About
Professor Omobola Oluranti Okoh is a Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry at the University of Fort Hare. Her research focuses on environmental chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, chemical pollutants, nanotechnology, renewable energy and the development of sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. She leads the Synthetic, Environmental and Applied Chemistry Research Group (SEACREG) and has supervised numerous postgraduate researchers, including 16 PhD graduates. With more than 106 peer-reviewed publications and over 6,200 citations, Professor Okoh is a C2-rated researcher and recipient of the UFH Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Award and the 2025 SAMRC Scientific Silver Merit Award in Public Health.
Biography
Professor Omobola Oluranti Okoh is a Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry in the Department of Chemical and Earth Sciences at the University of Fort Hare, where she is based at the Alice Campus. She is an accomplished researcher, academic, postgraduate supervisor and mentor whose work sits at the intersection of chemistry, environmental sustainability, water quality and public health. Professor Okoh holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Fort Hare, which she completed in 2011, as well as an MSc in Chemistry from the same institution and a BSc Honours in Chemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. She teaches across several areas of chemistry, including Analytical, Environmental, Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, as well as Chemical Technology. Her research expertise spans Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, water and wastewater treatment, chemical pollutants in the environment, bioactive compounds, nanotechnology and renewable energy. Her more recent research interests also include drug design and development, wound dressings and drug delivery systems. Through this multidisciplinary work, she contributes to addressing pressing challenges around environmental pollution, water security, sustainable treatment technologies and public health. Professor Okoh leads the Synthetic, Environmental and Applied Chemistry Research Group (SEACREG), which brings together postgraduate researchers working across areas of applied and environmental chemistry. She has successfully supervised 16 doctoral students and 12 master's students to graduation, in addition to supervising numerous honours students and hosting five postdoctoral research fellows. She currently supervises eight PhD and five master's students. Her research output includes more than 106 articles in reputable peer-reviewed journals and six book chapters, with her work having received more than 6,200 citations. She has an h-index of 42 and an i10-index of 79. She has also presented more than 56 papers at national and international conferences and maintains research collaborations with scholars and institutions across South Africa and internationally, including collaborators in Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, Europe and the United States. Professor Okoh has attracted research funding from organisations including the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Eskom, while also supporting students in securing NRF and Sasol scholarships and research funding. She is a key contributor to several research and strategic initiatives at the University of Fort Hare, including the SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, Water for Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy Research Niche Areas, and the South African Research Chairs Initiative in Water Quality and Environmental Genomics. Her contributions to research and academic excellence have been recognised through several distinctions. She is a C2-rated researcher and received the University of Fort Hare Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Award in 2024. In 2025, she received the SAMRC Scientific Silver Merit Award in Public Health. In the 2026 World Scientist and University Rankings for Chemical Sciences, she was ranked first at the University of Fort Hare, 45th in South Africa, 137th in Africa and among the top researchers globally in her discipline. Beyond her research and teaching, Professor Okoh has made significant contributions to the broader academic and research community. She has served on numerous national and international research funding and review panels, including panels for the NRF, DAAD, Fulbright, Mitacs and SASUF-NRF. She has also served as an external examiner for universities in South Africa and abroad, participated in faculty promotion committees, and acted as an assessor for professorial promotions. Professor Okoh is a member of several professional and scientific organisations, including the South African Chemical Institute, the Organization for Women Scientists in Southern Developing Countries, the International Association of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry, and other organisations focused on environmental science, indigenous plant use and global change. Through her research, postgraduate supervision, academic leadership and professional service, Professor Okoh continues to contribute to the advancement of chemistry and to the development of innovative, sustainable approaches to environmental and public health challenges.