By Ikenna Nwokedi
UNIZIK Don and a foremost Professor of Chemical Engineering in Nigeria, Engr. Prof. Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli was on Tuesday, 18th February,2025 honoured with an outstanding excellence award in recognition of his distinguished scholarly legacies, mentorship and dedicated leadership to the academic community.
The award to the quintessential scholar by the Faculty of Engineering, UNIZIK, was on the occasion of his valedictory lecture and celebration of academic excellence held at the Needs Assessment Building of the Engineering Faculty titled, “Reminiscences of a Chemical Engineering Teacher: Triumphs, Tribulations and Takeaways.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Chief (Engr.) Okechukwu Martins Onovo described Prof. Onukwuli as a great academic guru judging by his outstanding world class achievements in the field of Chemical Engineering and the Engineering profession at large.
Chief Onovo affirmed that Prof. Onukwuli can also be described as an exceptional scholar as can be seen by his scholarly output on the global scene and his mentorship which has resulted in making and production of 10 professors by successfully supervising 47 PhDs and 65 M.Sc scholars. The Oil and Gas Engineering consultant averred that Prof. Onukwuli is a model to the society who promoted values such as integrity, discipline, excellence and solidarity.
Declaring the event open during his address, UNIZIK Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu described Prof. Onukwuli as a collosus in academic and administration in almost all aspects of academic field. Prof. Ikechebelu who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor (SAVC) on General Duties, Prof. Austin Nonyelu disclosed that Prof. Onukwuli’s global visibility can be described as intimidating owing to his rich vein of academic excellence with his global scholarly output and retinue of successful mentees.
Prof. Ikechebelu thanked Prof. Onukwuli for his immense contributions to the university and society through his warehouse of ideas while praying for long life and wishing the scholar the very best as he bows out of academic and administrative service.
Delivering the Valedictory Lecture, Prof. Onukwuli stated that the lecture was a moment of reflection to share insights, highlight contributions to his field of academic endeavour and recount personal and professional experiences as a teacher.
Prof. Onukwuli who went down memory lane sharing his academic sojourn and work experience disclosed his notable achievements such as consistent research recognition by being consistently ranked among the top 100 researchers in the University, Impressive Citation Metrics, Development of novel catalyst regeneration method, Synthesizing of an efficient bio-coagulants and postulation of the Menkonu Constant for wastewater treatment, Development of local clay-based catalysts for biodiesel production, Hydro metallurgical metal extraction, Elsevier publication commendation and mentorship/supervision.
The scholar in his recommendations harped on the importance of establishment of a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) office in the institution to aid research and development which should align with global best practices, strategic investment in postgraduate education, investment in human capital, attracting global talent through postdoctoral fellowships, merit-based recruitment and leadership, expanding the faculty structure and elevating the faculty journal as well as enhancing global reputation and ranking.
Prof. Onukwuli concluded by eulogized the University, his family, colleagues and students for their unwavering support in the course of serving Nnamdi Azikiwe University with integrity, dedication and commitment to academic and administrative excellence.
In a vote of thanks, the planning committee chairman, Prof. Matthew Menkiti thanked all and sundry who turned up in their numbers to honour the teacher of teachers, Prof. Menkiti while eulogizing Prof. Onukwuli for the impact to his academic life opined that Prof. Onukwuli’s academic and administrative dexterity will remain as a model for not just the Engineering Faculty but the institution at large. The University Don prayed God for long life and good health upon the scholar wishing him well in his future endeavours.
Other notable highlights of the Valedictory Lecture were Festschrift Journal presentation by the Vice-Chancellor and the Chair of the occasion in honour of Prof. Onukwuli, award presentation and retinue of goodwill messages from principal officers and scholars in the University and from sister institutions such as Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU); University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN); Caritas University, Enugu; Madonna University Okija; Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) and Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT).
