Prof. Charles C. Ngugi
Biography
Professor Charles Chege Ngugi is an Associate Professor of Fish Biology and Aquaculture. He holds a Doctorate Degree (PhD) in Fish Biology from the prestigious Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada, a Master’s Degree from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria, majoring in Aquaculture systems, water quality and Production units and a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Nairobi. Further, he has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Senior Aquaculture Management obtained from the FAO programme at the Africa Regional Aquaculture Centre, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. In Addition, he has undergone the Strategic Leadership and Project Management Course and the Project Development Management Programme at the Kenya School of Government. He has attended various International Conferences, workshops and seminars on Mariculture, Aquaculture, Leadership and Trainings.
He is a Farmers, a Strategic Leader, Researcher, Academia and enjoys working with small scale farmers in rural counties. Resulting from his effort to promote Small-scale Commercial Aquaculture in Africa, in 2012 he was decorated by the President of the Republic of Kenya with the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS) for his exemplary, profound and pre-eminent service to the Nation. Other awards include the Unsung Hero’s Award from Scotland, BIFAD International Award for his contribution to the Scientific Excellence in the Feed the Future Innovation by USAID and the National Second prize winner of small-scale farms fully commercialized in Kenya.
Prof. Ngugi has a long career in public service. In Academics, he has served in various universities as Chairman of Department, Member of Senate, Dean of School, Director of Quality Assurance and as a Director of Post-graduate Studies. He has served as Fisheries Secretary and Chief Technical Adviser to the Principal Secretary, State Department of Blue Economy, Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, livestock and Fisheries Development and as a member of the Board of Directors of Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI). Dr. Ngugi has supervised and graduated over 25 PhD and Masters students who are currently in senior positions both in public and private sectors. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles in Technical reports and International Journals as well as writing books and book chapters. He is a member of the panel of the Commission for University Education (CUE) that reviews university curricula and is also a reviewer of several International Journals and well as serving as an external examiner for PhD and Master’s thesis. His other international assignments include a position as Africa Regional Coordinator and Principal Investigator for the Aquaculture and Fisheries Collaborative Research Programme (AquaFish Innovation Lab). Charles Ngugi has done consultancy with USAID AquaFish CRSP, FAO, Farm Africa, CIDA, GIZ, DFID and, Gatsby Africa American Soybean Association (ASA) among others. He has worked with other partners from Stirling University; German GIZ, Kenya and Israel Mashav, Trilateral programmes and FAO especially on Youth development Programmes both in Freshwater and Marine environments and is keen on mentoring the youth in Aquaculture.
The African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society - African Chapter (WAS-AC) was established in November 2018. Prof Charles Ngugi having joined the WAS in 2003, is amongst the league of the “founding members” of the WAS-AC. He has been instrumental in the Chapter formation and decision-making platforms for the Chapter’s strategic direction. He is also a renowned international researcher on African aquaculture and also a key note speaker at many WAS and related global and Regional events on aquaculture. They include European Commission Meeting in Brussels to develop guidelines for future Aquaculture funding in Africa March 2017, FAO’s side meeting with the committee of experts at the Sustainable Blue Economy, World Aquaculture Society AQUA 2018 in Montpelier, France, and Aquaculture America 2018 in Las Vegas, US (Feb 2018) and is member of the World Aquaculture Society and Aquaculture Association of South Africa. He has been involved in training farmers in Mali, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Thailand, Nepal and Bangladesh among other countries and has given conference presentations on aquaculture development. His area of interest includes Development of low-cost fish feeds for fish farmers in Africa, organic farming and improving income to small-scale farmers.