“I never imagined I could learn so much on a virtual platform. I have added so much to myself in one year – new vocabulary, new digital skills, and a deeper sense of connectedness.”
– Prof. Mary Iwundu
At Osiri University, we have the privilege of learning from and journeying alongside remarkable individuals whose stories reflect grit, brilliance, and deep humanity. One such story belongs to Professor Mary Paschal Iwundu, a distinguished scholar, mentor, mother, and a beacon of Ubuntu in action.
Prof. Iwundu is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Port Harcourt and the first female to attain that rank in her department. But her journey didn’t begin in lecture halls or global conferences; it began in the vibrant city of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where she grew up as a naturally curious child, the daughter of a revered teacher and a compassionate nurse.
She recalls a defining moment in her childhood: struggling with reading in Primary 1, and her mother making the difficult decision for her to repeat the class. That single act of intentional parenting laid the foundation for a lifetime of academic excellence. From then on, Mary excelled – ranking consistently at the top of her class and developing a hunger for learning that never waned.
After completing secondary school at Immaculate Conception Secondary School in Itak-Ikono, where she was taught by educators from Nigeria, Ghana, India, and beyond, Mary went on to study Statistics at the University of Uyo. She graduated with a Second Class Upper degree and soon began her academic career as a Graduate Assistant at age 24, right after serving with the Nigerian Ports Authority in Lagos for her Nigerian Youth Service Corp (NYSC) post-university service program.
She would later earn a Master’s and a Philosophy of Science degree in Statistics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka – an institution that honed her professional identity as both a researcher and a changemaker. By 2017, she had reached the highest academic rank as Professor of Statistics, becoming one of the first three female Professors of Statistics in Nigeria.
But Prof. Iwundu’s story is not just one of personal achievement. She is deeply invested in institutional transformation. As Head of Department, she stabilized academic operations and ensured prompt student graduations. As Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPTTO) at the University of Port Harcourt, she created national awareness on innovation and intellectual property. In 2023, her office was ranked the best-performing IPTTO in Nigeria by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) – a distinction that elevated her university into national spotlight for innovation.
Through all these achievements, she has remained deeply grounded in her family. Her late mother, whom she honors in her inaugural lecture, was her greatest support system – one who instilled values that endure across generations. Prof. Iwundu is married to Engr. Paschal Iwundu, and together they are raising four accomplished children: a medical doctor, an engineer, a future lawyer, and a young dreamer. Her family is her compass, her joy, and, as she puts it, “dependable allies.”
It was in this spirit of continued growth that Prof. Iwundu found Osiri University. Introduced by her colleague, Prof. Olufemi Adesope, she enrolled in the MSc. Data Science and Information Systems program. Her decision was driven by a desire to complement her expertise in statistics with 21st-century digital fluency.
From the first assignment she submitted on May 2, 2024, she has immersed herself fully in Osiri’s Ubuntu-centered, global learning ecosystem. “I never imagined I could learn so much on a virtual platform,” she shared. “I have added so much to myself in one year – new vocabulary, new digital skills, and a deeper sense of connectedness.”
She brought her son along on this journey – believing education is not just something you talk about but something you model. And indeed, at Osiri, she has modeled what lifelong learning, humility, and excellence look like.
Prof. Iwundu was introduced to the concept of Ubuntu – “I am because we are” – for the first time at Osiri. What began as a simple greeting became a core philosophy. She now applies Ubuntu in her family, where empathy and sharing define their bond; in her professional life, where mentorship and team collaboration are central; and in her classroom, where she fosters inclusive innovation and shared success.
In a Sustainable Leadership course at Osiri, she led a class discussion on Ubuntu in Servant Leadership, exploring its intersection with ethical leadership and collective responsibility. “I have learned how much I need to show empathy and be much more emotionally intelligent,” she reflected. “I have learned that no one succeeds alone.”
At Osiri University, we believe that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about transforming lives, and Prof. Iwundu exemplifies this transformation. Her story reminds us that greatness is not always loud. Sometimes, it walks humbly among us – in the steady footsteps of a professor, a mother, a mentor, a servant-leader.
We are honored to have Prof. Mary Paschal Iwundu as part of the Osiri community. Her life is a living testament to our mission: to ignite innovation through indigenous wisdom and global knowledge – and to do it all with heart.
