Prof Gladys Ifesinachi Ahaneku, mni (Nee Onyia) was born into the family of late Chief Onyia-Ozougwu (Agada) and Mrs Nwazuluoke Onyia (nee Ugwu- Onuigbo) both of Nsude in Udi L.G.A. of Enugu State. She obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) from Agu-Owa (now Trans-Ekulu River) Primary School, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, obtaining in 1982. She proceeded to the prestigious Queen of the Rosary Secondary School (QRSS), Nsukka where she served as the senior prefect and the leader of the school’s science club and graduated as the best student of the 1988 set. Admitted the same year to study Microbiology at Anambra State University of Science and Technology (now Nnamdi Azikiwe University) her outstanding performance gained her transfer into Medicine, hence, her MBBS degree in November 1996. She latter embarked on post graduate medical specialist (Residency) training and obtained the Fellowship of both the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) and the Medical College of Physicians (FMCP) in October 1996 and May 1997 respectively, with a subspecialty bias in Cardiology. Employed in 2007 as Lecturer 1 and Consultant Physician/ Cardiologist by Nnamdi Azikiwe University and its Teaching Hospital, she rose through the ranks to become a Chief Consultant Physician/ Cardiologist in 2013 and Professor in 2016. Currently, she is the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine; hence the first Alumnus of the University Medical school to become Professor and Dean. Prof Gladys has published forty journal articles, authored four book chapters and delivered over 20 guest lectures. A supervisor of Postgraduate Fellowship dissertations/ Masters and PhD Theses, she serves as examiner at the West African College of Physicians (WACP) Membership and Fellowship Examinations and has served as external examiner for 5th MBBS examination and several NUC organized MBBS accreditation and resource verification exercises across Nigerian Universities. She, a Fellow of the Nigerian Cardiac society and a member of the Nigerian Hypertension society other professional, social and religious organisations, has held many administrative positions both in her workplace and in the Associations she belongs to. Prof. Gladys Ahaneku is a member of the National Institute, mni, a national honour she earned through her sponsorship to the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, as a member of the Executive Course 42, 2020 by the National Universities Commission and Federal Republic of Nigeria. A lover of entrepreneurship, as Board chairman of the Multipurpose Cooperative Society of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Women Association (NAUWA) which formation she pioneered, she established NAUWA Bakery that produces delicious and hygienically prepared high quality UNIZIK Special Bread within the University. She enjoys interacting with people as well as singing and listening to especially liturgical music. Prof Gladys is happily married to her heartthrob, Prof Joseph. E. Ahaneku, FAS; a researcher, Professor and Consultant Chemical Pathologist, a fellow of the Academy of Science (FAS) and former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She is a mother of four handsome boys and a dazzling daughter, Dr. Chinazaekpere.

Internal Medicine (Cardiology)