Southeast

Dr. Rachel Nkeonyere Nwakwasi

The NIFAAS Southeast Coordinator is Dr. Rachel Nkeonyere Nwakwasi, an Associate Professor of Rural Sociology and Development at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Nigeria, where she also lectures at the Centre for Sustainable Procurement, Environmental, and Social Standards (CE-sPESS). Her academic background includes a B.Agric.Tech. (Agricultural Economics and Extension, 1997), an MSc (Agricultural Extension, 2006), and a PhD (Rural Sociology and Development, 2014). She further enhanced her qualifications with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (2018) and a course in Gender and Development from the University of East Anglia, UK.

With over 15 years of experience in teaching, research, and community engagement, Dr. Nwakwasi’s work focuses on rural households, gender dynamics, extension communication, and sustainable rural development. Her research has been published in reputable journals, addressing topics such as rural household health, gender and agriculture, digital extension delivery, and indigenous knowledge in livestock health. She has presented research papers as a lead speaker at both local and international conferences.
Biography
Dr. Nwakwasi has held several notable positions, including Ag. Managing Director of FUTO Farms Ltd for over three years, Vice President of the Agriculture-Nutrition Community of Practice (Nigeria Chapter), and member of AESON, ISPA, and INSEE Societies. She is a recipient of multiple research grants and awards and continues to advocate for gender equity, youth empowerment, and innovative agricultural practices in Nigeria. She is a fellow of the Agriculture Development Network. She is currently the South-East Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (NIFAAS)