Walter Okwundu Enwezor (born 3 July 1936) is a Nigerian professor of soil science, agriculturist, and former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is notable for initiating the “farm year” concept—one year of practical farm work for undergraduates—which was later adopted by other Nigerian universities. Enwezor also served as President of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria from 1984 to 1988.
Early Life and Education
Walter Enwezor was born in Awkuzu, Anambra State, Nigeria. He attended:
- Church Missionary Society Central School, Awkuzu (1943–1949)
- Government College, Umuahia (1949–1955), where he obtained the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (Division One)
He studied agriculture at the University College, Ibadan (1955–1962), on a State Scholarship, earning:
- B.Sc. in Agriculture (Second Class Upper, University of London)
- M.Sc. in Soil Science (University of London)
In 1962, he was awarded a State Scholarship to attend Imperial College London, where he obtained:
- Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry (1964)
- Diploma of Imperial College (DIC)
Career
- 1964–1966: Lecturer, Soil Science, University of Ibadan
- 1966: Lecturer, Soil Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- 1970: Promoted to Senior Lecturer
- 1976: Promoted to Reader
- 1978: Appointed Professor of Soil Science (Soil Fertility)
Administrative Roles
- Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka:
- First tenure: 1985–1986
- Second tenure: 1997
Fellowships and Memberships
- Commonwealth Academic Fellowship, University of Aberdeen (1975–1976)
- International Society of Soil Science – Member
- British Society of Soil Science – Member
- Soil Science Society of Nigeria – Secretary (1971–1984), President (1984–1988)
- Agricultural Society of Nigeria – Member
- Science Association of Nigeria – Member
- Association for Advancement of Agricultural Science in Africa – Member
Recognitions and Awards
- Departmental Prize Award in B.Sc. degree examination (1960)
- Listed in University of Nigeria Book of Fame (Volume One)
Personal Life
Walter Enwezor married Mabel Ifeyinwa Eloji in 1979. They had two sons and four daughters.
He was the uncle of the late renowned curator and art critic Okwui Enwezor.
Selected Publications
"The Biological Transformation of Phosphorus during the Incubation of a Soil Treated with Soluble Inorganic Phosphorus and with Rotted Organic Materials"
Plant and Soil, Vol. 25, 1966, pp. 463–465"Significance of the C: Organic P Ratio in the Mineralization of Soil Organic Phosphorus"
Soil Science Journal, Vol. 103, 1967, pp. 62–66Cooperative Study on Soil Testing Methods in Humid Tropics
(In collaboration with the Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam) – Standardization and improvement of soil testing methods with emphasis on phosphate analysis.
Legacy
Walter O. Enwezor's influence continues through his contributions to agricultural education, particularly in curriculum innovation and capacity development in soil fertility and sustainable land use.