With heavy hearts, the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA) announces the passing of our Founding President, mentor, and friend, Professor Emmanuel Iyayi Unuabonah — a trailblazing scientist whose legacy of excellence, mentorship, and leadership continues to inspire generations.

Professor Unuabonah played a pivotal role in establishing the Nigerian Young Academy in 2010, serving as its first President and laying a strong foundation for the Academy’s enduring vision of nurturing early-career scientists. A devoted capacity builder, he mentored and supported numerous young researchers, many of whom have since become recipients of international grants, fellowships, and awards under his guidance.

He obtained his BSc in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Benin, followed by MSc and PhD degrees from the University of Ibadan. He rose through the academic ranks to become a Professor of Chemistry at Redeemer’s University, where he also served as Director of Academic Planning and Quality Assurance. He was the Founding Director of the African Centre of Excellence for Water and Environmental Research (ACEWATER), advancing cutting-edge research in water purification and environmental sustainability.

Professor Unuabonah was a Georg Forster Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, a TWAS Young Affiliate, a Global Young Academy alumnus, and a Fellow of the African Science Leadership Program (ASLP). In 2023, he became the first NYA Fellow to be elected as a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS). Shortly before his demise, he was also elected as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS)—a recognition that further underscored his continental impact.

His outstanding contributions to science earned him numerous honors, including the NAS Gold Medal Prize (2017), the Dhirubhai Ambani Chemical Engineering Innovation Award, and several TWAS young scientist awards.

As we mourn this immeasurable loss, we celebrate a life fully lived in service to science, mentorship, and humanity. Prof. Unuabonah's legacy lives on through the many scientists he raised, the institutions he helped build, and the global impact of his work.

We invite colleagues, fellows, and friends to share their tributes and reflections on our online condolence register, as we collectively honor a giant whose light will never dim.

Click here to share your tributes and reflections


Signed:
Dr. Ben Enagbonma (Chairman, Prof. E. I Unuabonah Tribute Planning Ad-hoc Committee)
Dr. Moses Oladele Alfred (Secretary, Prof. E. I Unuabonah Tribute Planning Ad-hoc Committee)