Prof. Viola Adaku Onwuliri is an educationist, author, woman leader, and professor of Biochemistry. Born in Umuokisi, Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of Imo State.

Education:
She was educated at Owerri Girls’ Secondary School, Imo State, 1970-1974; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1975-1979; University of Jos, 1981-1991; Howard University, Washington DC, USA, 1990; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA. She obtained a Ph.D in Biochemistry from the University of Jos.

Career:
She was graduate assistant, 1981-1984; assistant lecturer, 1984-1987; lecturer 11, 1987-1990; lecturer 1, 1990-1993; senior lecturer, 1993-2001, reader, 2001-2004; professor, 2004. She is a member, executive committee, International AIDS Society, Geneva; Nigerian Society of Biotechnology; Nigerian Society of Experimental Biology; African Society for the Biochemistry of Lipids; founder, Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Women Association; member, Auxiliary Knights of St John International, KSJI. She was deputy governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2011 elections in Imo State. She has 57 publications to her credit.

Adaku Onwuliri, educationist, author, woman leader, professor of Biochemistry, was running mate to former governor Ikedi Ohakim of Imo State. Born in Umuokisi, Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise local government area of Imo State, the current Minister of State, Foreign Affairs attended University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1975-1979; University of Jos, 1981-1991; Howard University, Washington DC, USA, 1990; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USA. She was graduate assistant, 1981-1984; assistant lecturer, 1984-1987; lecturer 11, 1987-1990; lecturer 1, 1990-1993; senior lecturer, 1993-2001, reader, 2001-2004; professor, 2004. She is a member, executive committee, International AIDS Society, Geneva; Nigerian Society of Biotechnology; Nigerian Society of Experimental Biology; African Society for the Biochemistry to Lipids; founder, Federal University of Technology, FUTO, Women Association; Member, Auxiliary Knights of St John International, KSJI. She has 57 publication to her credit.

She is propagating the nation’s transformation agenda to the international community. After her appointment as minister of state together with the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb, Olugbenga Ashiru and the second minister of state for foreign affairs, much success have bben achieved in the foreign affairs Ministry. Strong commitment to the promotion of democracy and democratic values in foreign policy exertions in Africa, as evident in Nigeria position and efforts in Mali, Guinea Conakry, Libya, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea etc.

Nigeria was honoured in New York in September 2011 with invitation to become a member of the Governing Council of the Community of Democracies, an inter-govenmental organisation with headquaters in Polan. Election of Nigeria into International Organisations, includes: Nigeria’s election to the Executive Board of UNESCO in Paris in November 2011, for a term of 4 years; to the Governing Board of UNEP in November 2011, to the ECOSOC on 24 October 2011, Honourable Minister of Justice to international Law Commission in November 2011; Dr. Chile Osuji to international Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2011 etc.

Under the BNC with the US, America investors are to invest massively in Nigeria’s energy sector; United State is training ex-Niger Delta militants in skills acquisition and vocational trade; and also assisting with environmental rehabilitation in the Delta. She is popular for her insistence that Foreign Embassies in Nigeria treat our citizens with respect.

Current roles and interests:
Professor Viola Onwuliri is the Foreign Affairs Minister of State 1 in Nigeria. She is the elected Representative for Africa on the Governing Council of the International Aids Society (IAS) for the control and elimination of HIV/AIDS, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The first Nigerian and the first African female to be elected into this position.

Previous roles/appointments:
Professor Viola Onwuliri was previously a professor of biochemistry at Federal University of Technology Owerri, (FUTO) Nigeria and the President of the FUTO Women Association. She served as deputy Dean for the faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria for seven years. She has acted as Dean of the college of Medicine and Head of the department of biochemistry at the University of Jos. She was selected as Deputy Governor nominee for Imo State, Nigeria during the 2011 elections.

Key Accomplishments
Professor Viola Onwuliri is a global frontliner in the fight against HIV/AIDS and has vigorously pursued the campaign against the scourge of HIV/AIDS especially amongst youths and women. Through her efforts, the Federal University of Technology Owerri has become recognized as a leading institution for Advocacy against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA) has approved the establishment of a HIV/AIDS Youth Friendly Center in FUTO. She is a pioneer member of the National Women Coalition on AIDS (NAWOCA) and was the only member from the south east appointed in the National Technical Working Committee by the First Lady of Nigeria. As an academic, she has supervised numerous student research projects and has published numerous articles in scientific journals.

Following the resignation of the Minister of State, Education, Nyesom Wike. President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed Prof. Viola Onwuliri as the new Minister of State, Education. Her appointment is in substantive capacity.