Spartan Profiles: Turner Isoun
SCIENCE MINISTER
Many Spartans have risen to high posts around the globe, as heads of state or major political leaders. Among MSU’s international stars is Turner T. Isoun, ’63, DVM ’65, Ph.D. ’70, Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology since 2000. “My main challenge is to make sure that science and technology become integral to education and the solution of the problems of development and an improved quality of life for our people,” he says from Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. “To this end, I have focused especially on raising awareness of S&T and to getting resources allocated for its applications.”
Specifically, Turner has been involved with space and communications technology, gamma radiation for food processing, and R&D involving the nation’s biodiversity. “Another focus of my ministry has been to develop the national information technology infrastructure backbone,” he says, noting that Nigeria relies more on satellite technology rather than cable networks.
A native of Port Harcourt, where he still maintains a home, Turner obtained a scholarship to attend MSU. “It was a good decision,” he notes. “MSU’s Honors College for undergraduate students gave me the freedom to take courses I might not have otherwise been able to take. In graduate school, the same flexible programming was possible—the whole university was at my disposal.”
He credits many mentors with having influenced him, including professors C.K. Whitehair, James Trosko, William Lindquist, and veterinary dean W. W. Armistead.
Turner’s wife, Miriam Forbes, ’63, M.A. ’64, is also a Spartan and works for a nonprofit in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Last year MSU awarded Turner a Distinguished Alumni Award. To current MSU students, Turner has four pieces of advice. Whatever you do, do it well. Have depth and breadth in your education. Take advantage of emerging technologies. And have genuine integrity.