Food Scientist and Educator Served the University for Three Decades

Alabama A&M University is mourning the loss of Professor Emeritus Dr. Baldwin Onuma Okezie, a distinguished scholar, educator and international leader in food science and nutrition who dedicated more than 30 years of service to the University.

Okezie died Feb. 4, 2026, in Houston, Texas. He was 89.

A longtime faculty member in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Okezie joined Alabama A&M in 1975 as an associate professor. He was promoted to full professor in 1982 and was named professor emeritus in 2010 in recognition of his sustained contributions to teaching, research and service.

During his tenure, Okezie helped elevate the University’s national and international profile in agricultural and food sciences. He played a leading role in the United States Agency for International Development’s Peanut Collaborative Research Support Program, helping secure millions of dollars in research funding for Alabama A&M and supporting critical research initiatives in food science and nutrition.

A prolific researcher, Okezie conducted years of cutting-edge studies and published extensively while advising and mentoring graduate students who would go on to careers in academia, government and industry. His work advanced understanding in nutrition, food processing and agricultural development.

Okezie also represented Alabama A&M in collaborative research and international programs throughout Africa and the Caribbean, as well as in Russia and former Soviet republics, including Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. His global engagement reflected a lifelong commitment to improving food security and strengthening international agricultural partnerships.

Born March 31, 1936, in Obizi, Imo, Nigeria, Okezie came to the United States in 1962 to pursue higher education.

He earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from the University of California, Davis, in 1966 and a Doctor of Philosophy from Cornell University in 1975.

Before joining Alabama A&M, Okezie held academic and advisory roles in Nigeria and Switzerland and served as a faculty member at Howard University. He also served as director of international programs at Alabama A&M beginning in 1979 and as special assistant to the president from 1988 to 1990.

Okezie was a fellow of the American College of Nutrition and held leadership roles in numerous professional organizations, including the Institute of Food Technologists and the USAID Peanut Collaborative Research Support Program board of directors.

Colleagues remember Okezie as a dedicated mentor, rigorous scholar and strong advocate for student success. His contributions to research, international collaboration and academic excellence leave a lasting legacy at Alabama A&M University.

He is survived by his wife, Monique Chika Offurum Okezie, whom he married Sept. 4, 1971, and their children, Uchechi, Okezie II, Ihuoma and Oluchi.

Alabama A&M University extends its condolences to the Okezie family, friends, former students and colleagues.