of Nigerian sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). African Journal of Biotechnology. 10(33): 6257-6264 
  16. Ezejiofor T.I.N., Iwuala M.O.E., Nwigwe H.C (2012). Risk assessment: Prevalent Occupational Hazards in Nigerian petroleum oil refining and distribution industry. Journal of Medical Investigation and Practice 8:24-29                                                                                                                         
  17. T.I.N. Ezejiofor (2011). Views of an Open Access Africa 2011 delegate: Open access and the unlimited benefits–A Guest article by Dr. Tobias Innocent Ndubuisi Ezejiofor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. Open Access in the Developing World, an initiative of the Biomed Central Open Access Publishers. Tags: OA in the Developing World. Hosted on Biomed Central Website since 25/11/2011
  18. E U Ezeji, E.A Anyalogbu, T. N Ezejiofor, J.U. Udensi (2012). Determination of Reduced Glutathione and Glutathione S-transferase of Poultry Birds exposed to Permethrin Insecticide. American Journal of Biochemistry 2(3):21-24                                                                                   
  19. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor, Carissa I. Duru. Agnes E. Asagbra., Anthonet N. Ezejiofor, Orish E. Orisakwe., Johnson O. Afonne. Ejeatuluchukwu Obi (2012). Waste to wealth: Production of oxytetracycline using Streptomyces species from household kitchen wastes of agricultural produce. African Journal of Biotechnology 11(43), 10115-10124.
  20. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor, A. N. Ezejiofor, A. C. Udebuani, E. U. Ezeji, E. A. Ayalogbu, C. O. Azuwuike, L. A. Adjero, C. E. Ihejirika, C. O. Ujowundu, L. A. Nwaogu and K. O. Ngwogu (2013) Environmental metals pollutants load of a densely populated and heavily industrialized commercial city of Aba, Nigeria. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences 5(1):1-11 
  21. Ezejiofor T.I.N., Ezejiofor A.N., Iwuala M.O.E. (2013). Toxic Nephropathy: A Potential Health Effect of Occupational Exposures in Petroleum Oil Refining and Distribution Industry Workers in Nigeria. The Journal of Toxicology and Health. Photon 103, 330-344 
  22. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor, A.N Ezejiofor, N.E Onyedineke, M.O.E Iwuala. Anthropometrical and Biochemical Markers of Cardiovascular Health Risks among Petroleum Oil Refining and Distribution Industry Workers, Nigeria (2013). J.Med. Lab. Sci. 22(2):21-32
  23. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor, A.N Ezejiofor, O.E Orisakwe, H.C Nwigwe, F.O.U Osuala, M.O.E Iwuala (2014).  Anicteric hepatoxicity: a potential health risk of occupational exposures in Nigerian petroleum Oil refining and distribution industry. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 9:3 doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-9-3                                                                                       
  24. Linus A. Nwaogu, Cosmas O. Ujowundu1, Callistus I. Iheme, Tobias I. N. Ezejiofor and Donatus C, Belonwu (2014). Effect of Sublethal Concentration of Heavy Metal Contamination on Soil Physicochemical Properties, Catalase and Dehydrogenase Activities. International Journal of Biochemistry Research & Review, (2):141-149
  25. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor, Uchechi E. Enebaku, Chika Ogueke (2014).Waste to Wealth- Value Recovery from Agro-Food Processing Wastes Using Biotechnology: A Review. British Biotechnology Journal, 4(4):418-481
  26. Ezejiofor TIN, Iwuala MOE, Osuala FOU, Nwigwe HC (2014). Appraisals for potential hazards in the operational environment and facilities of the petroleum refining and distribution industry in Nigeria. Journal of Medical Investigations and Practice, 1(1):39-42
  27. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor (2014). Risk Assessment: Re-appraisals for Potential Hazards in the Operational Environment and Facilities of Petroleum Refining and Distribution Industry in Nigeria – Research and Review. Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs2 (4):1-19. doi:10.4172/2329-6879.1000187)
  28. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor (2016) Haematological Indicators of Exposure to Petroleum Products in Petroleum Refining and Distribution Industry Workers in Nigeria. J Clin Toxicol; 6: 276. doi:10.4172/2161-0495.1000276
  29. Enenebeaku C. K., Enenebeaku U. E. and Ezejiofor T.I.N. (2016) Proximate composition and production of bioethanol from Cassava bagasse using Hydrochloric acid and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker’s yeast). J. Biol. Chem. Research Vol. 33 (1): 165-174
  30. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor (2016) Environmental Factors in Renal Disease: The Contribution of Urinary Tract Infections in Nigerian Renal Disease Burden-Research and Minireview. Clin Microbiol 5: 237. doi:10.4172/2327-5073.1000237
  31. Okafor CW, Ekezie J, Ndubuka GI, Ezejiofor, T.I.N (2016). Immature Coconut Water: A Renal Protective Agent in Wistar Rats- Research Article. International Journal of Anatomy & Applied Physiology 2(2), 26-31
  32. A.C. Udebuani, A.O. Ofoma, O.Otitoju, P.N. Abara, T.N. Ezejiofor, and M.C. Chukwuma (2016). Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Impacts of Pharmaceutical Effluent from KP Pharmaceutical Industry, Nigeria. American Chemical Science Journal, 16(2): 1-10, 2016.
  33. Anyalogbu Ernest A. A., Nnoli Matthew C., Ezejiofor Tobias I. N., Nweje-Anyalowu Paul C (July 2017).  Fatty Acid Composition Of Two Nigerian Masticatories Cum Traditional Snacks: African Walnut (Plukenetia Conophora) Kernel And African Elemi (Canarium schweinfurthii) Pulp.     International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research 6(7): 204-207.
  34. Anyalogbu Ernest Anayochukwu Aniemeka, Ezejiofor, Tobias Innocent Ndubuisi(2017). Effect Of Processing On Antinutrients Contents Of African Elemi (Canarium schweinfurthii) And African Walnut (Plukenetia Conophora) Consumed As Traditional Snacks In Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research 6(7): 383-391.
  35. T. I. N. Ezejiofor, U. E. Enenebeaku, C. K. Enenebeaku, M. U. Nwankwo, C. I. A. Ogbonnaya (2018). Comparative study of bioethanol yield from yam, potato, watermelon, and pineapple peels using different concentrations of hydrochloric acid. World News of Natural Sciences 16 (2018) 18-32

 UNIVERSITY TEXTS

  1. T.I.N. Ezejiofor (Section 1). In: I.N. Ezejiofor, Igbo N.M., Onwubiko D (Eds). Workbook and Guide to Practical Training in Chemical Pathology for Undergraduate Medical Students. ECHEL Publishers Nigeria (ISBN: 973-2883-88-3); 60pp
  2. Tobias I.N. Ezejiofor (2012). Reproduction in Organisms. In: M.O.E. Iwuala, R.I. Okechukwu, Okwujiako I.A. (Eds). Foundation Biology for University students; Published by the Department of Biological Science (ISBN: 978-219-314-3) Vol.1, Pp99-127.
  3. Tobias I. Ndubuisi Ezejiofor, Uchechi E. Enebaku, Ogueke Chika,Yung-Tse Hung (2015). Food Processing Waste as a Resource. In: L.K Wang, et al. (eds). Handbook of Advanced Industrial and Hazardous Wastes Management. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, USA (in press)