Born on February 14, 1966, from Isiokolo, Ethiope East LGA, Prof Tonukari is a First Class graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Maiduguri, a recipient of the Federal Government Post-Graduate Scholarship, Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation and of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology. Also holding a Thoman Fellowship, USA, he was amongst the brains that drafted the ICT Policy for Nigerian Universities in 2011. In the academia, he rose from a lecturer to Head of Department, later Dean, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Director, Academic Resource Development Centre and Chairman, Academic Resource and University Ranking Committee.