PRE-DEGREE/CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION/SCHOOL FEES

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT

 

WORKING EXPERIENCE

Her working experience has spanned from 1976 till date, occupying various positions in diverse organisations; the longest and latest being her service at the University of Port Harcourt.  The details are outlined as follows:

  1. 1976-1978:  Post-doctoral Research Fellow, University of Nottingham, England.
    Research into the efficacy of single-cell protein (PRUTEEN), manufactured by Imperial Chemicals Industries (ICI), England as a replacement for fishmeal in animal feeds. Using methanol as a single carbon provider for microbial growth.  She also demonstrated and supervised graduate and undergraduate practical and research projects.
  2. 1978-1980:  Principal Research Officer, Nigerian Institute of Trypanosomiasis Research, Kaduna and Vom, Jos.
    Head of the Department of Biochemistry Section
    Researched on Biochemistry and Chemotherapy of Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)
  3. 1980 till date: Lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt where she has risen to become a Professor.  She had held several leadership positions too, namely:
  • Head, Department of Biochemistry from its inception in the old School of Chemical Sciences.  She nurtured it through to a full-fledged department in the Faculty system.
  • Awarded Senior Fulbright Fellowship 1985/86 and was affiliated to University of Georgia, Athens, USA.
  • Director, School of Basic Studies – remedial programme.
  • Dean, School of Graduate Studies (December 2005 – 2011) where a lot of transformation was made, for instance the introduction of graduate school seminar where Ph.D students defend their research work before a panel of judges, people from other disciplines and the community at large. This seminar is compulsory and approved by Senate of the University.
  1. Professor Abbey equally worked outside the confines of the Universities when she was appointed as a Commissioner for Information and Tourism and later Culture (1989-1991), also overseeing Women Affairs (as the only female member of the cabinet) by the Rivers State Government.  She achieved the following:
  • The establishment from scratch to full transmission of the RSTV Channel 22 UHF.
  • Re-organisation and expansion of Radio Rivers.
  • A turn around for the Tide Newspapers and
  • Provision of amenities and visibility for the Rivers State Arts & Culture.

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Despite academics which is her “all” so to speak, Professor Abbey is actively involved in Community Service.  She believes in leading by example and mentorship as evident in her activities such as:

  1. Secretary-General, Tombia Improvement Union
  2. Member, Reconciliatory Committee, Tombia
  3. Visited most communities in Rivers State on the platform of the Better Life for Rural Women Programme; initiated by Late Mrs. Mariam Babangida.
  4. Very active in Community Development and Women Education programmes.
  5. Worker, Redeemed Christian Church of God – Promiseland Parish, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.
  6. Member, Rivers State Scholarship Board representing Degema Local Government Area and had interacted and been involved in the disbursement of Bursary and Scholarship to the people.
  7. Pioneer Member of the Board of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRID), Idu Abuja.  She was among the team that started the institute from scratch i.e. locating an appropriate site to the employment of the first Director and other staff.  The strong base built  by them has transformed it into a viable Research Institute.
  8. In 2001-2002, she was on Sabbatical at Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, Port Harcourt where she worked on fostering good relationship between the Oil Companies and their host communities in the area of Community Development.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Professor (Mrs.) Bene Willie Abbey has to her credit many publications in refereed journals, conference proceedings and periodicals. She belongs to numerous professional organisations in her field of specialisation both locally and internationally.  She has also attended numerous conferences and presented papers. Worthy of note is the fact that she had supervised several students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels; and also acted as external examiner in many Universities.  Three of her former Ph.D. students are now Professors.

She believes in the importance of research in the development of any nation.  It is therefore no surprise that she was appointed to co-ordinate ‘Research and Development’.