By Media360Impact
A Nigerian academic and consultant, Bell Ihua, has paid an emotional tribute to Professor Emeritus David Robert Hughes, describing the late British food marketing scholar as a mentor, father figure and an angel sent into his life during the difficult years of his doctoral studies in the United Kingdom.
Hughes, a renowned authority in agricultural and food marketing, died on September 7, 2026.
In a personal tribute dated October 12, 2026, Ihua recalled how the professor offered him academic guidance, financial assistance and encouragement while he pursued his PhD at the University of Kent in Canterbury.
He said Hughes became more than a teacher, describing him as a grandfather figure whose generosity and mentorship helped shape his career as an academic, applied researcher and consultant.
How a PhD Introduction Became a Lifelong Bond
Ihua said he first met Hughes in the winter of 2007, the year he began his doctoral studies under Professor Andrew Fearne, who had previously been supervised by Hughes.
Fearne introduced the two men, establishing a relationship that would grow into a lifelong bond built on scholarship, friendship and personal support.
Ihua fondly called Hughes his “Grand-Professor” because he was the professor who had mentored his own doctoral supervisor.
At the time, Ihua was studying at the Centre for Food Chain Research, which later evolved through different institutional arrangements into the Centre for Value Chain Research at Kent Business School, University of Kent.
Through his association with Hughes, Ihua worked as a research assistant, collecting and analysing data from the Dunnhumby-Tesco loyalty card database and preparing presentation materials for the professor’s seminars, conferences and international speaking engagements.
He said the experience exposed him to a model of scholarship that connected academic research with practical challenges in business and society.
Ihua also acknowledged the influence of Fearne and Professor Temi Abimbola, describing the three academics as important figures in his intellectual and professional development.
The Scholar Known as ‘Dr. Food’
Beyond his personal relationship with Ihua, Hughes was an influential figure in international agricultural and food marketing.
Fondly known as “Dr. Food,” he built a reputation as an academic, business consultant and international speaker whose work connected rigorous research with practical commercial decision-making.
In 1991, he was appointed the inaugural Sainsbury Professor of Food Marketing at Wye College, where he established and directed the Food Industry Management Group.
The group focused on strengthening the relationship between academic research and commercial strategy in the food industry.
In 1994, Hughes edited the book “Breaking with Tradition: Building Partnerships and Alliances in the European Food Industry,” a work associated with the development of collaborative approaches to agribusiness and food supply chains.
His professional engagements extended across Europe, North America, Africa, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.
He also served for 20 years as a non-executive director of Berry Gardens, a major UK farmer-owned berry cooperative, while advising fresh produce businesses, retailers, financial institutions and governments.
According to Ihua, Hughes was particularly admired for his practical examples, engaging presentation style and ability to use humour to communicate complex ideas.
His approach demonstrated how academic knowledge could be translated into solutions with real-world value.
‘He Was More Than a Teacher and Mentor’
For Ihua, however, Hughes’ greatest legacy was not limited to his professional achievements.
He recalled how the professor supported him financially during the demanding years of his PhD programme, often paying him for research assistance, data analysis and presentation preparation.
On several occasions, Ihua said, Hughes sent him money even when no immediate assignment had been given.
When Ihua asked about the payments, the professor would explain that he was paying ahead of the next task. Yet, when the next assignment was completed, Hughes would sometimes pay him again.
The gestures, Ihua said, went beyond professional transactions and reflected a remarkable depth of kindness.
He also remembered how Hughes called to congratulate him and his wife when they welcomed their first son, sending them money that helped ease the family’s financial pressures.
Looking back, Ihua said he believed the professor’s presence in his life was an answer to prayers he and his wife had offered during the difficult period.
“I have absolutely no doubt that God orchestrated our paths to meet, as part of his answer to our heartfelt prayers,” he wrote.
He described Hughes as a father figure who offered reassurance and encouragement at a time when he was struggling to navigate the financial and academic demands of studying abroad.
Ihua said the professor’s humour, wit and timely words of encouragement consistently lifted his spirits, making their relationship as meaningful personally as it was professionally.
A Christmas Gift That Moved the Professor to Tears
In November 2024, Ihua commissioned portraits of Hughes and Fearne as a way of honouring the two academics who had played significant roles in his life.
The portraits were completed in time for Christmas, and Ihua presented them as gifts in December 2024.
On December 30, Hughes sent Ihua a photograph of himself with the portrait, accompanied by a WhatsApp message expressing his gratitude.
The professor disclosed that the surprise had moved him and his wife, Susan, to tears, describing the gift as thoughtful and memorable.
He also praised Ihua as a genuine, hardworking and insightful student, wishing him a successful year ahead.
For Ihua, the exchange remains a treasured memory of a friendship that extended far beyond the classroom and the research environment.
The portrait was intended as an expression of gratitude to a mentor who had given generously of his time, knowledge and resources.
A Visit That Will Never Happen
Ihua disclosed that he had planned to visit Hughes at his country home in Monmouth, Wales, during the summer of 2026 but was unable to make the trip because of work commitments.
The two men had also discussed the possibility of Hughes visiting Nigeria to meet stakeholders in the agrifood sector.
The professor’s death has ended those plans, leaving Ihua regretting that he could not see his mentor one more time.
“I would have loved to see him one more time to bid farewell to my dear friend, teacher, mentor, and Grandfather-Professor,” he wrote.
The missed visit, he said, remains one of the painful realities of losing someone whose influence extended well beyond professional and academic relationships.
A Legacy of Knowledge, Faith and Kindness
Reflecting on Hughes’ life and influence, Ihua said much of his development as an academic, applied researcher and consultant was shaped by what he learnt from the professor and the example he set.
He said Hughes’ legacy would endure through the people he mentored, the knowledge he shared and the kindness he demonstrated throughout his life.
For Ihua, the professor’s passing represents the loss of an irreplaceable mentor whose influence cannot be measured by academic titles or professional accomplishments alone.
He concluded his tribute with a message of gratitude and a farewell to the man he described as a friend, teacher, mentor and grandfather-figure.
“Thank you for being so kind to me. I will miss you dearly,” he wrote.
He ended the tribute with the words: “Onward and Upward, Prof!”
Professor Hughes is remembered not only for his contribution to food marketing and agribusiness but also for the personal connections he built and the lives he touched through mentorship, generosity and compassion.
Source: Bell Ihua, PhD, mni, personal tribute dated October 12, 2026.
