{"id":8929,"date":"2025-10-14T10:13:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/examkits.com\/blog\/?p=8929"},"modified":"2025-10-14T10:13:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-14T10:13:37","slug":"meet-professor-akan-bassey-williams-the-visionary-scholar-leading-ritman-university-to-new-heights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/examkits.com\/blog\/meet-professor-akan-bassey-williams-the-visionary-scholar-leading-ritman-university-to-new-heights\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Professor Akan Bassey Williams: The Visionary Scholar Leading Ritman University to New Heights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A seasoned academic, distinguished researcher, and passionate mentor, Professor Akan Bassey Williams<\/strong> stands as one of Nigeria\u2019s most respected voices in Environmental Chemistry and university leadership. Now steering Ritman University toward academic excellence, his story is one of dedication, scholarship, and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early Life and Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Born on February 16, 1970<\/strong>, in Calabar, Cross River State, Professor Williams hails from Itoko, Ibesikpo<\/strong>, in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His educational journey began at Primary School, Fosbery Road, Calabar<\/strong>, before proceeding to Lutheran High School, Obot Idim, Ibesikpo<\/strong>, in 1981. He completed his secondary education in 1986, serving as the Senior Prefect<\/strong>, a role that foreshadowed his lifelong leadership path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driven by a deep love for science, he earned his B.Sc. in Chemistry<\/strong> from the University of Calabar<\/strong> in 1991, an M.Sc. in Petroleum Chemistry<\/strong> from the University of Port Harcourt<\/strong> in 2001, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry<\/strong> from Covenant University<\/strong> in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his pursuit of continuous learning, Professor Williams completed 21 Coursera certifications<\/strong>, as well as several others from global institutions such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy<\/strong>, the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE)<\/strong>, and the HAQAA2 MOOC Series<\/strong> on quality assurance in African higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Academic Career and Leadership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Professor Williams began his teaching career at the University of Uyo<\/strong> before joining Covenant University<\/strong> in 2004 as an Assistant Lecturer. His remarkable rise through academia culminated in his appointment as Professor of Chemistry in December 2017<\/strong>, effective January 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over 23 years in the Nigerian university system<\/strong>, he has distinguished himself as an expert in Analytical and Environmental Chemistry<\/strong>. At Covenant University, he held numerous leadership roles, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n