Associate Professor Richard Ekonesi Orim is a distinguished academic and educator whose life and career exemplify intellectual depth, professional excellence, and unwavering commitment to societal development. Born on the 9th of March, 1979, his journey from a humble community in Cross River State to the pinnacle of academic and public service is a compelling testament to perseverance, discipline, and purpose-driven living.
A proud son of Amukwong-Alege in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, Associate Professor Orim has remained deeply connected to his roots while building an impressive academic and professional profile that commands respect both nationally and internationally. Happily married, he embodies a balanced life that harmonizes family values with professional dedication, underscoring his belief that true success is holistic.
His academic journey began at St. Anthony’s Primary School, Alege-Obudu, where he studied between 1987 and 1992 and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. These formative years were instrumental in shaping his intellectual curiosity and discipline, laying the groundwork for a lifelong passion for learning. The nurturing academic environment he encountered at the primary level instilled in him the confidence and moral grounding that would later define his scholarly pursuits.
He proceeded to Alege Community Secondary School in Obudu before transferring to Begiading Secondary Grammar School, Ohong-Obudu, where he completed his West African Senior School Certificate Examination in 1998. During his secondary school years, he distinguished himself through academic diligence and active participation in extracurricular and community-based activities. These experiences refined his leadership abilities, strengthened his sense of responsibility, and reinforced his commitment to excellence.
Driven by a passion for teaching and knowledge dissemination, Richard Ekonesi Orim enrolled at the Federal College of Education, Obudu, where he obtained a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Mathematics and Physics between 2000 and 2003. This foundational teacher-training period equipped him with practical pedagogical skills and classroom competence, preparing him for impactful engagement across various levels of the education system.
His academic advancement continued at the University of Calabar, where he earned a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree between 2004 and 2008. The programme provided him with a solid grounding in educational theories, instructional strategies, and professional practice. Recognizing the need for deeper specialization, he returned to the same institution to obtain a Master of Education (M.Ed) degree from 2010 to 2012, further strengthening his expertise in educational research and practice.
In pursuit of academic excellence at the highest level, Associate Professor Orim undertook doctoral studies at the University of Calabar, earning a Ph.D. between 2012 and 2015. His doctoral training immersed him in advanced research, critical inquiry, and specialized scholarship in mathematics and science education, positioning him as a respected authority in his field.
Professor Orim’s professional career reflects a rich and diverse teaching trajectory across primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. He began as a part-time primary school teacher at St. Pius Primary School, Nkpakna-Ekajuk, Ogoja, between 2003 and 2004. In this role, he demonstrated exceptional pedagogical skill, particularly in literacy and numeracy, while nurturing young learners at the foundational stage of their education. His performance during a Local Government Education Authority inspection was so outstanding that he was immediately transferred to St. Peter’s Primary School, Adagom-Ogoja, in 2005.
His rare teaching excellence and innovative approach to mathematics instruction soon attracted wider attention. During a visit to the school by the then Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Donald Duke, Professor Orim was identified as a passionate, vibrant, and highly cultivated teacher. Consequently, the Governor directed his immediate deployment from the primary school system to Government Science School, Ishibori-Ogoja, in 2006.
From 2006 to 2008, he served as a classroom teacher at Government Science School, Ishibori-Ogoja, where he taught science subjects and contributed significantly to students’ academic and personal development. This phase of his career allowed him to experiment with and refine innovative teaching strategies that actively engaged learners and fostered a lasting appreciation for science beyond the classroom.
In 2008, he took up an appointment as an instructor at the Federal Girls College, Ugwu-Gweleshi, Enugu State, where he served until 2009. There, he focused on empowering young women through quality education, creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment that encouraged intellectual confidence, curiosity, and self-expression.
Since 2013, Associate Professor Orim has served as a lecturer at the University of Calabar, where he continues to teach, mentor students, and contribute to curriculum development in mathematics and science education. His role within the university extends beyond classroom instruction, as he is deeply involved in shaping academic standards, fostering critical thinking, and preparing students for both scholarly and professional excellence.
His leadership capacity within the university system is equally remarkable. He made history as the youngest Convocation Representative ever elected to the Governing Council of the University of Calabar, serving during the institution’s 13th Governing Council from 2021 to 2023. In this role, he represented the interests of the academic community and served on several strategic committees, including those on Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Exit Strategy, Labour-Related Matters, Disciplinary Matters, and Need Assessment Projects.
In addition, he has served in numerous faculty and departmental leadership roles, including membership of the Faculty Appointment and Promotion Committee, Faculty Graduate Board Committee, and the Science Education Committee on the Students’ Handbook. He chaired the Department of Science Education Timetable Committee for several years, coordinated departmental projects, served as Examination Officer for Mathematics, and played key roles in faculty committees on conferences, publications, and infrastructural development.
Beyond the University of Calabar, Professor Orim has made significant contributions as an adjunct lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Katsina-Ala, Benue State, between 2016 and 2018. He is currently an adjunct lecturer to three African universities, where his research interests focus on dyscalculia, mathematization, and the Africanization of ethnomathematics. His scholarly output includes 51 publications in reputable local and international journals and authorship of three academic books.
Following many years of service at the University of Calabar, he proceeded on sabbatical leave to the National Open University of Nigeria, where he distinguished himself through exemplary conduct and academic excellence. His contributions were so impactful that the institution continues to retain his services.
Demonstrating an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, Associate Professor Orim is currently pursuing two additional master’s degrees—one in Measurement and Evaluation at the Cross River State University of Technology, and another in Peace and Conflict Resolution at the National Open University of Nigeria.
In 2023, his administrative competence and leadership qualities earned him a political appointment as Special Assistant on Administration to Distinguished Senator John Owan Enoh, then Minister of Sports Development and now Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, a position he holds to date.
Equally noteworthy is Professor Orim’s commitment to community service and humanitarian engagement. Through youth empowerment initiatives, MSME support programmes, provision of JAMB and WAEC forms, and employment facilitation, he has consistently invested in the future of young people. His philanthropic vision finds structured expression through the Richard Ekonesi Orim Foundation (REOF), which focuses on supporting widows, the underprivileged, and students through back-to-school programmes designed to improve access to education, break cycles of poverty, and enhance academic performance.
Associate Professor Richard Ekonesi Orim is a member of several professional bodies, including the Mathematical Association of Nigeria, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, the Curriculum Organization of Nigeria, the European Centre for Research Training and Development (UK), and the Institute of Business Diplomacy and Financial Management, where he holds the title of Fellow.
He actively participates in academic conferences and research dissemination and has supervised six master’s students and three Ph.D. candidates across the University of Calabar and the National Open University of Nigeria.
Through scholarship, leadership, public service, and philanthropy, Associate Professor Richard Ekonesi Orim continues to exemplify the transformative power of education and the enduring impact of purposeful service to humanity.
