Charles Chidume

Dr. Charles Chidume was born to Emmanuel Ndibe and Susanna Chinwe (Okonkwo) Chidume in Nimo, Nigeria on August 11, 1947. He was the 7th Black person to earn a PhD in mathematics from The Ohio State University.

A notable mathematician and author, Dr. Charles Chidume, received his Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Mathematics - Physical Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in 1973. He continued his studies as a Junior Fellow with the Department of Mathematics in 1974.

Before going abroad to pursue his Master’s, Dr. Chidume was a lecturer at the Mathematics Institute of Manitoba and Technology in Enugu, Nigeria, where he taught (insert topic). Shortly after that, he received the Anambra State Government scholarship, attended Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada, and earned his first Master of Mathematics in 1977.

In 1982, Dr. Chidume brought his knowledge to the States. He briefly studied at Iowa State University before teaching as a Graduate Associate at Ohio State University. While in the Buckeye state, Dr. Chidume pursued his second Master of Mathematics and his Ph.D. at Ohio State University and supervised his own dissertation research on Iterative Methods and Nonlinear Functional Equations. He completed both degrees in June 1984 and immediately returned to Nigeria in July 1984.

Dr. Chidume’s hasty return to Nigeria was not as abrupt as some may assume. Between 1983 and 1984, there were 799 PhDs awarded in the United States and Canada in Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Physics, Computer Science and Operations Research; only three of the Ph.D. candidates were Black. At the time, companies and universities employed an Affirmative Action Policy nationwide to meet their diversity quota of staff members. This policy selectively identified minority candidates for their racial and ethnic background rather than their intellect or ability.

Dr. Chidume chose to take his knowledge and aptitude to an environment that would holistically appreciate and invest in him and his success. Shortly after attending the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Mathematical Society in April 1984, Dr. Chidume was offered two Senior Lecturer positions by Nigerian Universities; he felt that it was his duty to return to his alma mater. He accepted a position with UNN, where he intended to make his mark on the university as he did in Canada.

At UNN, Dr. Chidume taught 3rd year, 4th year, and postgraduate coursework within the Department of Mathematics. His teaching methods highlighted the needs and growth of the students, aiming to teach students to do mathematics instead of simply reading mathematics. Dr. Chidume did not allow for notetaking in his lectures; instead, he distributed copies of his lecture notes to his classes.

He wanted his students to engage and develop problem-solving and critical-thinking mindsets to digest abstract Mathematical Analysis. Dr. Chidume’s unconventional teaching style created an impact beyond the classroom; he spearheaded a departmental-wide effort to three textbook volumes covering the three introductory mathematics courses for undergraduate STEM students in their area. These books are still used today at UNN and by neighboring universities. He later developed a research-focused seminar for faculty and graduate
students to encourage research in the department.

In 1985, Dr. Chidume was invited to participate in a college on Semigroup Theory with the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy. He returned in 1987, where he led a seminar during the Mathematics Section Seminar Series. Dr. Chidume passed on October 7, 2021, in Abuja, Nigeria.