[3] Following his passing, the Graduate Theological Foundation established the Celestine O. E. Onwuliri Fellowship in Scientific Research and Human Values in his honor.
[4][5] Celestine Onyemobi Elihe Onwuliri was born in Umuokazi, Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise, Imo state, Nigeria.
[8][9] Onwuliri's academic pursuits led him to further studies, including a Ph.D. in Parasitology (1980) after a year of research training at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.
[9] He held several positions including: He also worked outside UNIJOS as the following: Prof. Onwuliri served as consultant to several national and international organizations chief among which are: He was appointed by WHO as Advisor on its Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin (CDTI) project in WHO/African Programme on Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) assisted countries (2003)[9] He became Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri between 2006–2011.
In 2005, Professor Onwuliri represented Nigeria as part of the Federal Government's official delegation for the Christian pilgrimage to the holy land, a testament to his recognition and respect on a national level.
Gen. Dr. George Ikioumoton in a speech entitled “Professor Celestine Onwuliri's 4-point Agenda for Knights, a Blueprint for Peace and Progress in Nigeria".
[6] A few months before his death, Prof. Celestine Onwuliri registered PROFOUND, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) established with the sole purpose of providing succour to the underprivileged in society by enhancing their access to education, healthcare and shelter as well as providing empowerment to individuals and communities in order to fulfil their development potential.
[16] As a mark of honour, his colleagues at the Imo State University, Owerri on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 wore their full academic regalia, held a valedictory session to bid him farewell and the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Bethram Nwoke (who was Prof. Onwuliri's Phd student[9]), led the session, where his colleagues showered encomiums on him describing him as a great scholar, scientist and an astute administrator par excellence.
[17] In Onwuliri's honour, the leadership of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Students Union Government (SUG) organised a candle light procession on campus.
Gen. Dr. George Ikioumoton as speaker and the lecture was titled “Professor Celestine Onwuliri’s 4-point Agenda for Knights, a Blueprint for Peace and Progress in Nigeria".
[25][26] On June 16, 2017, President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Peter Obi and Dr. Paschal Dozie, the chairman of MTN Nigeria, all participated in the 5th Prof. Celestine Onwuliri Memorial lecture,[29][30] and the lecture titled: “The problem with Nigeria”[30] was delivered by former Governor Peter Obi while the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe was one of the Royal Fathers of the Day and it was followed by the 2017 edition of the Professor COE Onwuliri Annual Memorial Scholarship Award, instituted by the International Liaison of Mbaise Indigenes ILMI in Diaspora and the scholarship award was presented to 6 Imo Undergraduate students.
[31][29] The Onwuliri memorial lecture has continued to attract reputable Nigerians, Ministers, Governors, Senators, and many others and has been used to encourage them to support the causes of the PROFOUND foundation to help the poor and indigent[16]