Five NOCEN female lecturers earn national recognition for excellence in research, education
By Sunny A. David, Awka
Five female lecturers from Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe (NOCEN), have earned national recognition after excelling at the 2026 African Forum for Innovative Teachers (AFfIT) and National Women in Education and Research Awards held at the Federal College of Education, Zuba, Abuja.
The event, organised by the African Forum for Innovative Teachers in collaboration with the Stand Tall African Initiative, brought together more than 300 female academics from over 60 Colleges of Education across Nigeria to celebrate outstanding achievements in research, innovation, educational leadership, and academic excellence.
The lecturers who represented NOCEN were Dr. Chinyere Agnes Muokwue of the Department of Educational Psychology, Dr. Joy Amaka Ezidimma of the Department of Economics, Dr. Chinwe Mikella Nebolisa of the Department of Business Education, Dr. Anuli Iruoma Aguiyi of the Department of Linguistics, Igbo and Other Nigerian Languages, and Dr. Chika Menkiti of the Department of Mathematics.
Following a competitive selection process that included interviews, research presentations, assessment of scholarly publications, and academic evaluations, Dr. Anuli Iruoma Aguiyi and Dr. Chinwe Mikella Nebolisa emerged among the award recipients. The duo received cash prizes of ₦100,000 each in recognition of their outstanding research contributions and commitment to educational advancement.
The NOCEN delegation also recorded several other achievements during the programme. All five lecturers were inducted as Research Fellows of the African Forum for Innovative Teachers and appointed pioneer committee members of the African Women in Research, Education and Leadership Advancement Project (AWIRELAP). They also received the National Women in Education and Research Award and were invited to participate in the AFfIT Research Mini Grant Scheme and other research and leadership development initiatives.
On their return, the Provost of Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Prof. Victor Ifeanyi Obiora Ndirika, congratulated the lecturers for bringing honour to the institution. He praised their dedication and commitment to academic excellence, noting that they represented the college with distinction at the national event.
The Provost reaffirmed the management’s commitment to supporting research, staff development, and academic excellence, expressing confidence that the lecturers would continue to enhance the institution’s reputation through impactful scholarship and professional leadership.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, the lecturers thanked the college management for nominating and supporting them to participate in the programme. They pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them by making greater contributions to research, teaching, and institutional development.
The achievements are expected to strengthen NOCEN’s profile in research, educational innovation, and leadership while advancing gender inclusion and academic excellence across Africa. The college community has since celebrated the lecturers for bringing pride and recognition to the institution.
