A Fellow and a Past National President of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (FNIFST); he holds a B.Sc. Hons. (Ibadan), M.Sc. and PhD (Michigan EMERITUS PROFESSOR JOHN OAMEN IGENE State) all by academic scholarships and has been a full Professor of Food Science and Technology since He has had working experience at the Universities of Maiduguri (1979-1993) and Benin (1993 – date) all in Nigeria. He was the 1st Distinguished Professor of Research and Innovation of the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria (since 2016).
As a creative individual, he developed the first undergraduate and degree programme in Food Science and Technology in Northern Nigeria in 1981. He has held various positions in Unimaid and Uniben, such as Head of Department, Dean, Director etc He pioneered the Uniben Enterprises and was its Chairman/CEO (1998-2005) and in the process created the Uniben Table Water, as well as the Kilishi Mindex Publishing Editorial Board 3 Chairman Project and was the Visionary Pioneer of the Faculty of Agriculture Multipurpose Co-operative Society, as well as managing the University Guest House and the Printing Press.
Professor Igene is a multiple prize winner and was a Pfizer Travel Fellow (1981), Senior Fulbright Scholar (1983); Association of Commonwealth Universities Fellow to the University of Agriculture, Malaysia (1989); National Facilitator/Consultant to the FGN/FAO National Programme on Food Security (NPFS) 2008-2010 and Visiting Professor/ Consultant to the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) (2015-2017). He has Consulted extensively for National and International Organizations (UNICEF, FAO, FMI, NILS, RMRDC, UNDP) on Food Science and Technology and Agricultural related matters.
He is happily married with children and grand children and is a Past President of the Ugbowo Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men Fellowship International ( FGBMFI) ( 2011-2015).
