Professor Augustine Nonso Odili

Appointment of Prof. Augustine Odili as the new Vice Chancellor

The Board of Trustees of Margaret Lawrence University has appointed Professor Augustine Nonso Odili, MBBS, PhD, FMCP, FACC, FESC, FNCS. as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of newly licensed Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Ika North-East LGA, Delta State.

Augustine Odili is a Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja. He is also a Consultant Cardiologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja and serves as the lead investigator at the Circulatory Health Research Laboratory of the same University. In addition to his research and academic roles in the university, he serves as the Acting Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences as well as a member of the University Research Council, the apex research governing body of the University. He is a visiting Professor to the Department of Medicine, University of Calabar and a visiting external examiner to about six other Nigerian Universities. He is a visiting Bernard Lown Scholar in Cardiovascular Health at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston USA.

Prior to his academic career, his educational training was decorated with excellence at each level. He passed his First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction, West African School Certificate with distinction in all subjects, graduated from the prestigious University of Nigeria with distinction in Medical Physiology and at National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria as the Best part II and the best overall candidate in 2006.

Augustine’s research interest is focused on hypertension epidemiology and understanding the circulatory system dysfunction in diabetes mellitus and hypertension. He is the principal investigator of various large scale research projects including: REMAH (REmoving the MAsk on Hypertension), NIPREGH (Nigerian Population Research on Environment Gene and Health), HERALD (Heart of an African Living with Diabetes) and NSS (Nigerian Salt Survey). He is a member of a number of international research consortia including the International Database on HOme Blood Pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDHOCO) and the International Database on the Ambulatory Blood Pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDACO). He serves as a member of various technical committees on Non-communicable Diseases for the Federal Ministry of Health and has served as consultant to World Health Organization (WHO) for the development of the National Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension in Nigeria.

He is a member of the editorial board of Journal of Clinical Hypertension, Journal of Hypertension and the Nigerian Journal of Cardiology. He is currently the President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society, Vice President of the Nigerian Hypertension Society and President Society for Public Health and Social Development. He is the chair of the International Society of Hypertension, African Regional Advisory Group. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology and the Nigerian Cardiac Society. He has published over 50 academic papers in high impact local and international journals and has contributed to well over five chapters in refereed books. His research articles have been cited over 1000 times and have an h-index of 13 and i-10 index of 15.

Prof Odili has translated his research findings into community development by initiating a number hypertension and other non-communicable disease control programmes at the community level. The Community Action Against Non-Communicable Diseases (COMAAND), the Hypertension Scholars Advocate Initiative (HASI), the Awkuzu Elderly Health Programme, and the Reducing Chronic Diseases in Adolescent Nigerians (RECODING); have yielded tremendous impact towards reduction of non- communicable diseases in Nigeria. In recognition of his contribution to the public health of his native community, the traditional ruler of Awkuzu, HRH Igwe Sir Prof Charles Anikweze, appointed him into his traditional cabinet as a Special Adviser on Health Matters (Akanechendu). Augustine is happily married with children.

Bishop Oyedepo’s Working Visit to MLU

On the 11th of July, 2022, Bishop David Oyedopo made a working visit to Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Delta State, where he was honourably received and shown around by the proprietor, Mr Paul Odili. During his visit Bishop Oyedepo emphasised that everything that borders on human development has a special place in his heart; saying that there was no way he could miss out on being at the newly licenced university, especially as its proprietor is one of his sons in the LORD.

Below are some pictures from the visit.

NUC Gives Licence to Margaret Lawrence University

12th of May, 2022 was a great day for Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Delta State, as the National Universities Commission NUC, awarded the university a Provisional Licence to commence operations as a Private University in Nigeria. This was alongside eleven other private universities: Pen Resource University, Gombe; Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno State; Margaret Lawrence University Galilee, Delta State; Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano, Kano State; Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta state; Bab Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State; Saisa University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto, Sokoto State; Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State; Peter University, Achina/Onneh, Anambra State; Newgate University, Minna, Niger State, European University of Nigeria, Duboyi, Abuja, FCT and Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu made the presentations during the occasion, noting the need to establish more private universities in the country. The Executive Secreatary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, stressed that the newly licenced universities should ensure they don’t sacrifice quality services while pursuing monetary gains.

The picture above, from right to left shows Mrs Rosemary Odili, BOT Member, Margaret Lawrence University MLU, Mr Paul Odili, Proprietor, MLU, The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, Chief Mrs Margaret Odili, mother of the Proprietor, The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, and Mr Vincent Azike, BOT Member, MLU, during the licence awarding.

NUC’s 2nd Visit to Margaret Lawrence University

18th of August, 2021, was remarkable for the proposed Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Delta State, as the National University Commission (NUC) made their second visit to the university. The visit, like the first, forms part of the process towards giving the university the certifications to commence operations as a private university. The university promoter, Mr Paul Odili, was also on ground, as the university’s technical team showed the NUC officials around the nearly readied facilities – Laboratories, classrooms, offices, students’ accommodation, library, etc., were all being equipped with high standard equipment and materials. The NUC officials admitted it will be one great university, following what they could already see.

Mr Paul Odili promised the officials that all the recommendations they made regarding some facilities will be promptly attended to, with precision. Later that day, he led the team on a courtesy visit to the Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

Below are some pictures from the visit:

NUC Visits Margaret Lawrence University

On the 10th of February, 2021, the National University Commission (NUC) visited the proposed Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Delta State, Nigeria. After a guided tour around the facilities on ground, led by the proposed university promoter, Mr Paul Odili, the NUC officials admitted that the facilities they met were already more than some universities had at their kick-off. However, they pointed out technical areas that needed to be attended to, in readying for their next visit.

This visit is part of the steps towards awarding certifications for operations to a proposed university.

Below are some pictures from the visit: