Silvanus Anika began his early education in Nigeria at the missionary schools of College of Immaculate Conception and Dennis Memorial Grammar School where he obtained his Cambridge Overseas School Certificate and Higher School Certificate respectively. Thereafter, he travelled to Europe and studied Veterinary Medicine at the Justus Liebig University, Giessen, West Germany and obtained his DVM and Dr. med vet. Degrees in 1971 and 1972 respectively.

He returned to Nigeria to teach at the new Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In 1975, he left on a study leave to Cornell University, Ithaca, USA and after a PhD degree in 1979, he returned to the University of Nigeria, where he continued with teaching and research and was promoted to the rank of a Professor in 1987.

His major research interests are: satiety mechanism, environmental pollution, chemotherapy of African Trypanosomosis and vaccine development and production. He won research awards from German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ); UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Grant; European Economic Community Lome III. Research Grants; German Academic Exchange Programme Award (DAAD); British Council Research Visitorship Grant; British Council Fellowship among others. He had also specialized training in Gastroenterology (Cornell University); Epidemiology (Cambridge University) and Technical Epidemiology (Berlin).

He was Dean of Veterinary Faculty (1992 – 1994) and for several years Head, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. He was Consultant, Shell Petroleum Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) (2002 – 2003); National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) (2004 – 2008); Resource Person, the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) (2010 – 2012); National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) (2011 – 2012); American University of Medical Sciences, Abuja (2009 to date); Chairman, Centre for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria, Enugu (CEMAC) (2008 – 2012); Chairman, University of Nigeria Consultancy Services Limited (2015 to date). He served in accreditation panel and as External Examiner to several Universities.

He is a member of several professional organizations such as: New York Academy of Science, American Society of Animal Scientists, Sigma XI Scientific Research Society. He is also Fellow of College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria; Fellow Nigerian Environmental Society and Fellow Nigerian Conservation Foundation. He was Director, Orient Bank of Nigeria, Plc (1995 – 1998); Director, Adarice Production Nigeria Limited (1989 – 1990); Chairman, Nigerian Environmental Society, Enugu State (2004 – 2009); Programme Director, Society for the Environment and Healthcare (NGO) (2005 to date). He is currently the Director, Vaccine Research Center at the University of Nigeria.

He mentored several young academics, had numerous scientific publications and co-authored three professional books. He attended and presented papers at various International Conferences and was recently conferred Emeritus Professor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves swimming, tennis and music.