Short
Biodata Staff
profile

Name:

Francis Eegbara Nwilene

Nationality:

Nigerian

Position held:

WARDA Liaison Scientist / Entomologist

Year of Employment:

September 1999

Qualifications:

Ph.D. (Applied Entomology), April 1993, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Experience:

Thirteen years post-doctoral experience in agricultural research in sub-Saharan Africa (Anglophone and Francophone) and Asia with national agricultural research systems, advanced research institution and international agricultural research centres (ICIPE, ICRISAT, WARDA)

Major Achievements:

Extensive leadership in crop protection research in rice. First discovered a new gall midge species (Orseolia nwanzei sp. n) on wiry lovegrass, Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) at Ikwo, southeast Nigeria and the first to carry out DNA fingerprinting of the new gall midge species and the two known ones (Orseolia oryzivora and Orseolia bonzii). Developed a new methodology for screening rice varieties resistant/tolerant to rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) using insect vectors. Developed a simple trapping net cage technique for monitoring RYMV vectors.

Current leader of WARDA’s flagship research project (Enhancing productivity and stability of upland rice-based systems) which is multidisciplary and multilocational in nature with first-line management responsibility for over 10 international scientists in Africa.

Member of many scientific societies and Ex-Secretary and Vice President of the African Association of Insect Scientists. Actively involved in capacity building of students.

Well established scientific publication record (90 scientific journals, conference papers, books and book chapters, posters, flyers, bulletins, newspaper articles). Received 2005 WARDA Director General’s Citation Award for impressive record of scientific publications.

Reviewed articles for the International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, Agronomie Africaine, Field Crops Research, IITA & WARDA manuscripts.