Nigerian Newspapers

Professor Acholonu Retires After 54 Years of Teaching.

This is a report on Chief Prof Alex D. W, Acholonu’s retirement reception and the launching of his autobiography, “My Journey Through Life.

  

​

On April 25, 2018, a ceremony marking the official retirement of Chief Sir Prof. Alex D. W. Acholonu was conducted in the Clinton Bristow Jr. Dining Hall at Alcorn State University campus, Mississippi. The program of events included introduction of the Master of Ceremony, Mrs. Rose Mary Howard, Administrative. Assistant to the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Recognition of Special Guests was done by  Dr. John Igwebuike, the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chair of the occasion and Dr. Voletta P. Williams, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biology and Co-Chair. Invocation or opening prayer was said by Rev. Ernest Ford, Jr. Pastor, Rose Hill Baptist Church, Fayette, MS. Opening remarks were made by the Chair who, among other things, called Prof. Acholonu a great man, a highly accomplished man, a man of great  wisdom. And next the Co-Chair, who prepared the bulletin for the occasion and called Prof Acholonu”A Legend in Academia”, “A Prolific Researcher”, “The Goliath in Academia” and spoke very highly of him. This was followed by the recognition of Chief Acholonu’s family members and guests. The profile of Prof. Acholonu was delivered by High Chief Kennedy K Okere, M.D, (son-in-law of Prof. Acholonu) and a power point presentation of a picturesque  abridged history of Prof Acholonu was made by his daughter, Atty Esther Streete, CPA, LLM, Principal/Partner, McNamee Hosea Law Firm, Annapolis, MD followed by the review of his autobiography by his brother, Dr. Wilfred W. Acholonu Jr., Pharm D, MSP, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL. Next, Prof. Acholonu gave his remarks(published separately). At this juncture, dinner was served after the grace before meal was said by Pastor  Ernest Ford Jr. After dinner, several people delivered goodwill messages. The first was by Dr. Donzell Lee, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. He poured encomiums on Prof. Acholonu and talked about his accomplishments and the much he did for Alcorn State University. As a memento, he pined the newest Alcorn State University’s logo or decal on his coat lapel and gave him as a gift a unique foldable picnic or outside resting chair which Prof. Acholonu highly cherished.  He was followed by Dr. Babu Patlolla, the Dean of Arts and Sciences who also praised Prof. Acholonu for all that he did from the point of view of teaching, research and service to his Department, the School of Arts and Sciences and the University at large and mentioned the fact that he was the first and only professor of Alcorn State University to receive the prestigious “Distinguished Contribution to Science” Award from the Mississippi Academy of Science(MAS) He subsequently gave him a plaque  that has the inscription, “Recognition for Your Loyalty, and Dedication to the School of Arts and Sciences” and another, “In Appreciation to Chief Prof. Alexander D. W. Acholonu For 54 Years of Outstanding Service in Academia”. Mrs. Emma Jackson, a retired Assistant Professor of Biology and close colleague of Prof. Acholonu spoke very eloquently of Prof Acholonu and crowed it all with a poem she composed in his honor and praise. Another person that spoke was Hon. Henry Banks, former Mayor of Hazlehurst, MS and retired colleague  and friend of Prof. Acholonu. Several others of high repute gave their laudatory good will messages. They included the following: Dr. Dickson Idusuyi, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and former President of the ASU Faculty Senate, Dr. Okechukwu Anyamele, President of Jackson State University(JSU) Faculty Senate and President of Igbo Community Association of Mississippi(ICAM), Dr. Emeka Nwagwu, Professor of Public Health and former Associate Dean of the JSU School of Public Health, Dr. Patrick Igbokwe, Professor of Agriculture and Director of Alcorn  Agricultural Experiment Station and inductee of Alcorn Agricultural Alumni Hall of Fame. Prof. Acholonu’s student, Sharkiesha Jackson also spoke as well as Mikayla Hawthorne another student of Prof. Acholonu and her group. After the goodwill messages, Prof. Acholonu gave the closing remarks and vote of thanks.

​

This was followed by the launching of his autobiography with Provost Donzell Lee and Dean  Babu Patlolla as Chief Launchers. No price was set for the book. People took copies and donated voluntarily. Prof. Acholonu’s relations that came in addition to those already mentioned above  were Mr. Anderson Acholonu, Prof. . Acholonu’s first son, Ms Alexie Acholonu, his fifth daughter and her  fiancé, Michael A. Grant and his mother, Janice Grayham, Mrs. Paulina Okpechi, Prof. Acholonu’s sister and husband, Dr. Simeon Okpechi, Professor of Accounting and an Endowed Professor of Business Entrepreneurship,  Southern University in New Orleans, LA., Mr. Nicholas Udumaga, a Journalist and cousin of Prof. Acholonu’s wife. Others included Prof. Ben Ngwudike, Professor at JSU and former President of ICAM, Chief Dominic Azogini , former President of ICAM and wife, Lolo Val. Azogini, Dr. Mike Ezekwe, Director of ASU Swine Development Center, Mr. Benny Terrell, President, St. Mary’s Catholic Church  Men’s Club and Dr. Josephine Calloway, Director of Religious Education, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Vicksburg, MS to which Prof. Acholonu belongs.

​

The retirement reception and book launching were very well attended. It drew a crowd of up to 200 people constiting of relations from different parts of the US, Alcorn high officials, colleagues, students, staff and well wishers.

For Prof. Alex D. Wozuzu Acholonu, it was a glorious and fulfilling occasion, “The Sunset of an Academic Era”, a time he clocked 54 years of teaching(1964 – 2018) on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean(Nigeria and USA) and having held practically all administrative positions in academia.

 

PS: Prof. Alex D. Wozuzu Acholonu was appointed EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY with effect from August 2018 in recognition of his outstanding teaching, research and service to Alcorn State University.