DR. FRANK JACOBS

DR. FRANK JACOBS: Dr. Frank Jacobs is the ninth president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). Before his elevation, he was Vice President, Enugu Zone and formerly, Chairman of the Imo-Abia branch of the association. He was also Member, MAN Corporate Affairs and Strategic Planning Committee and member, Executive and Finance and Establishment Committee of the Association from 2010 – 2014. Dr. Jacobs studied at the Incarnate Word College, Santonio, Texas, USA (now University of the Incarnate Word) where he graduated in 1978 with B. A. Chemistry (Magna Cum Laude). In 1982, he was awarded PhD (Analytical Chemistry) by the Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (FICCON) and a Fellow of the Chemical society of Nigeria (FCSN). He had his post doctoral fellowship with the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1982-1983 before joining old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA as Assistant Professor of Environmental Analytical Chemistry 1983-1985 when he returned to Nigeria to establish a winery. Dr. Jacobs also worked at the University of Port Harcourt as a visiting scholar in 1983. His research interest has contributed immensely to the development of appropriate technologies essential for the industrialisation of Nigeria. His current research effort is on the utilisation of locally available fruits for the production of beverages, production of chemicals from sawdust and coal. He has lately designed waste treatment scheme, which renders wastewater arising from various parts of a winery (Jacobs Wines Limited) neutral and therefore environmentally safe. In recognition of his contribution to the development of Nigeria, Jacobs was honoured in 2007 with the National Honours Award of Member, Order of the Niger (MON). He also received the National Merit Award for Local Raw Materials Utilisation in 1994 in addition to the following awards: Sustainable Human Development Award of National Industrial Safety Council of Nigeria (1997); MAN Certificate of Merit for Pioneer Indigenous Industry (1997); Imo State Industrial Merit Honour (1994); and Imo State Merit Award for Contribution of Imo State (2005).