Academician
Introduction
Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo was a Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma. He was best known for his intellectual prowess in demystifying inexplicable logical Chemistry.
Who was Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo?
Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo (1946-2017) hailed from the Odi community of Kolokuma-Opukuma Local Government Area in Bayelsa State. His father named him after a renowned professor in Ghana, where he was born, and his maternal uncle encouraged him to pursue teaching as a professional career in the 1970s. As destiny would have it, Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo became an admirable lecturer of Chemistry at two major universities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. With over twenty academic publications in refereed journals in his portfolio, he was made a Professor in 2006. He died peacefully in 2017 at the age of 71.
Early Life and Education
Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo was born in Ghana on 19th September 1946 to Late Mr. Lolo Izonfuo of Ogien-Ama Community and Late Mrs. Geeyou Aganaba of Obori Bengha Community, both in Odi, Kolokuma-Opukuma Local Government Area in Bayelsa State. His father, Mr. Lolo Izonfuo, was a chef at the University of Legon, Ghana, and named his son Welford-Abbey after a Professor at the University. In the early 1950s, young Welford, as he was fondly called, left Ghana to live in Odi with his maternal uncle, Late F. A. Aganaba, a school teacher.
Primary and Secondary Education
He attended St. Stephens Primary School in Odi, and later moved to Lagos to live with his paternal uncle, Late Mr. Aaron Izonfuo. There he attended Salvation Army Primary School, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. He was an intelligent and dutiful student, and he spoke Yoruba fluently. He later gained admission to CMS Grammar School, Lagos, the oldest secondary school in Nigeria, where he obtained a Grade II in the West African Certificate Examination. In 1966, he was granted a full United States Government Scholarship to study Chemistry at Cuttington University in Liberia. In 1970, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.
Studies in the USA
In the early 1970s, he proceeded to the United States of America and was offered a graduate assistant position at Tuskegee University, Alabama, USA. He accepted the position while pursuing his Master’s degree simultaneously. Young Welford was awarded a Master’s degree in Chemistry in 1976. Subsequently, in 1978, Prof. Izonfuo’s quest for knowledge led him to Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA, for his Ph.D. program. In 1984, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Chemistry.
Career Life
Firstly, after obtaining his West African Certificate in the late 1960s, Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo got a job as a Clerk in the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Finance, Lagos. In the early 1970s, his Uncle, Mr. F. A. Aganaba (now late), then principal at Bishop Demiari Grammar School (BDGS) Yenagoa, was instrumental in Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo becoming a teacher. He offered him a part-time job as a chemistry teacher at the school.
Notable Students
Some of the students he taught, among others, were the late Chief D.S.P Alamieyeseigha, Executive Governor of Bayelsa State (1999-2003), Prof. John Buseri, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, Professor Ogoni (once Vice-Chancellor, Niger Delta University), etc. Eventually, after earning his Master’s degree in the United States of America in 1976, he returned to Nigeria and was employed as a lecturer of chemistry at the old Rivers State College of Science and Technology, now Rivers State University.
International Experience
Subsequently, during his Ph.D. pursuit in the United States of America in the 1980s, he worked as a Quality Control Chemist at Colgate-Palmolive Company, New Jersey, USA (Sept – December 1980) and as an Adjunct Physical Chemistry Lecturer at Jersey City State College in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. He returned to Nigeria and continued his teaching career at Rivers State University of Science & Technology (RSUST). Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo served in various capacities as an employee of RSUST, including Head of Department. During his second stint at RSUST, he was made a Senior Lecturer (1990) and also served as a member of the RSUST Governing Council (1994-1996).
Pioneer at NDU
After the creation of Bayelsa State in 1996, Niger Delta University Amassoma was eventually established in 2000, and Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo left RSUST to continue his career at Niger Delta University (NDU). He served in various capacities at NDU, including Member of the Governing Council (2002-2007; 2009-2011), Senior Lecturer (2001-2006), Acting Dean of the Faculty of Science (2001-2006), Dean of Student Affairs (2007-2008), and Dean of the Faculty of Science (2008-2011).
Professorship and Publications
In 2006, his lifelong dream was fulfilled when he was made a Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Niger Delta University Amassoma. Professor Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo had 29 academic publications in refereed journals. He also wrote a couple of lab manuals for his students.
Professional and Public Service
Professor Izonfuo was a formidable personality, with many talents rolled into one. Achieving results was his hallmark in and out of academia. He represented RSUST as a member of the Governing Council of Rivers State College of Arts & Science from 1994 to 1996 and also represented Bayelsa State at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) from 2001 to 2004. Prof. Izonfuo retired from the Civil Service in 2011 and continued teaching as a contract staff with Niger Delta University-Amassoma, Rivers State University Port Harcourt, and Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, until his untimely death.
Professional Membership
Prof. Izonfuo was a member of Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society of America, Tuskegee University Chapter, Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. He was also a member of the Chemical Society of Nigeria.
His Sports Life
During his secondary school days at CMS Lagos and even at the University of Liberia, Young Welford, as he was popularly called, was a renowned footballer who won laurels with the school teams. In 1970, he was the university’s football skipper. However, till his death, he was a member of Goldashe United Football Club in Port Harcourt.
His Death
It was reported that Professor Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo died of natural causes in his hometown Odi on 6 February 2017 at the age of 71. He was married with five biological children and three grandchildren.
Education Quote
“Education is all about improving the lives of others and leaving your community and world better than you found it.” – Marian Wright Edelman
Late Prof. Welford-Abbey Lolo Izonfuo was an erudite and formidable Chemistry Lecturer at RSUST and NDU. CHS 101 was his thing.
