There was jubilation at the University of Ibadan (UI) on Monday as 89-year-old retired Professor of Zoology and renowned poet, Professor Mark Nwagwu, successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Anthropology, earning a second PhD and adding another milestone to his distinguished academic career.
The thesis defence took place at the Sanya Dojo Onabamiro Postgraduate College Building of Nigeria’s premier university.
Professor Nwagwu’s doctoral research, titled “Nsibidi as Semiotics of Cultural Stem Cell in the Extra-Verbal Theatre,” was supervised by Professor Sola Olorunyomi of the Institute of African Studies.
Announcing the achievement, Professor Olorunyomi described the feat as an inspiration, celebrating Nwagwu’s remarkable commitment to scholarship even in retirement.
Displaying the newly defended thesis, he wrote: “Behold, the latest double PhD holder, Professor Mark Nwagwu, FAS. The retired Professor of Molecular Parasitology has obtained a second PhD from the Institute of African Studies at the age of 89-plus. What an inspiration.”
Professor Nwagwu began his academic journey at the then University College, Ibadan, where he studied Zoology between 1957 and 1961, earning a Bachelor of Science degree awarded by the University of London.
He later proceeded to the University of London for his master’s and doctoral degrees in Zoology before undertaking postdoctoral research at the University of Connecticut, United States, between 1966 and 1969. His research focused on myosin messenger RNA and muscle-protein synthesis.
Nwagwu was promoted to the rank of Professor of Zoology in 1982 and retired from the University of Ibadan in 2002 after decades of teaching and research.
He also served as an Assistant and Associate Professor at Brock University in Canada.
Beyond the sciences, the accomplished academic is widely recognised as a poet and literary figure.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS) and a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).
His latest academic accomplishment has been widely hailed as a testament to lifelong learning, intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of excellence regardless of age.
