In Memoriam: Chikodi Nnanyelu Ezegwui Anigbogu (1953-2024)

Professor Chikodi Nnanyelu Ezegwui Anigbogu, who was popularly called “Gbogus” by his peers and teachers, was born in Enugu (Nigeria) on 23 December 1953. For his primary education, he attended Central School Lohum (Uzuakoli), Holy Trinity Primary School (Choba Port Harcourt) and Christ Church Primary School Uwani (Enugu) between 1959 and 1965. He then gained admission to the prestigious Government Secondary School Owerri (Imo State) in 1966 and obtained the West African School Certificate (Grade One) in 1972. He attended CIC Enugu (1973-1975) for A-levels and went on to study at University of Ibadan (Nigeria), where he graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Physiology in 1979.

After National Youth Service in School of Nursing (Akure, Nigeria) in 1980, Chikodi was employed as a teacher at CMS Grammar School Bariga (Lagos) but shortly gained admission to the Postgraduate Programme in Physiology in the University of Lagos in October 1980. He gained an MSc in 1983 and graduated with a PhD in Physiology in 1993.

History of physiology was a field of special interest for Chikodi, and dedicated his time on the history of the Department of Physiology at the University of Lagos, and in other Nigerian Universities. He was fond of teaching the history of physiology, nationally and internationally. He combined his love of history with electrophysiology, applying old techniques to repair and create new machines.  

His skills and versatility helped him master electronics, mechanics, architecture, and construction. Additionally, he enjoyed music and was a great chorister, singing at the Chapel of Healing Cross, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) and his home town church in Nibo (Nigeria).

He was a peace maker, who would persistently and peacefully make his point without verbal altercation. He was a loving personality and very generous. He was a good mentor, who was dedicated to working with academics who celebrated the good work of others.

Professor Anigbogu began his career as a Graduate Assistant in Physiology at CMUL in 1980. He rose through the ranks to the post of Senior Lecturer in 1996, Associate Professor in 2003, and Professor of Physiology in October 2012. He was Visiting Instructor (1992-93) in Physiology and Biophysics, and Visiting Scientist (2003-2004) at University of Kentucky Lexington, USA, and Guest Asstistant Professor at Asbury University Wilmore Kentucky, US. He was also a Visiting Fellow at University of Auckland, New Zealand in 2001.

Chikodi was the recipient of many awards and fellowships. Among his most prized accolades are: John F. Kennedy Memorial Essay Competition, Zonal Winner (1975), Welcome Nigeria Fund-Research Award (1988), International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) Fellowship for Promotion of Teaching Physiology in the Developing World (1992), IUPS/New Zealand Young Investigators Award (2001), American Physiological Society John F. Perkins Memorial Fellowship (2003).

Chikodi’s vast research interests encompassed cardiovascular physiology with a leaning towards autonomic control. At the 2012 University of Lagos (UNILAG) Golden Research Conference and Fair, he was co-winner of Best Researcher in Clinical Sciences, and awarded Best Researcher at the 9^th edition of the conference in 2014. Shortly before his demise, he won a TETFund grant of about 15 million naira (GBP 8,000) for his study on ‘Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Metabolic Functions and Stress in Subjects Using Various Face Masks in Corona Virus and COVID-19 Prevention’.

Professor Anigbogu supervised 12 PhDs, over 55 MSc Dissertations and many BSc Projects. He inspired the best in his students, among them were several top PhD graduates and many first class students in medicine, basic medical sciences and pharmacy. He was External Examiner to many Nigerian Universities and Resource Person for the National Postgraduate Medical College.

He died on Tuesday 2 January 2024. He is survived by his wife, Stella Anigbogu, and their two children Weluchi and Kodichi.

He will be missed. 

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Victor Owoyele (Fellow of The Physiological Society) for the opportunity to honour our mentor, Professor Chikodi Nnanyelu Ezegwui Anigbogu. 

References

Ajiboye OA et al. (2014). Prediction equations for 6-minute walk distance in apparently healthy Nigerians. Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal, 32(2), pp.65-72.

Randall DC et al. (2011). Longitudinal analysis of arterial blood pressure and heart rate response to acute behavioral stress in rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus and in age-matched controls. Frontiers in Physiology, 2, p.53.