Professor Etim Moses Essien is a renowned Professor of Hematology with more than forty years of experience and currently works at University of Uyo as a clinical and laboratory-based scientist. He is also the chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA) that organizes the award of Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM). He is a Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Science and African Academy of Sciences.

Professor Essien has made quite significant contributions to the field of Medicine and Public Health and has helped establish several medical schools in Nigeria and abroad, including the University of the Gambia Medical School and the University of Uyo College of Health Sciences where he is also pioneer Director, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovations.  He was Professor of Haematology, University of Ibadan, Director& Chief Executive  Officer, National Institute of Medical Research, Lagos.

Professor Essien had been the initiator of the Project and Chairman of the National Expert Advisory Committee on AIDS, Head of the Laboratory and Blood Transfusion Service Committee, National AIDS Committee, A Member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, a Member of the Medical Advisory Board of the World Federation of Haemophilia and Member, International Society of Haematology. He became the first African Vice- President, European and African Division, of the International Society of Haematology in 1984.  and President,IX Congress, 1987; Professor Essien had also been a Member of American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member, New York Academy of Sciences, member, the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization and member WHO Expert Panel on Human Blood products and Related Substances.

He is a Fellow, Royal College of Pathologists, Fellow, Nigerian Medical College in Pathology and Fellow West African College of Physicians (Laboratory Medicine). He is a TWAS laureate in Medicine.

Professor Essien received the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award in 1997 and the National Honor of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2000. Professor Essien got his degree in Medicine from the University of Ibadan in 1962 and Doctor of Medicine University of London in 1974.