Unizik promotes Nigerian couple, Ifeanyi, Ifeoma Ifeanyi-Odinye, Professor and associate Professor
By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD
Success is attractive. Visit the social media and see.how young Nigerian couple are being celebrated worldwide.
History was made at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka on 10th November, 2023 when the Vice- Chancellor, Prof . Charles Esimone (FAS) through the Registrar, Barr. Philomena Okoye released the Approval of promotions of Professors and Readers ( Associate Professors) for 2022 appraisal. The letter reads ” This is to inform the University Community that the Honourable Minister of Education on behalf of the Governing council has approved the promotions of thirty four (34) Professors and eighty (80) Readers. The promotion set Unizik ablaze.
A couple, Dr. Ifeanyi and Dr. Ifeoma Odinye, is among staff members that were promoted. Dr. Ifeanyi Sunny Odinye who was the former head of department of Chinese studies was promoted to a Professor of Chinese Studies and Applied Linguistics. This makes him the first indigenous Professor of Chinese Studies in Nigeria and possibly Africa. Dr. Ifeoma Ezinne Odinye who was the former Coordinator of Postgraduate programme in the Department of English Language and Literature was promoted to an Associate Professor.
The couple met as young lecturers fifteen years ago in the University. They got married and the marriage was blessed with three beautiful children. Ifeanyi and Ifeoma studied at different universities in China before studying at the same University.
The husband studied at Beijing Foreign Studies University while the wife studied at Renmin University Beijing. At Xiamen University, Ifeoma got a master’s degree in Chinese language. Dr. Ifeoma is a Lecturer both at the department of English & Literature and the department of Chinese Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Her areas of research are African literature, Asian literature, Gender Studies and Feminism.
Congratulations to this wonderful UNIZIK and Nigerian couple. It’s indeed marvelous for a couple to be so blessed.
