Dr. Francis Ezebor is a substantive Deputy Director of Chemical, Fibre and Environmental Technology Department (CFET) with effect from January 2023 and he is the current Head of Polymer and Textile Technology Division. He is a native of Akoku clan in Delta State. Dr. Ezebor graduated from University of Benin, Benin - City in 1989 with an Upper  Second - Class Honours Degree in Biochemistry.

During the programme, he was awarded University of Benin Scholarship, Departmental Prize and Nigerian Brewery Prize for emerging the Best Student in the third year degree examinations. And in 1995, he boosted his academic portfolio further with a Master of Science Degree in Industrial Chemistry from the same University of Benin. He was among the top three students (others females) that excelled in the 1995 Master Class of 35 Chemists. Well, without making pretensions to a prodigy of learning, he was also the toast of his class throughout his primary and secondary education.

Dr. Ezebor started his career in the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi in 1999 as a Research Officer 1, and was posted to the Chemical Technology (CT) Division of Chemical, Fibre and Environmental Technology Department (CFET). He grew through the ranks, and in compliance with the mandatory Ph.D. requirement for research officers, he obtained a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from University of Science Malaysia in 2015. During his Doctoral study, he was appointed a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Chemistry for 3 consecutive years. He also applied and won a research grant in the second year of his study. Dr. Ezebor’s area of speciality is Material Chemistry and Advanced Materials and thus had extensively deployed the following research resources in his studies - courtesy of USM world class research facilities:

• N₂ coupled Pyrolysis Machine
• Gas Chromatograph – MS
• FTIR and NIR Spectrometers
• Differential Thermal Analyser – Differential Thermogravimetric Analyser (DTA/DTG)
• Elemental Analyser
• Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscope (EDS)
• Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)
• X- Ray Diffractometer (XRD)
• Brunaur - Emmett - Teller (BET) Surface Area and Pore Size Analyser.

Dr. Ezebor’s research contributions in the Institute as a Principal Investigator are shown below.

1. Projects carried out in the Oilseed Research Programme on Extraction, Characterisation and Utilization of Lesser known Seed Oils for Industrial Applications include:

• Extraction and Characterisation of Soybean oil and development of a Process Technology for Production of Soya Lecithin.
• Extraction and Characterisation of Seed Oil of Cyperus esculentus L. (Yellow Nutsedge) from Middle Belt States of Nigeria
• Extraction and Characterisation of Fat of Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Nut) from Middle Belt States of Nigeria.
• Production of Oleochemicals: Mono- and Diglycerides food Emulsifier from Shea Butter

1. Projects done as pioneer researcher in the area of Packaging Technology include:

• Development of packaging materials for FIIRO food and non-food products.
• Development of transparent films for packaging of snacks, biscuits and confectioneries.
• Consultancy services to SMEs on material selection and appropriate food packaging
• Training on food packaging

1. Others are:

• He was a member of a research team that developed standard formulations for FIIRO bath bar soap and FIIRO laundry soap under the leadership of late Mrs. Oresanya (then DD. CFET).
• He was also the facilitator for FIIRO traditional black soap, laundry soap, and liquid detergent training workshops for 3 years with effect from January 2016.

Dr. Ezebor is a member of the following professional bodies:

• Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria  (ICCON)
• Chemical Society of Nigeria
• Institute of Packaging Nigeria (IoPN)

He has several research publications in both local and International  journals with high impact factors.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD LIST OF PUBLICATIONS IN ACADEMIC JOURNALS BY DR. FRANCIS EZEBOR