Obituary for Dr. Charles A. Malgwi
On Saturday July 23, 2022, Dr Charles A. Malgwi passed peacefully to be with the Lord. His spirit lives on through his beloved wife Christiana, and three children Peter, Victor, and Charity Malgwi.
Dr. Charles was born on December 15, 1958, in the village of Yimirshika, Borno State, Nigeria, to Mr. Audu and Hauwa Malgwi, both farmers. Dr. Charles was inspired by the hard work of his parents to pursue formal education and became the first graduate in his family. He always knew from an early age that he wanted to be in Academia. He attended elementary school in his village and then proceeded to receive teacher’s training at Waka Teachers College in Biu, Borno State, where he met his beloved wife Christiana and also found Christ. He pursued advanced education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (“ABU”), Nigeria, where he earned several degrees, including a Diploma in banking, a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and a master’s degree in Finance and Accounting. He and Christiana welcomed their two sons during this time.
Following his graduation from ABU, he briefly worked a banker before beginning his career in academia with his appointed as Lecturer in Accountancy at University of Maiduguri, Borno State, where Charles and Christiana also welcomed their daughter. Dr. Malgwi and his family subsequently immigrated to England for further studies at Reading University, where he received another master’s degree and a Doctorate Degree in Accounting. He then
worked as an assistant professor at Reading University before relocating his family to Massachusetts, where he had always dreamed to teach as a little boy reading local newspapers about the storied academic institutions in Cambridge. Upon arrival in the United States, Dr. Malgwi simultaneously worked as a Professor of Accounting at Suffolk University Boston while we also earned a Masters’ in Business Degree.
Shortly thereafter, Dr. Malgwi landed his job at Bentley University, which was to become his professional career home for the next 25 years. Dr. Charles served the university in various roles, most notably as Assistant to the department Chair, Faculty Advisor to the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Bentley chapter, and KPMG Diversity Leadership Program. He also played significant roles in coordinating the Bentley Business Bowl
competition during his tenure at Bentley and also introduced a number of curricular innovations, especially in the area of study abroad.
Dr. Charles was a beloved professor, colleague, and tremendous mentor to many. He received several awards and recognitions, including the 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr., Outstanding Faculty Member, and the prestigious Bentley University 2021 Gregory H. Adamian Award for Excellence in teaching because he “demonstrated a commitment to educating students, challenging them intellectually and serving as a source of inspiration and motivation.” (Office of Provost of Bentley University) Most recently, Dr. Charles made history when the Bentley University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to confer Dr. Charles Malgwi the Emeritus Professor of Accounting, thus making Dr. Charles the first Black professor to earn this achievement in Bentley University’s 103 years of existence.
In addition, Dr. Charles was an Adjunct Professor in the Brandeis International Business School as well as a Hausa Language Instructure at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dr. Malgwi participated in many outreach and community programs locally and globally. He and his wife Christian personally fund a scholarship program to educate students in their home country. He was a certified Fraud Examiner and was the founder of the Corruption Prevention Institute (CPI) Non-Profit organization to help facilitate Anti-corruption education, training, and scholarship to stimulate creative developments among youths throughout the world in fighting corruption through the promotion of innovation, entrepreneurship, talent, and networking. He also served on the Boards of many organizations and published in
many reputable journals.
In addition to his impressive accomplishments, Dr. Charles humbly devoted his life to serving God and spreading the word of God. He was active in many faith-based organizations including, the African Christian Fellowship, where he was at one time President, Gideons International, where Dr. Charles himself travelled the world to distribute Bibles across the world, Salvation Army Church, the Christian Assembly, and the Reservoir Church. Dr. Charles also loved to travel and has visited many countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He was a selfless, generous, and amazing friend and mentor to many. His smile brightened up any room that he walked in. Dr. Charles will be sorely missed by his beloved wife and children, brothers and sisters, extended family in Nigeria, friends, colleagues, mentees, his Church community, and the many members of communities whose lives
he touched, and all of whom will continue to honor his legacy
Dr. Charles was born on December 15, 1958, in the village of Yimirshika, Borno State, Nigeria, to Mr. Audu and Hauwa Malgwi, both farmers. Dr. Charles was inspired by the hard work of his parents to pursue formal education and became the first graduate in his family. He always knew from an early age that he wanted to be in Academia. He attended elementary school in his village and then proceeded to receive teacher’s training at Waka Teachers College in Biu, Borno State, where he met his beloved wife Christiana and also found Christ. He pursued advanced education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (“ABU”), Nigeria, where he earned several degrees, including a Diploma in banking, a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and a master’s degree in Finance and Accounting. He and Christiana welcomed their two sons during this time.
Following his graduation from ABU, he briefly worked a banker before beginning his career in academia with his appointed as Lecturer in Accountancy at University of Maiduguri, Borno State, where Charles and Christiana also welcomed their daughter. Dr. Malgwi and his family subsequently immigrated to England for further studies at Reading University, where he received another master’s degree and a Doctorate Degree in Accounting. He then
worked as an assistant professor at Reading University before relocating his family to Massachusetts, where he had always dreamed to teach as a little boy reading local newspapers about the storied academic institutions in Cambridge. Upon arrival in the United States, Dr. Malgwi simultaneously worked as a Professor of Accounting at Suffolk University Boston while we also earned a Masters’ in Business Degree.
Shortly thereafter, Dr. Malgwi landed his job at Bentley University, which was to become his professional career home for the next 25 years. Dr. Charles served the university in various roles, most notably as Assistant to the department Chair, Faculty Advisor to the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Bentley chapter, and KPMG Diversity Leadership Program. He also played significant roles in coordinating the Bentley Business Bowl
competition during his tenure at Bentley and also introduced a number of curricular innovations, especially in the area of study abroad.
Dr. Charles was a beloved professor, colleague, and tremendous mentor to many. He received several awards and recognitions, including the 2009 Martin Luther King, Jr., Outstanding Faculty Member, and the prestigious Bentley University 2021 Gregory H. Adamian Award for Excellence in teaching because he “demonstrated a commitment to educating students, challenging them intellectually and serving as a source of inspiration and motivation.” (Office of Provost of Bentley University) Most recently, Dr. Charles made history when the Bentley University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to confer Dr. Charles Malgwi the Emeritus Professor of Accounting, thus making Dr. Charles the first Black professor to earn this achievement in Bentley University’s 103 years of existence.
In addition, Dr. Charles was an Adjunct Professor in the Brandeis International Business School as well as a Hausa Language Instructure at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dr. Malgwi participated in many outreach and community programs locally and globally. He and his wife Christian personally fund a scholarship program to educate students in their home country. He was a certified Fraud Examiner and was the founder of the Corruption Prevention Institute (CPI) Non-Profit organization to help facilitate Anti-corruption education, training, and scholarship to stimulate creative developments among youths throughout the world in fighting corruption through the promotion of innovation, entrepreneurship, talent, and networking. He also served on the Boards of many organizations and published in
many reputable journals.
In addition to his impressive accomplishments, Dr. Charles humbly devoted his life to serving God and spreading the word of God. He was active in many faith-based organizations including, the African Christian Fellowship, where he was at one time President, Gideons International, where Dr. Charles himself travelled the world to distribute Bibles across the world, Salvation Army Church, the Christian Assembly, and the Reservoir Church. Dr. Charles also loved to travel and has visited many countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He was a selfless, generous, and amazing friend and mentor to many. His smile brightened up any room that he walked in. Dr. Charles will be sorely missed by his beloved wife and children, brothers and sisters, extended family in Nigeria, friends, colleagues, mentees, his Church community, and the many members of communities whose lives
he touched, and all of whom will continue to honor his legacy