Dr. Chioma Blaise Chikere

Professor Chioma Blaise Chikere is a full Professor in the Department of Microbiology, and Director, Entrepreneurial Centre, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

She was employed in 2005 as an Assistant Lecturer and has successfully grown through the ranks of academia. Her area of specialization is Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology with focus on bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted ecosystems and biomining for hydrocarbon degradative genes in hydrocarbon degrading microbiomes using high-end sequencing techniques. She strives for the full implementation of UN SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 12, 13 15, 17 and African Union Agenda 2063 in all her researches, which are sustainable actions to erase poverty, ensure, food security for the indigenous people, actualization of the Africa we want, deserve and desire; access to state-of-the-art learning environment through research and innovation for her supervisees; diversity, equity, equality, inclusivity and belonging in STEMM; integrated waste management and circular economy; mitigation of the impacts of climate crisis; protection of life on land and robust collaboration/partnership with notable global scientists in research and development, in order to halt, reverse and prevent negative impacts of anthropogenic activities on the planet.

Get in touch

Current positions held till Date

  1. Director, Entrepreneurial Centre, University of Port Harcourt (UPEC), Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
  2. Professor of Environmental Microbiology & Biotechnology, Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  3. Academic Associate, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa (Unisa), Florida Science Campus, South Africa
  4. Member, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Africa Council
  5. Senior Country Ambassador, International Society of Microbial Ecology (ISME), Wageningen, the Netherlands
  6. Visiting Professor, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence in Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR), University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
  7. Member, Times Higher Education (THE) Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings Advisory Board.

 

E-mail: [email protected]; Linkedin: Chioma Blaise Chikere; X (Twitter) @ChikereDr; ORCID: https://Orcid.Org/0000-0003-3004-9780;  Researchgate: Https://Www.Researchgate.Net/Profile/Chioma_Chikere; Loop Profile: 132597; Scopus Author Id: 25824715700; Web of Science Researcher Id: Aba-5694-2020. 

 

  1. –    How long have you been working in the field? We want everyone to know about your work and find out what you are doing.

 

Chikere has been a lecturer for 18 years now at the Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and her research area has consistently been Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. She received Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) PhD fellowship in 2005 for split-site Ph. D. programme at Universities of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Pretoria, South Africa respectively. She was awarded International Foundation of Science (IFS), Sweden research grants in 2007 and 2012 respectively and has also undergone training to improve on her competence and skills in molecular microbiology in USA, South Africa, Kenya, Canada and Mali. Her Ph.D. Thesis titled ‘Bacterial Diversity and Community Dynamics during the Bioremediation of Crude Oil- Polluted soil’ was selected by National Universities Commission (NUC) Nigeria and won the BEST DOCTORAL THESIS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES for 2010. She was also honoured with the University of Port Harcourt 2015 distinguished merit awards for diligent and meritorious service to the University during University of Port Harcourt’s 40th anniversary and January 2023 respectively. She has supervised and mentored a good number of undergraduate and post graduate researches which have contributed immensely to the body of knowledge in terms of good scholarly publications (more than 60 articles) in peer-reviewed International and local journals/edited books and 9 conference papers in conference proceedings. Her research outputs numbering over 70 oral papers/posters have been presented at notable national and global conferences. She won Applied Microbiology International (AMI formerly Society for Applied Microbiology-SFAM) President’s fund travel grants in 2016, 2019 and 2022 to present 4 posters at SFAM 2016 summer conference at Edinburgh, Scotland and other global conferences. Prof. Chikere was also awarded a 3-year TWAS-UNESCO Associateship in 2016 which she undertook the first visit at the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa (February 1 to March 31, 2017) under Professor Memory Tekere as her host. She is the principal investigator in her research group PETBIOMINING RESEARCH TEAM (On-going researches focus on: the use of high-end sequencing and chromatographic techniques as effective compliance monitoring strategies to evaluate microbial population and functional dynamics during bioremediation of oil-polluted environments; exploring the tripartite benefits in integrated waste management, circularity and ecosystem restoration during bioremediation of oil-polluted soil). She won the Elsevier Foundation 2017 Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge 2nd prize held in Berlin, Germany. This project successfully restored a heavily crude oil-impacted site in Ngia Ama, Tombia Kingdom, Degema Local Government Area, Rivers State, Niger Delta, Nigeria to a vegetation-rich soil with robust biodiversity and ecosystem services (2017-2019).

 

  1. –    How innovative is the work and how does it benefit Africa or people of African origin around the world? 

 

INNOVATIVE OUTPUTS FROM “CHIKERE’S LABORATORY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GENOMICS AND OIL SPILL BIOREMEDIATION”

Most studies on biodegradation of petroleum pollutants that are reported in the literature in Nigeria are lab-based, conducted under controlled experimental environment and lack convincing evidence-based datasets that could help in developing sustainable field treatment methods that take into consideration the interplay of both biotic and abiotic factors in the natural ecosystems. In my project, series of preliminary lab and pilot studies were used to establish that most oil-polluted sites in the Niger Delta region, specifically Rivers and Bayelsa States contain metabolically active microbiomes that are suited for degradation of these pollutants. Moreso, the traditional microbiological methods reported by others only rely on the ability of the degrading microbes to be grown in vitro thereby limiting the detection of unculturable ones that constitute more than 90% of microbes in nature. My study uses molecular biology, high-throughput sequencing techniques and robust bioinformatics to reliably extract total community DNA from the soil microbiome and sequence large volumes of DNA samples thereby generating big datasets that could be further analyzed using very sensitive and reliable bioinformatics pipelines (software) which produce deeper insights into the functionalities of both the culturable and unculturable microbes in the soil during site remediation.

My research focuses on bioremediation of crude oil-polluted environment using eco-friendly and nature-based strategies (Chikere et al., 2012a,b). I employ molecular biology and high-throughput techniques such as next generation sequencing, bioinformatics and chromatographic procedures to evaluate the effect of long-term exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons on soil microbes/microbiomes and establish eco-restoration of biodiversity after nutrient amendments within regulatory compliance limits post-bioremediation as enshrined in the standards of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) (Chikere et al., 2011). In this vein, the research reported by Ehis-Eriakha et al. (2020) a former PhD student I supervised at World Bank Centre for Excellence in Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR) University of Port Harcourt demonstrated the abundance of functional genes for hydrocarbon degradation in soil microbiome exposed to aged crude oil. Prior to a field-scale land treatment, a preliminary study on the impact of crude oil on soil microbial community (Chikere and Fenibo, 2018) established the investigated site’s amenability to bioremediation. My publication on Ogoniland oil pollution (Chikere et al., 2019a) highlighted the critical roles of uncultivable microbes in the bioattenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons in oil-impacted sites in Ogoniland. These two publications produced reliable baseline datasets establishing that the Niger Delta soil ecosystem contains metabolically active, extant indigenous microbes with requisite catabolic capabilities to degrade both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in polluted soils. Furthermore, my research team monitored field-scale bioremediation in 2 Niger Delta Communities (Ibaa, Rivers and Ikarama, Bayelsa States) where crude oil spill occurred. The findings successfully established ecosystem recovery using microbial signatures underpinning restoration of biodiversity (Chikere et al., 2017; 2019a,b; 2021). In the course of the site remediation projects, I and my team have been formulating different types of nature-based, green organic and inorganic slow-release fertilizers from agricultural and industrial waste materials that contain nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) in stoichiometric ratios (Chikere et al., 2020) adequate for the supply of essential nutrients to enhance microbial activities needed for biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Another study by Obieze et al. (2020) revealed that field-scale deployment of nature-based formulated fertilizers from organic and inorganic waste materials resulted in increased hydrocarbon degradation, microbial functional activities were also more intensified in the nature-based treatment than in chemical fertilizer treatment and control. This project was funded by The Elsevier Foundation (EF) Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge 2nd prize given to Chikere in 2017 following the selection of her proposal from nearly 700 applications for this global competition. Bioremediation successfully achieved biodiversity recovery and restoration of ecosystem services in the treated soil. Full stories by the Elsevier Foundation are in the links here (https://elsevierfoundation.org/gscc-5th-anniversary-interviews-with-past-winners-series-1-dr-chioma-blaise-chikere/ https://www.elsevier.com/about/press-releases/archive/corporate-social-responsibility/winners-announced-for-the-2017-elsevier-foundation-green-and-sustainable-chemistry-challenge/). 

I contributed immensely to cardinal UN SDGs like goals 1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 15 and 17 by ensuring poverty was reduced in the locality where the field-scale bioremediation project took place as community youths were employed to work in my team through citizen science; hunger was erased by restoration of the farmland to its original state for profitable use by the indigenous people, female/male graduate students were empowered with PhD degrees through my supervision while working on my project thereby promoting quality equitable education for all, circular economy was encouraged by using animal litter as nutrients to stimulate indigenous hydrocarbon degrading soil microbes, protection of life on land was advanced and purposeful partnership and collaboration with the EF, colleagues from 4 foreign universities (University of South Africa; North West University, both in South Africa; Chinese Academy of Sciences and an Indian Institution) and World Bank (ACE-CEFOR) University of Port Harcourt were actualized. Credible publications in Scopus-indexed journals were produced from the EF-funded project as shown below:

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Obieze, C. C. and Chikere, B. O. (2020). Biodegradation of artisanally refined diesel and the influence of organic wastes on oil-polluted soil remediation. Scientific African. 8:e00385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00385. (from Elsevier Foundation Prize). Primitive refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta results in devastating environmental pollution. Nature-based nutrients formulated from agricultural and industrial waste materials stimulated the extant soil microbes thereby enhancing hydrocarbon removal from the impacted soil.
  2. Obieze, Chinedu C., Chikere, Chioma B., Selvarajan, R., Adeleke, R., Ntushelo, K. and Akaranta, O. (2020). Functional attributes and response of bacterial communities to nature-based fertilization during hydrocarbon remediation. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 154: 105084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2020.105084. Field-scale deployment of nature-based formulated fertilizers resulted in increased hydrocarbon degradation. Microbial functional activities were also more intensified in the nature-based treatment  than in chemical fertilizer treatment and control.
  3. Chikere, Chioma B., Tekere, Memory and Rasheed Adeleke (2021). Microbial communities in field-scale oil-polluted soil remediation using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. International Journal of Environmental Studies. 78(3): 410-426. DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2020.1817276. Highthroughput sequencing revealed that the indigenous soil microbiome in the oil-polluted soil had the capabilities to degrade the pollutants. Functional activities of the degrading microbiome demonstrated that the communities were well-suited for hydrocarbon utilization.
  4. Obieze, C. C., Chikere, Chioma B., Adeleke, R., Selvarajan, R., Ntushelo, K. and Akaranta, R. (2022) Field-scale biostimulation shifts microbial community composition and improves soil pollution recovery at an artisanal crude oil refining site. International Journal of Environmental Studies. DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2021.2017198. Nutrient amendment in oil-impacted soil enhanced biodegradation of pollutants. Also, bacterial diversity reduced during biostimulation whereas bacterial energy yield increased.

Chikere’s research achieves these cardinal continental and global mandates- AU’s Agenda 2063, UN SDGs, Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Belonging that promote higher education scientific research, ecosystem restoration, circular economy and human capacity building. Chikere is a purposeful leader, mentor and role model who encourages retention of more women in science. A recent interview (AAU Talks) of Chikere conducted by Association of African Universities (AAU) Television at AAU Headquarters in Accra Ghana on October 12, 2023 entitled “Breaking Barriers: Advancing Women’s Education & Mentorship in Science Across Africa” had Chikere sharing her career journey, challenges, perspectives and accomplishments as a woman/wife/mother of 4 amazing children in STEMM education and she equally proffered mentorship guide for the motivation of more girls and women to take careers in STEMM. YouTube link for the interview is here https://youtu.be/2sbhNKxs7vc?si=tLwCbaZr5lxsknYJ

FULL CITATIONS OF THE 16 PUBLICATIONS REFERENCED WITHIN THE PRIOR NARRATIVE AND THEIR INNOVATIVE FINDINGS IN YELLOW

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Okpokwasili, Gideon C. and Chikere, Blaise O. (2011). Monitoring of microbial hydrocarbon remediation in the soil. 3Biotech. 1 (3): 117-138. DOI 10.1007/s13205-011-0014-8. (Publication from TWOWS now OWSD 2005 postgraduate fellowship). This review article has received robust citation score owing to the fact that it covered critical aspects of both culture-based and culture-independent techniques that are reliable and proven for investigating microbes and their signatures during biological treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated environmental media. It also serves as a veritable instructional material for both undergraduate and post graduate courses in this area of study.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Okpokwasili, Gideon C. and Chikere, Blaise O. (2012a). Bioreactor-based bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted Niger Delta marine sediment, Nigeria. 3Biotech. 2: 53-66. DOI 10.1007/s13205-011-0030-8. (Publication from 2007 IFS 1st GRANT: W/4263-1F). First of its kind 7-bioreactors-ex situ bioremediation framework to monitor petroleum hydrocarbons degradation in contaminated environmental media in a controlled environment. Though microbial activities were monitored with culture-dependent techniques, the results obtained demonstrated that process control in pollutant abatement and treatment is a veritable strategy in ecosystem restoration. These bioreactors have been used in many other research projects within and outside the University.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Surridge, Karen, Okpokwasili, Gideon C. and Cloete, Thomas E. (2012b). Dynamics of indigenous bacterial communities associated with crude oil degradation in soil microcosms during nutrient-enhanced bioremediation. Waste Management & Research. 30: 225-236. DOI 10.1177/0734242X11410114. (article from my PhD research sponsored by OWSD PhD fellowship at the University of Pretoria South Africa). This study was pioneer research as at the year and time of publication that demonstrated the functional activities of both culturable and unculturable microbes during crude oil biodegradation in polluted soil using DNA finger printing technique called “DENATURING GRADIENT GEL ELECTROPHORESIS (DGGE)”. Bioinformatics played integral role in harvesting and analyzing critical datasets from the results generated. The power of internationalization, collaboration and partnership among OWSD, TWAS, Universities of Port Harcourt and Pretoria gave my PhD research a global impact. My thesis was selected by National Universities’ Commission (NUC) and awarded “Best Doctoral thesis award in biological Sciences for the year 2010” as shown below.


  • Chikere, Chioma B., Azubuike, C. C. and Fubara, Evans M. (2017). Shift in microbial group during remediation by enhanced natural attenuation (RENA) of a crude oil-impacted soil: A case study of Ikarama Community, Bayelsa, Nigeria. 3Biotech. 7:152. DOI 10.1007/s13205-017-0782-x. This study investigated field-scale bioremediation of oil-polluted soil at Ikarama community in Bayelsa State as part of my former MSc and PhD students’ projects. The results showed that nature-based treatment of oil-impacted sites with indigenous and natural resources such as tilling, ridge making, microbes and plant biomass led to ecosystem restoration without deleterious effects. Pictures below show site pre- and post-bioremediation.



  • Chikere, Chioma B. and Fenibo, E. O. (2018). Distribution of PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase genes in bacteria isolated from two illegal oil refining sites in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Scientific African. 1:e00003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2018.e00003. Study established that the Niger Delta oil-polluted soil had metabolically active, indigenous microbes able to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons. Soil microbial community had plasmid-borne PAHs ring hydroxylating genes in both Gram negative and positive bacteria suggesting active horizontal gene transfer.


  • Chikere, Chioma B., Obieze, C. C., Mordi, I. J., Chikere, B. O., Selvarajan, R. and Ashafa, T. O. (2019a). Comparative metagenomics and functional profiling of crude oil polluted soils in Bodo West Community, Ogoni, with other sites of varying pollution history. Annals of Microbiology. 69(5): 495-513. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-019-1438-3. Crude oil spills in Bodo Community soil selected for oil-degrading taxa (mostly marine hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria that could only be detected using very sensitive and high throughput-next generation sequencing technique, in this instance, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing on Ilumina MiSeq platform) with aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation abilities. Comparison with similar polluted sites from other locations globally revealed that hydrocarbons determined the bacterial community structure. This output is pioneer research in Nigeria that used high-throughput/next generation sequencing to investigate soil microbiome response to long-term petroleum hydrocarbon impact. Another novelty in the research is the collaboration between Nigerian and South African scientists which added so much value in terms of quality and depth of the research. Obieze, C.C. and Mordi, I.J. were my former PhD and MSc students who worked on this project. The depth of bioinformatics done to analyze the DNA sequences from the soil microbiome provided robust molecular information to unequivocally establish active microbial signatures in the polluted site suggestive of pollutant natural attenuation known as bioattenuation.


  • Chikere, Chioma B., Tekere, M. and Adeleke, R. (2019b). Enhanced microbial hydrocarbon biodegradation as stimulated during field-scale landfarming of crude oil-impacted soil. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 14:100177. https://doi:/10.1016/J.SCP.2019.100177. (Research was funded by TWAS-UNESCO Associateship fellowship given to CB Chikere and hosted by Prof. M. Tekere, at the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa – UNISA). This field-scale study established that the oil-polluted soil at Ikarama, Bayelsa State, Niger Delta, Nigeria was amenable to landfarming. Isolated microbes that were further characterized using Sanger sequencing and bioassays demonstrated enhanced crude oil/diesel utilization in vitro. Collaboration among The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), UNESCO, UNISA and Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South Africa (where Prof. R. Adeleke was working as at the time of the research) is worthy of note as it expanded the reach of the research output while providing more resources that ensured that replicate samples were thoroughly analyzed as shown in the publication. The depth of bioinformatics done to analyze the DNA sequences from the soil microbiome provided robust molecular information to unequivocally establish ecosystem and biodiversity restoration using microbial signatures.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Obieze, C. C. and Chikere, B. O. (2020). Biodegradation of artisanally refined diesel and the influence of organic wastes on oil-polluted soil remediation. Scientific African. 8:e00385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00385. (from Elsevier Foundation Prize). Primitive/artisanal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta results in devastating environmental pollution. Nature-based nutrients formulated from agricultural and industrial waste materials stimulated the extant soil microbes thereby enhancing hydrocarbon removal from the impacted soil. Molecular biology techniques enhanced the quality of the research findings.

 

  1. Ehis-Eriakha, C. B., Chikere, Chioma B. and Akaranta, O. (2020). Functional gene diversity of selected indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in aged crude oil. International Journal of Microbiology. 2020: 2141209. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2141209. Study established that microbiome in aged oil-polluted soil haboured efficient petroleum-degrading bacteria with the genetic capabilities resident in the plasmids and/or chromosomes. Five (5) functional degradative genes targeting alk B (short and middle chain alkanes, C8–C16), Alma (long chain alkane, C16–C36), catechol 2, 3 dioxygenase (aromatic hydrocarbons), PAH-RHD(GP) (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-ring hydroxylating dioxygenases for Gram positive bacteria), and nah AC (naphthalene-degrading gene) were used to detect these genes in the putative hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria to determine their catabolic potentials. Members of the gamma proteobacteria phylum dominated the hyper degrading species having more of the degradative genes followed by members of the phylum actinobacteria.


  • Obieze, C. C., Chikere, Chioma B., Selvarajan, R., Adeleke, R., Ntushelo, K. and Akaranta, O. (2020). Functional attributes and response of bacterial communities to nature-based fertilization during hydrocarbon remediation. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 154: 105084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2020.105084. (From Elsevier Foundation Prize). Field-scale deployment of nature-based formulated fertilizers from spent plant biomass and phosphate rock resulted in increased hydrocarbon degradation. Microbial functional activities were also more intensified in the nature-based treatment than in chemical fertilizer treatment and control as evidenced by next generation sequencing and bioinformatics outputs. Internationalization of this research through robust collaboration enhanced the quality of the output and equally made the findings to be published in a high impact factor Scopus-indexed journal.


  • Chikere, Chioma B., Tekere, M. and Adeleke, R. (2021). Microbial communities in field-scale oil-polluted soil remediation using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. International Journal of Environmental Studies. 78(3): 410-426. DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2020.1817276. (Published online first: 07 Sep. 2020, assigned volume and volume numbers in 2021). High-throughput sequencing revealed that the indigenous soil microbiome in the oil-polluted soil had the capabilities to degrade the pollutants. Functional activities of the degrading microbiome demonstrated that the communities were well-suited for hydrocarbon utilization as evidenced by next generation sequencing and computational biology outputs from analyzed datasets. The collaboration between Nigerian and South African Universities deepened the research outputs and coverage thereby strengthening the need for us to incorporate “UN SDG 17- partnerships for the goals” in our research and development initiatives and activities to achieve cardinal continental and global mandates like the African Union Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want” and United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs).

 

  1. Okafor, C. P., Udemang, N. L., Chikere, Chioma B., Akaranta, O. and Ntushelo, K. (2021). Indigenous microbial species as bioresource for remediation of chronically polluted Niger Delta soils. Scientific African. 11: e00682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00682. This study published as an open access article by Elsevier journal, Scientific African, in line with UNESCO’s F.A.I.R. principle, demonstrated that the microbial species in oil-polluted soil ecosystems of the Niger Delta have the natural propensity to utilize crude oil hydrocarbons as sources of carbon and energy thereby removing them from the environment. They could also serve as nature-based agents for ecosystem restoration. This publication was awarded a certificate of recognition by Elsevier having contributed meaningfully to the UN SDGs as shown below. It is part of the publication from our former PhD student CP Okafor at World Bank ACE-CEFOR, UniPort. The power of collaboration and the multi-disciplinary research approach from Professor of polymer Chemistry (O. Akaranta), South African co-supervisor (Prof. K. Ntushelo- Prof. of metabolomics) gave the research wider coverage and global impact. 

 

 



  • Adeleke, R. A., Obieze, C. C., Mukoro, C., Chikere, Chioma B., Tsipinana, S. and
    Nciizah, A. (2022). Phosphorus fertilizer application and tillage practices influence bacterial community composition: implication for soil health. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2022.2035368. Bacterial communities’ profile with DNA metabarcoding revealed that Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla in both the no-tillage and conventional-tillage treatments. Phosphorus fertilizer application influenced diversity while tillage practices determined the stability of beneficial plant-microbe associations. Next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics employed in the study deepened the coverage thereby helping in the generation of more robust results from both culturable and unculturable microbiome. The collaboration between Nigerian and South African Universities deepened the research outputs and coverage thereby strengthening the need for us to incorporate “UN SDG 17 partnerships for the goals” in our research and development initiatives and activities to achieve cardinal continental and global mandates like the African Union Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want” and United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs).


  • Obieze, C. C., Chikere, Chioma B., Adeleke, R., Selvarajan, R., Ntushelo, K. and Akaranta, O. (2022) Field-scale biostimulation shifts microbial community composition and improves soil pollution recovery at an artisanal crude oil refining site. International Journal of Environmental Studies. DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2021.2017198. Nutrient amendment in oil-impacted soil enhanced biodegradation of pollutants. Also, bacterial diversity reduced during biostimulation whereas bacterial energy yield increased. Computational biology helped in the generation of robust molecular datasets from the research. The collaboration among Nigerian, Indian, Chinese and South African Universities deepened the research outputs and coverage thereby strengthening the need for us to incorporate “UN SDG 17 partnerships for the goals” in our research and development initiatives and activities to achieve cardinal continental and global mandates like the African Union Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want” and United Nations sustainable development goals (UN SDGs).

 

Plate1a. Crude oil-polluted artisanal refining site at Ngia Ama- pre-remediation (A) and during remediation (B)



  • Okafor, Chidinma, Chikere, Chioma Blaise, Akaranta, Onyewuchi and Ntushelo, Khayalethu (2022). Crude oil hydrocarbons’ effect on soil microbiome metagenome from Niger Delta polluted soils. F1000Research, 11.1108. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.124785.1 (Taylor & Francis). Data Note. This is the pioneer research output as data note in the South South region, from all our investigations so far, that is in line with UNESCO’s F.A.I.R. (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reproducible) principle that promotes- open access, open research, open data, open science. It is also the 1st publicly available metagenome dataset (generated with the high-throughput sequencing technique called shotgun metagenomics sequencing on an Ilumina NovaSeq platform) of an oil-polluted Niger Delta soil saved in globally accessible database. The results obtained in this study have been deposited with the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) repository as “European Nucleotide Archive: Crude oil hydrocarbon polluted soil metagenomes. Accession number: PRJEB53529 (Okafor et al., 2022)”. 

 

  1. Makhalanyane, T.P., Bezuidt, O.K.I., Pierneef, R.E., Mizrachi, E., Zeze, A., Fossou, R. K., Kouadjo, C. G., Duodu, S., Chikere, Chioma B., Babalola, O. O., Klein, A., Keyster, M., du Plessis M., Yorou, N. S., Hijri, M., Rossouw, T., Kamutando, C. N., Venter, S., Moleleki, L. N. and Murrell, C. (2023). African microbiomes matter. Nature Reviews Microbiology.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-023-00925-y. Published first online June 16, 2023. This collaboration of African microbiologists (see publication for authors’ affiliations), is first of its kind, under the auspices of International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME-based in Wageningen, the Netherlands) is saddled with the responsibility of mapping the entire microbiome composition of the indigenous African ecosystems (humans, plants, animals, microbes, soils, water, sediments, marine environments) in order to input our indigenous microbiomes in the global databases so as to provide robust molecular information about African indigenous microbial species in the Earth and Human Microbiome Projects (EMP & HMP). These datasets will help in combating global challenges bordering on human health, disease outbreaks, pandemics, climate crises and food security. 

 

  1. –          Practical applications of the work you are doing.

This nature-based bioremediation strategy is eco-friendly, well-suited to the Niger Delta tropical rain forest ecosystem which receives copious rainfall and has rich soil microbial diversity. It is simple with less technicality, meaning that it is very acceptable to the indigenous people as part of citizen science. Infact it can be easily employed by the locals to reclaim polluted soil ecosystems there by reducing the burden on the oil and gas industry/State/agencies when accidental spills occur in the host communities that could require urgent intervention in order to save vulnerable and sensitive ecosystems. This simple bioremediation method is very pocket-friendly as it requires little or no heavy- duty machinery and equipment, the indigenous people were part of the work team during the field-scale projects and they supplied the poultry litter, manpower, simple equipment there by making sustainable income from these activities. For instance, boats used to navigate round the creeks to Ngia Ama bioremediation site were all hired from the community chief/leader during the Elsevier Foundation-funded project. Partnership with the indigenous people of Ngia Ama as part of citizen science to promote the incorporation of indigenous knowledge in STEM for the actualization of the UN SDGs was key to the successful completion of the field-scale land treatment. 

 

  1. –          Recent and other relevant publications (books, journal papers, Review papers)

CHAPTERS IN BOOKS

  1. Introduction to Environmental Microbiology. Chikere, Chioma B. (2018). In: E.S. Amadi, O. C. Ugbogu and C. J. Ogugbue (Eds). Principles of General Microbiology. 1st Edition. WEBSmedia Communications Ltd., Owerri. Pp 711-737.
  2. Azubuike, Christopher C., Chikere, Chioma B. And Okpokwasili, Gideon C. (2020). Bioremediation: An eco-friendly sustainable technology for environmental management In: Bioremediation of Industrial Waste for Environmental Safety (G. Saxena and R. N. Bharagava eds). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1891-7_2. Springer Nature. Singapore. Pp 19-39.

 

  1. Chikere C.B., Tekere M., Opeolu B.O., Arts G., Ofori L.A., Odu N.N. (2022). Research Collaborations for Enhanced Performance and Visibility of Women Scientists. In: Nwaichi E.O. (eds) Science by Women. Women in Engineering and Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83032-8_4. Pp 43-59.

 

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Azubuike, Christopher, C. (2014). Characterization of hydrocarbon utilizing fungi from hydrocarbon polluted sediments and water. Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology. 27: 49-54.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Ekwuabu, Chioma B. (2014). Culture-dependent characterization of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in selected oil-impacted sites at Bodo community, Ogoniland, Nigeria. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 8 (6): 401-406. 

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Ekwuabu, Chioma B.  (2014). Molecular characterization of autochthonous hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in oil-polluted sites at Bodo community, Ogoniland, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology. 27: 28-33. 

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Obieze, Chinedu C. and Okerentugba, Phillip (2015). Molecular assessment of microbial species involved in the biodegradation of crude oil in saline Niger Delta sediments using bioreactors. Journal of Bioremediation and Biodegradation. 6(5): 1-7. doi.org/10.4172/2155-6199.1000307. (Publication from 2012 IFS 2nd GRANT: W/4263-2F).

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Anekwe, Ekene C. (2015). Diversity of polyaromatic hydrocarbon utilizing microbes in an abandoned crude oil polluted farmland. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology. 29: 3012-3021.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. Ajuzieogu, Chinyere A. and Miller, C. M. (2015). Characterization of indigenous bacterial communities in crude-oil impacted sites at Obagi Town, Onelga, Rivers State, Nigeria. Fine Focus Journal. 2: 7-14.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. And Omadudu, Kingsley. (2015). Dioxygenase screening in indigenous hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria from oil-polluted sites in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology. 28: 2883-2891.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, Gideon C. (2015). The dominance of the genera Myroides and Proteus within hydrocarbon utilizing populations in some crude oil impacted sites. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology. 29: 3089-3095.



  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Okoye, Amara U., and Okpokwasili, Gideon C. (2016). Microbial profiling of active oleophilic bacteria involved in bioreactor-based crude oil polluted sediment treatment. Journal of Applied & Environmental Microbiology. 4: 1-20. DOI:10.12691/jaem-4-1-1. (Publication from 2012 IFS 2nd GRANT: W/4263-2F).

 

  1. Nwaguma, Ijeoma V., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, Gideon C. (2016). Isolation, characterization, and application of biosurfactant by Klebsiella pneumoniae strain IVN51 isolated from hydrocarbon-polluted soil in Ogoniland, Nigeria. Bioresources and Bioprocessing. 3 (40): 1-13.

 

  1. Nwaguma, Ijeoma V., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, Gideon C. (2016). Isolation, screening and identification of biosurfactant-producing bacteria from hydrocarbon-polluted and pristine soils within Ogoniland, Nigeria. British Microbiology Research Journal. 15(4): 1-11. DOI: 10.9734/BMRJ/2016/26294.

 

  1. Azubuike, Christopher C., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, Gideon C. (2016). Bioremediation techniques–classification based on site of application: principles, advantages, limitations and prospects. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 32(180): 1-18. DOI 10.1007/s11274-016-2137-x.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Okoye, Amara U., and Okpokwasili, Gideon C. (2016). Bacterial community dynamics of nutrient-enhanced oil-polluted sediment. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology. 30(1): 3281-3294. (Publication from 2012 IFS 2nd GRANT: W/4263-2F).

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Azubuike, Christopher C. and Fubara, Evans M. (2017). Shift in microbial group during remediation by enhanced natural attenuation (RENA) of a crude oil-impacted soil: A case study of Ikarama Community, Bayelsa, Nigeria. 3Biotech. 7:152. DOI 10.1007/s13205-017-0782-x.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Azubuike, Christopher C. and Etefia, Etini E. (2017). Biodegradation potential of indigenous bacteria isolated from a crude oil polluted soil. Journal of Environment and Biotechnology Research. 6(2): 213-219.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma Blaise, Fenibo, E. O. and Akaranta, O. (2018). Comparative Effectiveness of Activated Soil in Bioremediation of a Farmland Polluted Soil by Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon in the Niger Delta. Journal of Bioremediation and Biodegradation. 9:456. DOI: 10.4172/2155-6199.1000456.
  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Obieze, Chinedu C., (2018). Fungal diversity and dynamics during bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soil. Current Biotechnology. 7: 89-97. DOI: 10.2174/2211550106666170321105848. 

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Fenibo, Emmanuel O. (2018). Distribution of PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase genes in bacteria isolated from two illegal oil refining sites in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Scientific African. 1:e00003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2018.e00003.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Aggreh, E. P. and Obieze, C. C. (2018). Microbial community composition of top and sub soil layers in an aged oil spill site in Bomu Community, Ogoniland. Scientia Africana. 17(2): 26-38.

 

  1. Ezekoye, Charles C., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili Gideon C. (2018). Field metagenomics of bacterial community involved in bioremediation of crude oil-polluted soil. Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation. 9:5 DOI: 10.4172/2155-6199.1000449.


  • Ezekoye, Charles C., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili Gideon C. (2018). Fungal diversity associated with crude oil-impacted soil undergoing in situ bioremediation. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 10: 148-152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scp.2018.11.003

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Obieze, Chinedu C., Mordi, Ijeoma J., Chikere, Blaise O., Selvarajan, Ramganesh and Ashafa, Tom O. (2019). Comparative metagenomics and functional profiling of crude oil polluted soils in Bodo West Community, Ogoni, with other sites of varying pollution history. Annals of Microbiology. 69(5): 495-513. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-019-1438-3.

 

  1. Fenibo, Emmanuel O., Ijoma, Grace N., Selvarajan, R. and Chikere, Chioma B. (2019). Microbial Surfactants: the next generation multifunctional biomolecules for applications in the petroleum industry and its associated environmental remediation. Microorganisms. 7: 581. Doi.10.3390/microorganisms7110581.

 

  1. Okoye, A. U., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, G. C. (2019). Fungal population dynamics associated with active-phase of hydrocarbon degradation in oil-polluted soil. Journal of Advances in Microbiology. 19(2): 1-12. ISSN: 2456-7116.

 

  1. Nwaguma, I. V., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, G. C. (2019). Isolation and molecular characterization of biosurfactant-producing yeasts from saps of Elaeis guineensis and Raphia Africana. Microbiology Research Journal International. 29(4): 1-12. ISSN: 2456-7043.

 

  1. Nwaguma, I. V., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, G. C. (2019). Effect of cultural conditions on biosurfactant production by Candida sp. isolated from the sap of Elaeis guineensis. Biotechnology Journal International. 23(3): 1-14. ISSN: 2456-751.


  • Chikere, Chioma B., Tekere, M. and Adeleke, R. (2019). Enhanced microbial hydrocarbon biodegradation as stimulated during field-scale landfarming of crude oil-impacted soil. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 14:100177. https://doi:/10.1016/J.SCP.2019.100177.
  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Obieze, C. C. and Chikere, B. O. (2020). Biodegradation of artisanally refined diesel and the influence of organic wastes on oil-polluted soil remediation. Scientific African. 8:e00385. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00385. (from Elsevier Foundation Prize).

 

  1. Ehis-Eriakha, C. B., Chikere, Chioma B. and Akaranta, O. (2020). Functional gene diversity of selected indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in aged crude oil. International Journal of Microbiology. 2020: 2141209. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2141209.

 

  1. Okoye, Amara U., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, Gideon C. (2020) Isolation and characterization of hexadecane degrading bacteria from oil- polluted soil in Gio Community, Niger Delta, Nigeria. Scientific African. 8: e00340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00340.

 

  1. Obieze, Chinedu C., Chikere, Chioma B., Selvarajan, R., Adeleke, R., Ntushelo, K. and Akaranta, O. (2020). Functional attributes and response of bacterial communities to nature-based fertilization during hydrocarbon remediation. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 154: 105084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2020.105084. (from Elsevier Foundation Prize)

 

  1. Okafor, C. P., Udemang, N. L., Chikere, Chioma B., Akaranta, O. and Ntushelo, K. (2021). Indigenous microbial species as bioresource for remediation of chronically polluted Niger Delta soils. Scientific African. 11: e00682. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00682.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Tekere, Memory and Rasheed Adeleke (2021). Microbial communities in field-scale oil-polluted soil remediation using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. International Journal of Environmental Studies. 78(3): 410-426. DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2020.1817276.

 

  1. Ehis-Eriakha C.B., Chikere, C.B. and Akaranta, O. (2021). Sustained nutrient delivery system: A new perspective in bioremediation. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management. 12(4):173-182. DOI: 10.5897/JSSEM2015.0526

 

  1. Obieze, C. C., Chikere, Chioma B., Adeleke, R., Selvarajan, R., Ntushelo, K. and Akaranta, R. (2022) Field-scale biostimulation shifts microbial community composition and improves soil pollution recovery at an artisanal crude oil refining site. International Journal of Environmental Studies. DOI: 10.1080/00207233.2021.2017198.

 

  1. Adeleke, R. A., Obieze, C. C., Mukoro, C., Chikere, Chioma B., Tsipinana, S. and
    Nciizah, A. (2022). Phosphorus fertilizer application and tillage practices influence bacterial community composition: implication for soil health. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. DOI: 10.1080/03650340.2022.2035368.

 

  1. Okafor, Chidinma, Chikere, Chioma Blaise, Akaranta, Onyewuchi and Ntushelo, Khayalethu (2022). Crude oil hydrocarbons’ effect on soil microbiome metagenome from Niger Delta polluted soils. F1000Research, 11.1108. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.124785.1 (Taylor & Francis). Data Note in Press. 

 

  1. Edamkue, I., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okafor, C. P. (2023). Elevational Gradient Effects on Microbial Distribution in Crude Oil Polluted Sites. Fine Focus. 9(1):26-45.  DOI: 10.33043/FF.9.1.26-45

 

  1. Makhalanyane, T.P., Bezuidt, O.K.I., Pierneef, R.E., Mizrachi, E., Zeze, A., Fossou, R. K., Kouadjo, C. G., Duodu, S., Chikere, Chioma B., Babalola, O. O., Klein, A., Keyster, M., du Plessis M., Yorou, N. S., Hijri, M., Rossouw, T., Kamutando, C. N., Venter, S., Moleleki, L. N. and Murrell, C. (2023). African microbiomes matter. Nature Reviews Microbiology.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-023-00925-y. Published first online June 16, 2023.

 

  1. Aruotu, J.O., Edamkue, I., Chikere, C.B. and Okafor, C. P. (2023). Microbial Consortium for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Degradation from Petroleum Hydrocarbon Polluted Soils in Rivers State, Nigeria. Applied Sciences. 13(16): 9335. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169335

 

  1. Edamkue, I., Selvarajan, R., Akebe, L.K.A., Chikere, C.B. (2023). Quorum Sensing: Unravelling the Intricacies of Microbial Communication for Biofilm Formation, Biogeochemical Cycling, and Biotechnological Applications. Journal of marine Science and Engineering. 11(8): 1586. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11081586







PUBLICATIONS IN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Okpokwasili, Gideon C. Surridge, A. K. J. and Cloete, Thomas E. (2009). Molecular approach to aerobic biodegradation of crude oil. Proceedings of Biotechnologies for Improved Production of Oil & Gas in the Gulf of Guinea (BIPOG3) 1st International Conference, Workshop and Exhibition, Abuja. April 1 – 3. 2009. BIPOG3-3-12. Pp 1-6. (Publication from OWSD 2005 PhD fellowship).
  2. Ekwuabu, Chioma B. and Chikere, Chioma B. (2015). Potential of controlled release fertilizer in bioremediation. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Oilfield Chemistry & Flow Assurance, Oil Flow 2015. Pp 68-77.

 

  1. Mordi, Ijeoma J. and Chikere, Chioma B. (2015). Effect of chronic oil pollution on soil bacteria community structure. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Oilfield Chemistry & Flow Assurance, Oil Flow 2015. Pp 78-88.

 

  1. Ekwuabu, Chioma B., Chikere, Chioma B.  and Akaranta, Onyewuchi. (2016). Effect of different nutrient amendments on ecorestoration of a crude oil polluted soil. Proceedings of SPE African Health, Safety, Security and Environment and Social Responsibility Conference and Exhibition. 4-6 October 2016, Accra, Ghana. ISBN: 978-1-5108-3142-1. Pp 300-316.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Onyemuwa, Chibuike. (2016). Microbial signatures indicative of bioattenuation in crude oil-polluted soil at Ogoniland Niger Delta, Nigeria. Proceedings of Organization for Women in Science and Technology for the Developing World (OWSD) Fifth General Assembly and International Conference. May 16-19, 2016, Kuwait. Pp 1-8.

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B. and Obieze, Chinedu C. (2018). Effect​ ​of​ ​hydrocarbon​ ​pollution​ ​on​ ​microbial​ ​diversity​ ​and​ ​implication​ ​for​ ​bioremediation. Proceedings of Women in Science without Borders (WISWB)-Indaba Conference March 21-23, 2018 at University of Johannesburg, South Africa. ISBN: 978-0-620-78656-0 First Edition: June 2018. Pp 10-11.

 

  1.  Obieze, Chinedu C., Chikere, Chioma B. Adeleke, R. and Akaranta, O. (2019). Formulation and evaluation of slow-release fertilizer from agricultural and industrial wastes for remediation of crude oil-polluted soils. SPE-198815-MS for SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition held in Lagos, Nigeria, 5–7 August 2019. (from Elsevier Foundation Prize).

 

  1. Okoye, A. U., Chikere, Chioma B. and Okpokwasili, G. C. (2019). Characterization of potential paraffin wax removing bacteria for sustainable biotechnological application. SPE-198799-MS for SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition held in Lagos, Nigeria, 5–7 August 2019. 

 

  1. Chikere, Chioma B., Ezekoye, Charles C. and Okpokwasili, G. C. (2020).
    Bacterial community profiling and predictive functional gene analysis during petroleum biodegradation. SPE-203703-MS Conference Paper for SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition held in Lagos, Nigeria, 11–13 August 2020.



  1. –          Awards won

 

S/No.

Award/Honour/Fellowship

Year

1

Higher Education Resource Services-South Africa (HERS-SA) 2023 Academy Training Workshop scholarship

2023

2

Award of excellence for early career researchers’ empowerment by OWSD Nigeria National Chapter 

2023

3

Award of excellence for contributing to the growth of University of Port Harcourt through national, international and global recognitions

2023

4

Senior Country Ambassador, International Society for Microbial Ecology (ISME), the Netherlands

2022 – 2026

5

Applied Microbiology International (AMI) (formerly Society for Applied Microbiology – SfAM) UK Conference Abstract Scholarship Grant

2022

6

Academic Associate/Research Fellow appointment by University of South Africa (Unisa) 

2021-2024

7

Applied Microbiology International (AMI) (formerly Society for Applied Microbiology – SfAM) UK Conference Abstract Scholarship Grant

2019

8

American Society for Microbiology (ASM)-AIG Best Poster Presentation Award

2018

9

Third Summer School (S3C) Travel Sponsorship, Leuphana University, Germany

2017

10

Second Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge 2nd prize winner

2017

11

TWAS-UNESCO Associateship Scheme Award 2016

2016

12

Applied Microbiology International (AMI) (formerly Society for Applied Microbiology – SfAM) UK Conference Abstract Scholarship Grant

2016

13

University of Port Harcourt 2015 distinguished merit award for diligent and meritorious service to the University

2015

14

Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Academic Staff Training & Development (AST&D) Travel Grant to attend ASM 113th General Meeting May 2013, Denver, Colorado, USA 

2013

15

National Universities’ Commission (NUC) 2010 Best Doctoral Thesis in Biological Sciences

2010

16

International Foundation for Science (IFS) Sweden, Individual 2nd Research Grant

2012

17

International Foundation for Science (IFS) Sweden, Individual 1st Research Grant

2007

18

Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) PhD Fellowship (split site Ph.D. Fellowship, spent 6 months at University of Pretoria, South Africa for molecular  biology analyses)

2005

19

Best Graduating Student, Department of Microbiology, 1998/1999 set, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria

1999

 

 

  1. –          A picture (JPG or PNG) – not a PowerPoint picture– needs a professional picture.