In the modern world, where science must solve real problems while advancing knowledge, Professor Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji stands out as a scholar of rare depth, reach, and relevance. Recently ranked Number One among the Top 500 Prolific Authors in Nigeria by Scopus/Elsevier/SCiVal, and listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University and Elsevier, he represents a powerful blend of national distinction and global scientific influence. A Professor of Microbiology and Dean of the Faculty of Science at Edo State University Uzairue (EDSU), his work reflects both academic excellence and purposeful leadership.
At the heart of Professor Adetunji’s career is a clear mission: to apply biological techniques and microbial bioprocesses to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, strengthen food security, protect the environment, and drive agrarian transformation. Through teaching, research, and community engagement, he demonstrates that science can be both globally competitive and socially transformative.
His journey into applied science began at the Nigerian Stored Product Research Institute (NSPRI), Ilorin, where he rose to the rank of Principal Scientist. There, he worked on functional foods, food safety, shelf-life extension, and the control of foodborne pathogens, building a strong foundation in research designed to solve everyday problems. He later joined Landmark University, Omu-Aran, before moving to Edo State University Uzairue, where his influence has helped shape research culture and academic standards.
At EDSU, Professor Adetunji has served in several key leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Microbiology, Sub-Dean, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Acting Director of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, Director of Research and Innovation, and currently as Chairman of the University Grant Committee. A defining academic milestone came when he delivered the 11th Inaugural Lecture of the University, becoming the first Microbiology academic at EDSU to do so, with a lecture titled “Microbial Biosphere: The Global Impact and Underexplored Currency.”
His scholarship has been strengthened by international exposure. Professor Adetunji has served as a Visiting Fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, undertaken research engagements at the Wageningen Centre for Development and Innovation in the Netherlands, and holds visiting and distinguished professorships at several institutions, including the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
The scale of his academic impact is exceptional. Professor Adetunji has authored over 900 scholarly works, including more than 60 books and over 600 book chapters, alongside high-impact journal articles, conference papers, and scientific patents, with publications appearing in leading journals such as Nature Medicine and The Lancet. His work is widely cited, reflected in a Google Scholar i10-index of 287.
It is this sustained output and influence that underpin his recent rankings. Beyond being Nigeria’s No. 1 ranked author, he has emerged as Number One in Agricultural and Biological Sciences across Africa, among 500 prolific authors from 58 countries, in 2024 and 2025. He has also been named a Highly Ranked Scholar™ by ScholarGPS (USA), placing him among the top 0.05–0.5% of scholars worldwide across life sciences and microbiology.
Beyond publishing, Professor Adetunji plays a key role in shaping global scientific discourse. He is Series Editor of The Microbiome in Health and Diseases (Elsevier), a Book Series Editor with CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, Wiley, Springer, and Elsevier, and serves on the editorial boards of Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, and Frontiers in Environmental Science. He also reviews for over 100 international journals, including Nature, and several of his studies have been recognized for their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
A committed scientific leader, he serves as the Immediate Past President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Bioinformatics and Genomics Network Society, President of the Mycotoxicology Society of Nigeria, Vice President and Nigerian Country Director of the Genetics Society of West Africa, and Vice President of the Biotechnology Society of Nigeria. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (UK) and several leading Nigerian scientific bodies, and an Affiliate Member of the African Academy of Sciences.
Rooted in Nigeria yet globally respected, Professor Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji exemplifies a new generation of African scientists, those whose work commands global attention while remaining deeply connected to local needs. His story is a reminder that when science is guided by purpose, excellence naturally follows.
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