NRF / DST SARChI Research Chair in Postharvest Technology
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​Prof Linus Opara
As a distinguished professor within the Department of Horticultural Science, Prof. Opara holds the South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology at Stellenbosch University. Earlier this year he was rewarded with the 2016 African Union Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Award for senior researchers and has recently been elected as the incoming president of the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CIGR). His research interests focus on cold-chain (packaging, storage) and non-invasive technologies for fresh produce quality maintenance and measurement.

A graduate of agricultural engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (BEng and MEng, 1st Class Honours) and Massey University, New Zealand (PhD), he is a Chartered Engineer (UK), founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation (www.inderscience.com/ijpti), Chair of Section VI (Postharvest Technology & Process Engineering) of the International Commission​ of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (www.cigr.org), and Vice Chair of the Roots & Tuber Section of the International Society for Horticultural Science (www.ishs.org). He is a member of several national and international scientific societies.

Prior to his current appointment, he held several academic and management positions at universities in New Zealand and the Sultanate of Oman. At Massey University, he was a founding member of the Centre for Postharvest & Refrigeration Research (1995-2002), Senior Lecturer in Postharvest Engineering, Programme Director for Engineering Technology in the Institute of Technology & Engineering, College of Science, Coordinator of the Agricultural Engineering programme, Coordinator of the BApplSc (General) programme, and served as elected member of the Massey University Governing Council (1993-1997), University Academic Board (Senate) (1992-1997), Council Committee for the appointment of new Vice Chancellor (1994-1995), the Inter-Ethnic Research Committee (1992-1996) and other policy and governance bodies.

At Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman, Prof Opara held the positions of Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering and Assistant Dean for Postgraduate Studies & Research. He developed a new research programme and teaching in postharvest technology and led a Strategic Research Project on Postharvest Technology of Fresh Produce. In 2006 he received the university's Distinguished Researcher Award. He also served in several university and national policy and advisory committees including the university's Academic Council (Senate), Liaison Committee between the University and the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Wealth, member of the University Quality Audit Committee, and member of the Quality Audit Panel of the Oman Accreditation Council.

In addition to his research and teaching activities, Prof Opara has participated in several international development projects on agricultural engineering and postharvest technology. He was a Visiting Expert on Postharvest Technology at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome (2000-2001), Agricultural Mechanisation Expert in Iraq under the FAO/UN Oil-for-Food Programme (2001-2002), FAO Expert Panel on Microbial Safety of Green Leafy Vegetables, FAO Expert on Postharvest & Marketing Systems and member of the Panel on Agricultural Development Strategy in Timor-Leste. He has developed and implemented in-country competency-based training projects on postharvest technology and quality management in several countries in the South Pacific, South East Asia, China, the Middle East and Africa.

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/postharvest-technology/personnel/sarchi-research-chair

I know he is not a politician or a diplomat, but I wonder what he thinks about other Africans (in his case Nigerians) being killed in SA


Meanwhile..........................................................Nigeria and Nigerians are the playground of the world.

On the one hand, Chinese, Lebanese, other Arabs, British, Americans, South Africans, Malians, Togolese, Cameroonians (just name it) come to Nigeria, set up businesses, degrade their Nigerian workers (physically, mentality and psychologically), make tons of money, and take the money back home. In this process they defraud the Nigerian system, pay little to no tax, and go unscathed. Thanks to your corrupt politicians and law enforcement; thanks to the ever docile and ignorant citizens. Malians, Guineans, Senegalese, Nigeriens, etc are part of the Fulani herdsmen-without borders who come into Nigeria, kidnap you, extort you, rob you, terrorize you, rape your women, maim you, kill you, and destroy your agricultural systems. They are foreigners in your country, but they do as they, please often lethally, and in connivance with certain people in your own government.

On the other hand, Nigerians go elsewhere, many are genuine and law abiding; others commit crimes or engage in fraudulent activities (like some foreigners in Nigeria also do). They are easily arrested, jailed, killed or maimed, and their genuine livelihoods destroyed. What happens from the Nigerian government side? NOTHING.

Either way, Nigeria and Nigerians are the playground of the world. They kill you in your country; they kill you in their country. Nigeria is right now the most useless country in the world ruled by useless leaders and populated by useless citizens.

DrNueLpureHoney:
And after these South Africans no go like put respek on the word Nigerians

Available information indicates that not only Nigerians are killed. In fact, Nigerians are the least killed of all Africans. They are just the most vocal of those killed. SA is a den of xenophobia

astrodome:


Available information indicates that not only Nigerians are killed. In fact, Nigerians are the least killed of all Africans. They are just the most vocal of those killed. SA is a den of xenophobia

Na pikin wey dey hungry dey reach out for him mama breast na

Professor Opara.

Ibo man to the Core.

Who in Aba gave him the title of the highest ranking Nigerian Professional in South Africa?

kayfra:
Who in Aba gave him the title of the highest ranking Nigerian Professional in South Africa?

Is there any reason he cannot be ''one of the highest ranked'', if not ''the highest ranked'', Nigerian in SA? We know most Nigerians in SA are lowly self-employed folks doing genuine businesses. A few others are criminals running around with drugs and internet fraud activities. Others are in the academia, prof Opara being one of such. I'd like to see how many other Nigerians in SA hold such an intimidating professional profile as Opara. Or you want to mention the Nigerian ambassador to SA? Well, with all due respect, he/she is not really in SA working for an SA entity and is not a ''professional'', but a political appointee, positions often made out of nepotism and cronysm.

The way we dey target shoprite and spar., can't wait anymore i swear

He is law-abiding. Unlike some that are constituting nuisance there.

astrodome:


Is there any reason he cannot be ''one of the highest ranked'', if not ''the highest ranked'', Nigerian in SA? We know most Nigerians in SA are lowly self employed folks doing genuine business. A few others are criminals running around with drugs and internet fraud activities. Others are in the academia, prof Opara being one of such. I'd like to see how many other Nigerians in SA hold such an intimidating professional profile as Opara.

Why make a declarative statement in the first place then? Glad the thread starter fixed his boastful post

Damage control

Lemme book space. Meanwhile where is mmytc?

There are many Nigerian professors in South Africa, some heading various departments or faculties in South African universities.

He is good a scholar but I don't know if he is the highest scholar.

Black South Africans don't generally fancy these type of occupations.

Afonjas food don done!!



Simplyleo come and see how your mate is making Nigeria proud in diaspora while the only feather you've to your cap is being a Nairaland mod

AtikuNetwork:
He is law-abiding. Unlike some that are constituting nuisance there.

Most of those killed (again not only Nigerians) are actually law abiding. As is the case with things like this, the few bad eggs bring everyone else down.

He is our amiable ambassador repping us well

I wan sleep

astrodome:


Most of those killed (again not only Nigerians) are actually law abiding. As is the case with things like this, the few bad eggs bring everyone else down.

There are a lot of bad eggs from neighbouring countries in Nigeria.

Why are Nigerians not murdering foreigners?
Or you think anybody has a monopoly of violence?

We dont support crime but these South African youths may not know how much Nigeria has helped their country in the past and even now.

They should look for saner ways to solve this brouhaha.

Iamgrey5:
There are many Nigerian professors in South Africa, some heading various departments or faculties in South African universities.

He is good a scholar but I don't know if he is the highest scholar.

Black South Africans don't generally fancy these type of occupations.

We are talking of Nigerians in SA, not black South Africans

This man is qualified as minister of Agriculture in Nigeria but only Government asslickers are appointed.

astrodome:


We are talking of Nigerians in SA, not black South Africans

Read my post again sir

Iamgrey5:
There are many Nigerian professors in South Africa, some heading various departments or faculties in South African universities.

He is good a scholar but I don't know if he is the highest scholar.

Black South Africans don't generally fancy these type of occupations.

How many of them even go to school?
Their hobby is to drink, gamble and murder their women.

is it high ranking we go chop.....what effort has he made to stop the xenophobia attacks on his country men in south africa....

RTSC2:

There are a lot of bad eggs from neighbouring countries in Nigeria.

Why are Nigerians not murdering foreigners?
Or you think anybody has a monopoly of violence?

Dude, we are making the same point. So quit backing up the wrong tree. Nigerians love foreigners more than they love themselves, which is both good and bad.

i thought some people said all Nigerians do in south Africa is push drugs

Local man is on sabbatical leave.