This memorial website is created in the memory of my beloved brother, Prof. Ekpo Ossom, until recently, Professor of Agronomy at the University of South Pacific, Samoa Island. Prof. Ossom, 64 years old, was born on April 8, 1949 and passed on to eternal glory on September 29th, 2013.

He left to his credit a total of 105 journal articles outside Proceedings and Conference papers and not less than 16 published professional textbooks. His autobiography My Father’s Son is a classic. He was in his lifetime ‘decorated with three university degrees, and several international professional awards.

Profile of Prof. Ekpo Mmah Ossom, CPAg

1.                 Date of Birth:                                 8 April 1949

 2.                 Education

                                 i.            Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg) – 1997; Certifying Board of the American Society of Agronomy

                              ii.            Ph.D. (Agronomy) – Purdue University, 1981; specializing in Crop Physiology and Crop Ecology;

                              iii.            Phil. (Plant Science) – University of Ife, Ile-Ife,   Nigeria, 1976;

                             iv.            B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture – University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 1973.

                               v.            Ph.D. Thesis Title:  Effects of management on the yield, composition and persistence of Medicago sativa L.; Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S.A., 1981.

                             vi.            M.Phil Thesis title:  Evaluation of yield and general performance of maize, melon, and cassava in mixed cropping; University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria (1976).

                           vii.            B.Sc Thesis title: Yield potential through double cropping of short-season rice varieties in Ile-Ife; University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria (1973).

  3.                 Responsibilities Held

                                 i.            Academic leadership of the SAFT and Campus Director;

                               ii.            Administrative leadership of the SAFT as Professor of Agriculture;

                             iii.            Membership of more than 10 University committees;

                            iv.            Chairperson of Postgraduate and Research Committee, SAFT;

                              v.            Chairperson of Board of Studies, SAFT; and

                            vi.            Providing cropping systems advice to local farmers.

 4.                 Responsibilities Held and Achievements

                                 i.            Dean of Science, coordinating the administration of the five departments in the Faculty of Science

                               ii.            Chairman, Goroka Campus Higher Degrees Committee (Senate Committee)

                              iii.            Representative of Goroka Campus on the University Higher Degrees Committee (Senate Committee)

                             iv.            Chairman, Faculty of Science Planning Committee (Senate Committee)

                               v.            Member, Faculty of Science Research and Publications Committee (Senate Committee)

                             vi.            Co-ordinator and Course writer for Agriculture in the Department of Science, Agriculture, and Health at The University of Goroka, Papua New Guinea.

                          vii.            Research and teaching of undergraduate courses in the areas of Crop Physiology, Weed Science, Crop Protection and Animal Science.

  5.                  His published textbooks include among others

                                             i.            Crop Science Handbook published in 2009

                                           ii.            Agriculture in Melanesia: Grade 10 Student’s book published in 2009

                                         iii.            Agriculture in Melanesia: Grade 10 Teacher’s Resource published in 2009

                                         iv.            Agriculture in Melanesia: Grade 9 Student’s book published in 2009

                                           v.            Agriculture in Melanesia: Grade 9 Teacher’s Resource published in 2009

                                         vi.            Technology for Melanesia, Book 1 published in 1998

                                       vii.            Agriculture for the Pacific: A-Z of essential terms published in 1997

                                     viii.            Agriculture of Melanesia, Book 2 published in 1996

                                          ix.            Agriculture for Melanesia published in 1993

                                            x.            Agricultural Science for Today, Book Two published in 1991

                                          xi.            Agricultural Science for Today, Book One published in 1990

                                        xii.            Christianity in Ikot Ubo, Ubiom published in 2004

                                      xiii.            How to improve your life – a self-help book published 2001

                                      xiv.            The land of Nokondi.  Reading for Pleasure, published in 1997

                                        xv.            My Father’s son – An autobiography, published in 1994.

                                      xvi.            Agricultural Science for Senior Secondary Schools, Book One, published in 1989.

6.                 Other professional engagements

                                 i.            Editor of UNISWA Research Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology: From March 2007 till Dec. 2010

                                ii.            Appointed Member and Africa Regional Representative of the Board of the International Digital Organization for Scientific Information (IDOSI), Pakistan

                              iii.            Appointed Editor-in-Chief, American-Eurasian Journal of Agronomy

                             iv.            Appointed Review Board Member of Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America (ABJNA) in November 2009

                               v.            Appointed Associate Editor on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education in December 2009.

7.                 International Honour Awards

                                  i.            Member, Review Board of Agriculture and Biology Journal of North America (ABJNA) Awarded by Journal of North America (ABJNA) in 2009.

                                ii.            Fellow, Indiana Academy of Science (IAS) awarded by Indiana Academy of Science, U.S.A, 2006

                             iii.            Cited as the Person of the Year 2004 by the American Biographical Institute, Inc Biographical Institute Inc,  2004

                              iv.            Granted the 21st Century Award for Achievement in recognition of my “outstanding contribution”International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England, 2004.

                                v.            Honoured to receive the World Medal of Honour The American Biographical Institute Inc, 2004.

                             vi.            Invited membership of the distinguished Research Board of Advisors Biographical Institute Inc, 2003.

                            vii.            Cited in the 2003 Edition of the Contemporary Who’s Who      The American Biographical Institute, 2003

                          viii.            Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg)            American Society of Agronomy 200 Life member, Indiana Academy of Science, Indiana Academy of Science, U.S.A.,    1995.

                              ix.            Ph.D. (Agronomy) Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, U.S.A., 1981

                                x.            M.Phil (Plant Science) University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 1976

                              xi.            B.Sc. (Hons.) Agric.   University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, 1973

The remains of late Prof. Ekpo Ossom were interred in the precinct of his family house at Ikot Nkebek -Ikot Ubo, Akwa Ibom State -Nigeria, after a funeral service conducted by the Qua Iboe Church on Friday, November 29, 2013. The funeral rites were preceded by a Service of Songs/Night of Readings in his honour at the Qua Iboe Church Ewet Offot, Uyo Akwa Ibom State -Nigeria, on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. 

Fondly remembered by:

Wife: -Mrs. Mfon Ekpo Mmah Ossom

Children/inlaws: -Idorenyin, Mfoniso, Gugu, Eka and Wills.

Siblings:-                    

-Nnamdie U. Uboh

-Iquo & Charlie Ukpong

-Ikopoetang & Enefiok Ndem

-Enoidem & Burma Usoro

-Mfon & Emmanuel A. Ossom

-Ossom & Grace Ossom

-Ebukmfon & Eshiet Eshiet

-Ndueso & Catherine Ossom

-Uduak & Udeme Afia

-Nsikak-Abasi & Itoro Ossom

-Asangausung & Udo Mma Akpan

-Owoedimo & Christiana Ossom

-Emimikpong & Tonia Ossom

And a host of relatives, friends, colleagues and well-wishers.

I and the entire Etim Akpan Enang (a.k.a. Mmah Ossom Udoekaita Ossom) family hold fond memories of his unique and amiable personality and will remember him always.

Appreciation

A note of gratitude to family members, colleagues, friends, churches, organizations and well-wishers who contributed in one way or the other to the success of the events that culminated in the final interment of late Prof. Ekpo M. Ossom, CPAg.

Your tributes, prayers and support eased our pain and provided the much needed comfort in our time of grief. For these we are profoundly grateful.

We pray that the good Lord will bless you richly and reward you with His limitless favours.

May the soul of the very distinguished Prof. Ossom rest in peace.