Onyewuchi Akaranta is, currently, the Coordinator of the two World Bank Africa Centres of Excellence: Centre for Oilfield Chemicals Research (CEFOR) and Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (PUTOR) at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. In 2015, he became the Coordinator of Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE Port Harcourt) on Education for Sustainable Development of the Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University (IAS-UNU), Tokyo, Japan.  Director, Centre for Research Management (2010-2015), Director, Exchange and Linkage Programmes Unit (2006-2010) at the University of Port Harcourt. Project Manager, UniPort – World Bank STEP-B Project (2008-2013). Head, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry (1999-2001). He has served in several committees in the University.

Professor Akaranta was listed in the Marquis Who is Who in Science and Engineering in 2003, 7th Edition, fellow, Polymer Institute of Nigeria (fPIN), and member, Chemical Society of Nigeria (mCSN), Oil and Colour Chemists’ Association (mOCCA) of United Kingdom, and West African Research and Innovation Management Association (mWARIMA). He obtained a Ph.D degree in Industrial Chemistry in 1995 from the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, M.Sc in Polymer Science and Technology in 1982 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and B.Sc (2nd Class Upper Division) degree in Chemistry in 1978 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

In 2007, he delivered his inaugural lecture titled, “Agro-Wastes Utilization: The Chemist’s Input” and possesses over thirty (30) years experience in Agro-wastes Value Addition including conducting research on conversion of agro-wastes to industrial raw materials used in the production of adhesives, ion exchange resins, and paint additives. His other areas of research interest include: Materials Chemistry and Development of Multifunctional Oilfield Chemicals. He has published over 100 journal articles.